New data has revealed that the cost of pothole damage to vehicles in the UK has reached a staggering £1.7bn over the past year.
This represents a significant increase from previous years, despite some efforts across the country to improve road conditions.
The Kwik Fit Pothole Impact Tracker (PIT) report, which monitors the annual cost of pothole damage, found that the average repair bill for drivers has risen to £144, the highest since the company began tracking the cost in 2013.
Over one million drivers have faced repair bills exceeding £300.
The most common types of damage caused by potholes include tyre damage (38%), suspension damage (28%), and wheel damage (22%).
However, the impact of potholes extends beyond these immediate costs. Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are becoming increasingly common in vehicles, and potholes can damage these systems, requiring costly recalibration.
The report also found that 70% of drivers are paying for pothole repairs out of pocket, while only 6% have been able to claim compensation from local authorities.
With the increasing number of cars and vans fitted with large wheels, the cost of tyre damage is also on the rise. Kwik Fit has seen a near doubling of Tyrecare policies taken out over the past two years.
The majority of drivers (51%) believe that road conditions in their area have worsened over the past year, and 62% do not expect any improvement in the near future despite recent government funding announcements.
