THE number of vehicles breaking down after hitting potholes has soared to a new high, statistics show.
Close to 6,000 calls were made to the RAC as a result of the state of roads in the three months to September.
Britain’s pothole crisis is spiralling out of controlDean Hope
It marks a 46 per cent increase on the same period last year and it is the most since the RAC started recording figures in 2006.
Damage included shock absorbers, suspension springs and distorted wheels, with the average repair £440.
Estimates for fixing the damaged roads are understood to be around £14billion.
It comes after Dean Hope, 41, climbed into a 5ft crater to show its depth — with just his head poking out — in East London in April.
The RAC’s Simon Williams said: “Our analysis of pothole-related breakdowns is sadly once again showing that the substandard state of the country’s local roads is causing a world of pain for drivers, let alone those on two wheels.
The Government says it will provide £8.3billion to fix holes after scrapping the HS2 railway north of Birmingham.
A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We are investing a record amount of funding into tackling potholes and resurfacing roads, which will see highway maintenance funding to local authorities almost doubled over the next decade.”
Darren Rodwell, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said: “Councils much prefer to invest in more cost-effective and resilient resurfacing than retrospectively dealing with potholes.”