Breakdowns caused by potholes shot up by 17% in the last three months of 2024 compared to the summer, highlighting how bad Britain’s roads have become, according to the RAC’s Pothole Index.
From October to December, RAC patrols helped 4,709 drivers dealing with damage to shock absorbers, broken suspension springs, or bent wheels — 669 more than the previous quarter. These types of issues are often caused by worn-out or damaged road surfaces.
Nearly 40% of breakdowns during this period were due to punctures, with potholes being a major culprit alongside nails and screws. This made punctures the most common breakdown cause in any quarter of 2024.
Potholes usually form when water from rain, melted snow, or ice gets into cracks in the road, then freezes and expands, breaking up the surface. Interestingly, there were fewer frost days and less rain than average at the end of 2024, but pothole-related breakdowns still went up.
The recent icy blast earlier this month might make things worse in 2025, as water freezing in cracks could cause more potholes to appear.
If your car needs repairs after hitting a pothole, you’re looking at an average bill of £460 — nearly double the £260 most councils paid out for pothole compensation claims in 2023.
RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said, “The poor condition of Britain’s roads is by far and away drivers’ top concern, yet despite the mild weather our figures show there was no relief from the problem in the final quarter of 2024 – with our patrols attending more pothole-related breakdowns compared to three months earlier.
“In the aftermath of this month’s blast of snow and ice, we may see the unwelcome trend continue in 2025 as excess water freezes and expands in cracks on the roads. To prevent water-damaged roads in future, we urge local highways authorities to resurface those in the worst condition and surface dress other roads to stop them deteriorating further.
“Hopefully the Government funding announced before Christmas will go some way towards literally filling in the cracks, giving road users smoother, safer surfaces. The £1.6bn allocated to pothole repairs is the biggest one-off road maintenance settlement councils in England have ever been given. What’s especially positive is it comes with guidance to use the money wisely by carrying out preventative maintenance, which we hope stops more potholes appearing in the future.”
Britain’s pothole problem is costing drivers both time and money, and unless serious action is taken, the trend could continue to worsen in 2025. Is it time for a complete overhaul of how we maintain our roads?
