AA: Drivers urged to report every road surface blemish as pothole breakdowns soar

Drivers are being urged to report every road surface crack “no matter how small” amid a surge in pothole-related breakdowns.

The AA, which issued the plea, said it wants authorities to “understand the true state of our roads”.

In April, the company received more than 52,000 call outs to vehicles stranded due to faults likely caused by potholes.

That represents a 29% increase on the same month in 2022.

Common problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.

If the level of pothole-related breakdowns continues at the current rate, 2023 will be the second worst year on record for road conditions, behind only 2018.

The AA said councils have a responsibility to inspect local roads on a regular basis but “cannot be held responsible for a pothole they didn’t know about”.

Jack Cousens, AA head of roads policy, said: “The pothole pandemic looks set to remain for quite some time, with little hope of a cure on the horizon.

“In order to help Government and councils understand the true state of our roads, we need the public to report every pothole they see.

AA urge motorists to report road surface blemishes as pothole incidents rise STV News

“Regardless of their size, depth, the type of road and its position in the lane, we need to make 2023 The Year of the Pothole so we can get our roads repaired.

“Potholes come in all shapes and sizes, each one posing a different type of danger.

“While the worst are like deep caves, shallower splits that snake across the surface can catch the wheels of cyclists causing severe damage.

“On safety grounds alone, we need to do all we can to shine a light on the awful condition of UK roads.”

A Cosla spokesperson said: “Road safety is a key priority for councils across Scotland and they are working hard to proactively repair potholes where they can.

“However, in the context of competing demands for limited resources, funding for road maintenance has decreased over the last few years.

“During our Budget SOS Lobbying Campaign, we made clear that councils needed £1bn to maintain service levels and meet targets.

“Clearly, we received less than that, and roads funding has again suffered as a result.”