Norfolk mechanic says more cars are needing repairs due to potholes
27% of those questioned said their vehicle suffered damage as a result of potholes in the previous 12 months
A mechanic in Norfolk says they're seeing increasing numbers of cars needing to be repaired- due to damage caused by potholes.
Research from insurance company RAC has found that a record number of drivers are worried about the state of local roads, with over half of them having concerns.
"These springs can just break as they're sitting outside after a major impact"
Matthew Moore is from 'Number One Motor Company' based in Norwich: "The common issues that our customers have are broken coil springs and damaged wheels. In fact, issues with coil springs are getting so common that we've had to invest in better machinery to ensure we get this work done quicker.
"Sometimes these springs can just break as they're sitting outside after a major impact. If you hear a noise when you're driving it, especially when you're turning the wheel, it could be the coil that's making a clunking noise.
He has this advice for those on two or four wheels: "Avoid mounting high-curbs at high-speed. The road speed bumps are there for a reason, so don't go over them at normal speed, try to keep your speed down to 5/10mph- just so you don't damage your suspension."
A closer look at the survey:
More than half of drivers (56%) said the condition and maintenance of roads for which councils are responsible was one of their top motoring concerns, a survey commissioned by the RAC indicated.
That is up seven percentage points from 2023, and is the first time the figure has been above 50% since the motoring services company began including the topic in its annual poll in 2015.
Nearly three out of four (73%) respondents to the latest survey said the condition of the local roads they use regularly was poorer than a year earlier, compared with 67% who agreed with that statement in 2023.
The figure rose to 81% for drivers in rural areas.
Some 27% of those questioned said their vehicle suffered damage as a result of potholes in the previous 12 months.
The most common problem reported was a puncture (47%), followed by wheel damage (43%) and broken suspension springs (29%).
The RAC has written to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh and roads minister Lilian Greenwood calling for urgent clarification on the future of local roads maintenance funding.
What's being done to improve our roads?
Norfolk County Council says it's putting £133 million into maintaining and improving the county's roads- a £29 million increase on last year's budget.
Claire Holland, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, which represents councils in England and Wales, said: "Limited resources and a £16.3 billion local roads repair backlog means councils have had to prioritise road repairs according to local circumstances.
"Inflation and ongoing pressures from other council services mean that money for fixing potholes is constrained.
"The new government should commit to maintain the previous administration's spending plans for local highways maintenance, alongside the need for long-term funding certainty, to help better support resurfacing schemes and prevent potholes in the first place."
In October 2023, the Conservative government announced it would provide £8.3 billion of extra funding over 11 years to fix potholes in England.
This was part of its Network North strategy to use money saved by scrapping the planned extension of HS2 north of Birmingham.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Rebuilding Britain means modernising our transport infrastructure, and we are absolutely committed to tackling the poor state of our local roads.
"We will maintain and renew the network, including supporting local authorities to fix up to one million more potholes a year, to ensure our roads serve users, are safe and tackle congestion."