The RAC delivered troubling news for motorists recently when it published statistics on pothole-related callouts.

According to the figures, the third quarter of 2021 was the worst in 15 years for pothole-induced damage.

From July to September last year, the company responded to 1,810 breakdown callouts for broken springs, bent or cracked wheels and damaged dampers. Those callouts represented 1.2% of the total during that period - significantly higher than normal.

The organisation’s Pothole Index has been tracking these breakdowns since 2006. According to this data, today, drivers are 1.5 times more likely to experience a pothole-related breakdown than in 2006.

What does this mean for garages?

Well, if the situation doesn’t improve soon, you can expect an increasein the number of broken shocks, springs and wheels you’re asked to replace - and the number of wheel alignments you need to complete.

RAC Head of Roads Policy, Nicholas Lyes, said: “With government data showing weekday car traffic is still not quite back to pre-pandemic levels, it’s very worrying that our patrols are still attending a higher proportion of pothole-related call-outs in relation to all the breakdowns they go out to.

“Traditionally, the spring and summer months give authorities a chance to repair and improve roads, but unfortunately it seems many roads remain in a perilous state. We fear we’re only a bad winter away from seeing a plague of potholes which authorities will struggle to repair.

“When it comes to potholes, prevention is always better than cure. Relying on just patching potholes is a fruitless task which simply pours good money after bad as it only acts as a sticking plaster. This will anger drivers incredibly as they already feel not enough of their motoring taxes are invested in keeping roads up to a respectable standard.”