We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time
The start point for the best source of fleet information |
The cost of fixing vehicle damage caused by potholes on UK roads has reached £915 million a year, a survey carried out for Kwik Fit has found.
The figure was up from £684 million two years ago - a 34% increase.
The average cost of repairing damage to components including tyres, wheels, suspension and bodywork has risen only slightly from £108.60 in 2016 to £111 this year.
However, the number of drivers whose vehicles have suffered damage has gone up significantly over the last 24 months - from 6.3 million drivers a year to 8.2 million -meaning the total bill for repairs has increased by £231 million.
Of the drivers surveyed, 70% said they hit at least one pothole a week, with a quarter hitting one every day.
A quarter of drivers who said they had hit a pothole suffered damage to their vehicle, most commonly to tyres, but also to wheels, suspension and bodywork.
Most respondents said they thought roads were deteriorating, with 76% saying that the road surfaces on their most frequently made journeys are in a worse condition than five years ago, and 52% saying they are significantly worse.
Kwik Fit communications director Roger Griggs said: "The poor condition of the road network is hitting motorists' wallets ever harder.
"Unfortunately, experience of past years has shown us that the recent cold weather will only make the problem worse and we are likely to see even more drivers suffering serious damage from impacts with potholes.
"It's important to note that while sometimes a pothole will cause a blow out to a tyre, in many cases the damage is not immediately obvious.
"Often a pothole can cause a slow puncture, bulge on the inside tyre wall or hairline crack in the wheel rim, which only becomes evident days after the impact."
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
