Drivers hit with £950 charge due to problem that’s | Tech News

Heavy rainfall initially of the 12 months led to a surge in motorists encountering potholes hid in puddles, in accordance to latest information. The RAC reported that the every day average quantity of pothole complaints it obtained from stranded drivers in February was three-and-a-half instances higher than the identical month final 12 months.

This was attributed to the “incredible amount of standing water” on roads, which was “hiding potholes”. Provisional Met Office figures point out England skilled 42% more rain than standard between December and February, as a collection of low-pressure climate systems swept throughout the UK from the Atlantic, bringing repeated bouts of moist and windy situations.

The heavy rain was significantly noticeable throughout southern and central England. The RAC said that 6,290 of its members cited potholes when reporting breakdowns final month, in contrast with 1,842 in February 2025.

January noticed 5,106 mentions at a every day average of 165, up from 63 in the identical month final 12 months. Common vehicle points attributable to potholes embody broken shock absorbers, damaged suspension springs and bent wheels.

RAC’s head of coverage, Simon Williams, mentioned: “In February, there was an incredible amount of standing water and puddles on our roads, many of which were hiding potholes, which sadly too many drivers fell foul of. While this amount of rain is hard for the saturated land to cope with, the RAC suspects that poor drainage may also be to blame, possibly as a result of councils not carrying out as much of these works as they have done in the past.”

Mr Williams characterised water as “the enemy of the roads” because it infiltrates cracks and – when the temperature plummets under 0C – freezes and expands, main to potholes.

He added: “Preventing water from sitting on our local roads is key to their long-term health, so it’s vital more work to improve drainage is carried out. Without this, drivers will continue to have to fork out their hard-earned money on fixing their cars.”

According to RAC information, the restore invoice for a car struggling more extreme pothole harm than a puncture can escalate to £590.

Tom Hunt, who presides over the Local Government Association’s inclusive growth committee, mentioned: “Councils are very aware of the recent and persistent rainfall and the impact on local highways. Local teams are working hard to fix potholes swiftly.

“However, many components have an effect on how shortly roads may be fixed, together with the climate, security dangers, the kind of street and site visitors ranges, to price range pressures. We urge members of the public to proceed to report potholes and different street harm.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “We are offering councils with a document £7.3 billion over the following 4 years to help them sort out potholes, and it is now over to them to get on with sustaining and upgrading their roads.

“Our new council rating system charts how well they are delivering for local people, including their long-term fixes rather than just patching up potholes.”