Heatwave is making Britain's pothole crisis worse, warns the AA
But experts are now warning that potholes are becoming a year-round problem, with this summer's heatwaves making the situation even worse.
The AA says baking temperatures weaken road surfaces, leading to a spike in pothole-related vehicle breakdowns.
There were 50,000 such call-outs last month, up 2.1 per cent on July 2024 and reversing the declining trend of earlier this year.
The motoring organisation's president Edmund King said the scorching conditions have 'starkly exposed the fragility' of our roads, despite Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously urging councils to 'get on with the job' of repairing them.
Mr King added: 'While investment and repair campaigns have made a difference, the recent setback illustrates much more must be done.
We urge the Government and local authorities to redouble their efforts in tackling the pothole crisis.'
He said worn tyres and an increase in tourists using rural roads were also to blame for the rise in pothole-related calls, with typical problems including damaged shock absorbers, broken springs and distorted wheels.
Ben Rawding of construction equipment maker JCB – which along with the AA is part of the Pothole Partnership campaign group – said the figures show our roads are 'vulnerable' and that we must move away from 'short-term fixes to make lasting progress'.
The cost of fixing potholes across England and Wales is estimated at £16.8billion.
Government funding for local road maintenance in England for this financial year is £1.6billion – a rise of £500million on the previous 12 months.
The Daily Mail has been campaigning for an end to the pothole plague, which is costing motorists millions in repair bills.
A Local Government Association spokesman said 'greater long-term funding certainty' will enable councils to invest in more 'preventative treatments'.
Britain has seen four heatwaves this year, with the latest now forecast to last into next week.
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