Pothole damage at five-year high

Pothole-related breakdowns are at a five-year high with new data showing that spending on road maintenance has almost halved in a little over a decade.

Data shows that the worst area for potholes in the UK is Northumberland with over 180,000 reported over four years, followed by Cornwall and Kirklees in West Yorkshire. Newcastle, Liverpool and Suffolk also have some of the worst potholed roads in the UK.

According to Quotezone, spending on road maintenance has dropped by almost 50% since the financial crisis just over a decade ago, while the recent cost of living crisis has further reduced potholes on the priority list. Even temporary pothole fixtures – which involves filling the hole with a form of asphalt treatment – have also decreased by almost half in some counties.

The company is now urging the government and councils to address the issue, warning that apart from rising costs to motorists, the danger could be much greater for cyclists, escooters and motorbikes.

Greg Wilson, founder and CEO of Quotezone, said: “We all know how bad it can be to drive down roads which are full of potholes, and unfortunately the problem does not seem to be going away. Most, of us have had damage caused by a pothole, or know someone that has. We are expecting a winter of extreme weather and with spending on road maintenance on the decline, we could expect to see a significant increase in pothole related claims. This will make UK roads more dangerous for all road users, and that’s why we’re calling on local authorities and the government to act now ahead of the worsening weather and make a start on fixing the UK’s pothole problem.”

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