Lockdown hasn’t contained the pothole plague
12 February 2021
Despite a reduction in traffic volumes due to Covid-19 restrictions, the RAC saw a large volume of pothole-related breakdowns in the fourth quarter of last year (2020) with 1,461 call outs. We at Marshall Minibus leasing are always interested to read the latest motoring news and statistics and are pleased to be able to share this information with you.
Analysis released for National Pothole Day found that these call outs for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels accounted for 0.9% of all breakdowns. A figure which is identical to the same period in the previous year (2019).
The RAC expressed its concern with the findings, given that, in theory, with traffic levels reduced there should be less damage to road surfaces.
RAC head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said, “While the actual number of pothole-related call-outs our patrols have attended is down significantly compared to the same time in 2019 due to lower traffic volumes in the pandemic, they account for the same proportion (0.9%) of all RAC rescues which clearly demonstrates there are still far too many poorly maintained roads.
“We realise council budgets are under incredible pressure due to the coronavirus, but we badly need the Government to recognise the significance of local roads and take a fresh look at how to fund them.
“The Government’s approach of allocating funding to councils from various pots on an annual basis means authorities are always having to play catch-up by fixing potholes rather than focusing on preventative maintenance. We would prefer to see them make five-year funding settlements which would allow councils to make longer-term plans for their roads. This could be funded by introducing a similar scheme to the National Roads Fund which ringfences money paid in vehicle excise duty by road users in England for the upkeep of major roads.”
The data also showed that RAC patrols attended 1,871 breakdowns likely attributed to potholes in the third quarter of 2020. The RAC called it ‘the highest third-quarter percentage of all RAC breakdowns seen since 2015’.
The RAC’s ‘Report on Motoring’ found that potholes were a number one concern amongst drivers, according to 38% of 3,068 drivers surveyed. The RAC Pothole Index currently stands at 1.7, meaning drivers are 1.7 times more likely to break down as a result of pothole-related damage than they were in 2006.
It appears that the South East has been worst affected with 242 pothole-related breakdowns (17% of all the pothole-related call outs dealt with by the RAC).
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