UK drivers face £164 pothole restore payments as one in three automobiles broken
One in three cars have been damaged by a pothole, with the average repair bill costing £164 as UK road conditions worsen
One in five motorists describe the state of the roads as ‘very poor’(Image: PinPep)
One in three cars have been damaged by a pothole – setting drivers back an average of £164 for repairs. A survey of 2,000 car owners revealed that 32% have suffered vehicle damage due to driving over a pothole, with punctured tyres (55%), suspension problems (28%) and damaged alloys (26%) being the most common issues.
But it’s not just the cars that bear the brunt, as more than one in 20 (6%) motorists have sustained physical injuries, such as whiplash, back and neck pain after hitting a pothole.
Potholes are at the top of drivers’ grievances – with nearly half believing road conditions have deteriorated over the past five years, with 21% describing the current state as ‘very poor’.
According to research, 22% claim to dodge at least 11 potholes during a typical journey, while 37% are compelled to swerve to avoid a dip in the road.
CarSupermarket.com, which commissioned the study, has intervened to help drivers by repairing and reconditioning potholes in alignment with its refreshed branding and wider focus on reconditioned vehicles.
The new approach centres on meticulously reconditioning previously loved cars, restoring them to high quality standards before a fresh driver collects it to treasure it again.
“Potholes are a persistent problem for drivers,” Matt Barrick, CEO of the motoring brand, said. “We were keen to tackle the primary problem for motorists by reconditioning potholes and relieving some of that anxiety they face when taking to the road.”
The OnePoll.com survey discovered that alongside potholes, drivers were fuming about motorists not indicating (59%), tailgating (57%) and drivers on the phone (54%). Additional irritations include parking across two spaces (48%) and pedestrians crossing the road without looking (40%).
When faced with their frustrations, 43% will rant to themselves, but 24% will sound their horn and 17% have gone as far as to swear at the culprit.
On average, drivers believe they are superior to others on the road, rating themselves 7.45 out of 10 and others 5.97.
Matt Barrick added: “It is no surprise to see people feel roads have gotten worse, whenever there is a cold snap, it feels like more craters appear overnight.
“It is very easy to report a pothole or damage to a road, you visit your local council’s website where you can report damaged road surfaces, or you can report it by phone.
“Once you have reported it, councils will investigate the damage within 10 working days where they will decide to fix the problem, add it to a list of long-term works or decide no further action is needed.”
