THE number of pothole-related breakdowns attended by RAC patrols from October to December 2016 gave rise to the first fourth quarter increase in this type of problem since 2013, new figures have revealed.

While the overall picture revealed by the RAC Pothole Index is surprisingly one of improvement, the RAC fears this fourth quarter increase in the proportion of vehicle breakdowns where poor road surface quality was likely to be a contributory factor should be seen as a warning sign that the underlying condition of the UK’s roads is still very poor.

From October to December 2016 the RAC saw a 24 per cent increase in the number of potential pothole-related call-outs – such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels (3,962 in Q4 2015 to 4,903 in Q4 2016) – attended by its patrols compared to the same period the previous year. The true damage effect of potholes on vehicles is, however, likely to be greater as the analysis does not include punctures which, of course, could be caused by potholes as well as many other common causes.

The analysis, published to coincide with National Pothole Day on 16 January, looks at the number and the percentage share of the RAC’s pothole-related breakdowns in comparison to all other types of call-out, and compares these with historic trends in rainfall and frost data to give a comprehensive understanding of the state of the country’s roads.

RAC chief engineer David Bizley said: “This is a particularly worrying finding because of course much of the country has not experienced harsh winter conditions for three years and rainfall in the fourth quarter of 2016 was the lowest in that period for more than a decade. Rain can be the catalyst for the formation of potholes, particularly in the winter when frosts are also common but despite the low rainfall the number of pothole faults attended by RAC in Q4 2016 is still higher than in the same period in the two previous years.”