Local authorities paid out £3.1m to compensate victims of pothole damage last year, with Wiltshire Council making the biggest pay-outs at £508,000.
A survey of 2,000 motorists found that 33 per cent have suffered damage to their vehicles due to poor road surfaces, including tyres and suspension problems.
The study for Confused.com also found that more than a million potholes were reported to councils in 2016, costing councils an additional £104 million on road repairs.
Researchers have calculated that the UK’s potholes have a total depth of more than 25 miles, which is almost four times deeper than the Pacific Ocean.
The figures were obtained following Freedom of Information requests to 412 local authorities.
Biggest compensation pay outs for vehicle repairs
Local authority | Total compensation pay out in 2016 | Number of potholes in 2016 |
Wiltshire | £507,546 | 6,803 |
Surrey | £343,685 | 31,104 |
Cardiff | £288,025 | 2,928 |
Hampshire | £152,630 | 12,072 |
Staffordshire | £117,239 | 11,526 |
Confused.com motoring editor, Amanda Stretton said: “Scrolling to depths of 25 miles really puts the UK’s pothole problem into perspective.
“They are a major bugbear among drivers, not least because of the damage they do to our vehicles – around £3.1 million worth of damage.
“If drivers experience a bump in the road, they should report it to their local council as soon as possible before the problem gets any worse.”
Have you realised an increase in pothole related damage in your workshops? Let us know in the comments below.
David Paterson
Less leaning on shovels; more council responsibility/action. Poor roads can be highly dangerous and the cause of accidents as well as damage to vehicles. Avoidable!