Potholes cause £7.5billion in damages every year as drivers demand more funding to fix roads
Poorly maintained roads are causing a staggering £16billion worth of damage
PA
Potholes on roads around the UK are costing drivers an estimated £7.5billion in damages, with many Britons facing car damage from potholes in the last year.
Nearly half of all motorists (45 per cent) said their vehicle had been damaged because of poorly maintained roads over the last 12 months.
On average, motorists are being forced to pay £922 to fix any damages to their car, with a quarter saying they had an accident or near miss because of a pothole.
Potholes are the main culprit for the potholes, accounting for more than a quarter of damages, leading to repairs of £718 on average.
Experts are demanding more money to fund pothole repairs
PA
Poorly maintained roads are causing a staggering £16billion worth of damage, with potholes being responsible for £7.5billion in the last year.
Other common road faults causing damage includes road debris, loose tarmac or uneven and damaged road surfaces.
A new Freedom of Information request from Halfords has found that UK councils have paid out just £907,552 to motorists in compensation.
West Northamptonshire Council received 849 claims from motorists for pothole damage but paid just one claim, worth £148.
Graham Stapleton, CEO of Halfords, said: “The figures are very worrying and highlight the true cost of the lack of investment in UK roads.
“The Government announced an extra £200million in the last budget to fix UK roads – but this is just a drop in the ocean compared to the repairs costs motorists are facing each year.
“Motorists are literally paying for the Government’s lack of investment in our highways - at a time when few can afford it.”
Another council, Worcester County Council paid “between one and five claims” despite boasting of its “good defence rate for highway claims”.
On the other hand, Wiltshire County Council paid out 42 per cent of claims it received, totalling more than £95,000.
Graham Stapleton continued, saying: “It’s not just about cost, it’s about safety, with nearly a quarter of motorists saying a pothole in the road has led to an accident or a near miss.
“Few things are more frightening than being presented with a huge pothole when travelling on a motorway at full speed – forcing drivers to make a split-second decision as to whether they can avoid it, or simply have to plough through it and hope for the best.
“And as the freedom of information request shows – even if they do make a claim, the chances of getting any compensation are minimal.
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On average, motorists are being forced to pay £922 to fix any damages to their car
PA
“I urge the Government to increase this funding if they are truly on the side of the motorist.”
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