The AA attended more than 52,000 ‘pothole-related’ breakdowns last month, which was 1,735 a day and a 29% increase compared to the same month last year.
The motoring organisation said the first four months the year saw pothole breakdowns rise by a quarter (23%) compared to 2022 and that if current rates continue across the remainder of the year, ‘2023 looks set to be the second worst year for road conditions behind 2018’.
The AA said it is urging drivers and riders to make 2023 ‘The Year of the Pothole’ by reporting every blemish, crack and crater they see, no matter how small, to highlight the crumbling state of UK roads and challenge councils to repair their infrastructure.
It pointed out that while councils have a responsibility to inspect roads on a regular basis, they cannot be held responsible for a pothole they did not now about.
Head of roads policy Jack Cousens said: ‘The pothole pandemic looks set to remain for quite some time, with little hope of a cure on the horizon.
‘In order to help government and councils understand the true state of our roads we need the public to report every pothole they see. Regardless of their size, depth, the type of road and its position in the lane, we need to make 2023 “The Year of the Pothole” so we can get our roads repaired.’
He added: ‘Potholes come in all shapes and sizes, each one posing a different type of danger. While the worst are like deep caves, shallower splits that snake across the surface can catch the wheels of cyclists causing severe damage.
‘On safety grounds alone, we need to do all we can to shine a light on the awful condition of UK roads.’
