-
AA patrols attended a record 52,541 pothole call-outs
during October
-
96% of drivers support calls for increased investment
in road repairs
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Storm Babet rainfall contributes to a 12% increase in
wheel, tyre and suspension damage by covering road
damage
October 2023 has won the dubious honour of the worst October in
history for pothole-related breakdowns, according to the latest
AA Pothole Index.
The AA’s five-star patrols attended 52,5411
pothole-related breakdowns last month, a 12% increase compared to
October last year while edging out the previous record holder of
October 2017 by 389 call-outs. The cumulative total for 2023
stands at more than half a million (510,932), averaging 1,591 a
day.
Source: AA breakdown data October 2017 – 2023
A recent AA survey2 of 11,678 drivers showed that 96%
of respondents supported calls for increased investment in road
repairs, particularly potholes - again, highlighting the urgent
need for the state of Britain’s roads to be addressed by the
government and local councils.
With the recent series of storms continuing to bring heavy rain
and wind, there appears to be no let-up in the danger levels for
road users, particularly cyclists and motorcyclists who are often
forced to ride through puddles without knowing what lies under
the surface.
Last week, the government announced the long-term funding of
local roads maintenance across England, with the redistribution
of £8.3 billion of HS2 money3. This much-needed boost
to local roads investment is long overdue and should help reduce
the number of pothole claims.
Tony Rich, AA public relations manager, said:
“Continuous poor weather and storms such as Babet, Cairan and
Debi are having a two-fold effect on driving conditions. What
feels like relentless rainwater is covering and increasing the
severity of potholes while holding back essential road repairs by
rightly diverting roads maintenance crews to tackle fallen trees
and flooded areas.
“The £8.3 billion Road Maintenance Fund will offer some respite
for drivers, but with the first instalment not being made until
April 2024, the funding can’t come soon enough. We are also
pleased that councils will be encouraged to use the money to
resurface streets rather than patch and run. Ensuring the
structural integrity of the roads is key to road safety.
Until then, our advice to drivers and those on two wheels is to
avoid puddles where safe to do so, but if there is no alternative
other than to travel through, then reduce your speed and keep an
increased distance from the vehicle in front.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
1 Information is taken from AA breakdown data
2 Yonder received 11,678 responses from AA members to
its online poll between 6 - 10 October 2023. Yonder is a member
of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.
3 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/8-billion-boost-to-repair-roads-and-back-drivers
