Most drivers report pothole-related vehicle damage
More than half of UK drivers have suffered pothole-related vehicle damage in the last four years, according to new research.
According to a survey of more than 2,000 motorists carried out by Blackcirlces, coupled with results of a Freedom of Information request to local authorities, 55% of drivers have had to pay for repairs to damage caused by potholes.
Nearly a quarter (23%) said pothole repair bills were £100 to £200, with 12% saying they were £200 to £300 and eight per cent saying £300 to £400.
Meanwhile, 87% of respondents said potholes were a problem in their area, with Aberdeen (10,396), Cardiff (6,611), Nottingham (6,561) and Edinburgh (6,448) were the cities with the most potholes per 60 miles between 2021 and 2025.
The research also found than 20% said potholes are never fixed and 36% clamed that repairs can take anything from a week to three months.
Persistent problem
James Harding, motoring specialist at Blackcircles, said: “It’s unsurprising that the majority of motorists view potholes as an issue in their local area. The scale of pothole reports in parts of the UK highlights how persistent the problem remains, and our findings show that drivers are feeling the impact, both financially and in terms of road safety.
“The current Labour Ggvernment has recently pledged over £7.3bn to be dedicated to road maintenance over the next four years. This pledge is over double what was previously invested in road maintenance, and therefore, this report provides a good baseline as to where could benefit the most from this budget.
“The age discrepancies between those facing damages from potholes are also interesting. Younger drivers are most commonly spending over £200 on vehicle repairs caused by driving over a pothole. This could be down to their lesser experience on the roads, with limited awareness of how road surfaces can impact a vehicle.”
