The AA reports the summer washout has resulted in August pothole related breakdowns at their highest for five years.
- Third worst August and third worst summer for pothole incidents (145,726 from June to August).
- Unseasonable weather contributed to 48,994 pothole-related incidents during August alone
- Holiday misery for those who did make it away only to be faced with a garage bill
- “2023 heading towards the podium of ‘Worst Year for Potholes’” says AA head of roads policy
The AA Pothole index shows that related breakdowns are 13% up on August 2022.
This is despite large numbers of motorists cancelling day trips, weekend breaks and even holidays because of the bad weather this summer. AA research among its members found that 15% cancelled day trips and 6% gave up on weekend breaks or longer motoring holidays this summer because of the downpours.
The flip side of this is that rain and surface water will have hidden potholes and other defects on rural roads. That made it more likely that visitors on unfamiliar country lanes and minor roads would have dropped their vehicle in a hole.
Wet weather hiding road defects in August is being blamed for the surge in pothole callouts and related vehicle breakdowns.
This compares to 41,790 pothole related breakdowns in July, which was another wet month.
The AA has attended 411,166 pothole related incidents so far this year.
The AA cited that the most common problems found on August pothole callouts were damaged shock absorbers, broken springs and buckled wheels.
A race against time
Councils now find themselves in a race against time to repair as many potholes as possible before winter sets in.
Local authorities lost numerous repair days this summer due to the wetter conditions, and are now keeping their fingers crossed for a dry spell to make up for lost time.
The warm start to September could be the calm before the storm as roads deteriorate once the colder and wetter weather hits.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at the AA, said: “During what felt like a continuous spell of rain throughout August, drivers faced the now familiar challenge of trying to spot potholes lurking beneath the surface of rainwater.
Some drivers’ attempts to avoid damage to tyres, suspensions and steering mechanisms appear to have been in vain as we witnessed another year-on-year increase in pothole-related incidents.
Councils now have a very small window of time to get as much of their repair work carried out as possible before the real autumn and winter weather hits, meaning their road teams will need to work flat out to restore the roads before the weather really turns against them.
2023 looks set to reach the podium of ‘Worst Year for Potholes’, but which colour medal remains to be seen. With this year’s running total of pothole-related breakdowns already at 411,168 compared to previous annual totals of 594,876 (2019) and 637,932 (2017), the current toll looks comfortable for a bronze at least. An awful autumn could see it make a dash for gold. That’s why, with the Autumn Statement due in November, drivers and local councils alike will be hoping for some more pothole funding.”
Winter is fast approaching and the damage caused to vehicles through no fault of your own is prohibitive.
How to claim for pothole damage
Knowing how to claim for pothole damage is becoming increasingly difficult due to Councils moving to a risk-based approach on claims.
REPORT IT
If you hit a pothole and you believe it has damaged your vehicle, you need to report it as soon as possible. You can do this via www.fixmystreet.com or www.fillthathole.org.uk or simply contact the local authority direct by phone or via Twitter.
TAKE PHOTOS
Take photos if possible to evidence your claim. If it is safe to do so, put your foot by the pothole or in it for scale. I would suggest measuring it as well but nobody carries a ruler for such events, hence suggesting this.
PROVIDE A SKETCH WITH YOUR CLAIM TO PINPOINT THE POTHOLE
You will be asked to help the local authority find the pothole as there are that many on the roads. A simple sketch will suffice.
GET AN ESTIMATE FOR COST OF REPAIRS / PROVIDE A COPY RECEIPT
You are seeking a full refund for the damage caused due to the negligence of the local authority. Include this in your claim from the outset.
SUBMIT AN EIR / FOI REQUEST
Ask for 12 months’ worth of inspection reports and how many times this pothole has been reported. When was the last repair made? Was it reported before you hit it? You can also find out how many times it has been reported via www.fixmystreet.com and www.fillthathole.org.uk.
This is just the start of the process. You can find out more in my book “How to Complain: The Consumer Guide to Cancelling Parking Tickets and Winning Pothole Claims”.
Parking tickets and pothole claims are the two biggest issues affecting motorists today. This is why I wrote a book because it’s something I often get asked about.
I have done the hard work so you don’t have to.
What do you think of the latest AA findings? Do you think wet weather is to blame for the record number of pothole callouts? Have you tried to claim for pothole damage? Did you win a pothole claim?
