Drivers warned to expect pothole surge due to recent heavy rain and freezing temperatures damaging roads

The RAC is warning drivers that heavy rain falling either side of December’s freezing temperatures has damaged roads and will lead to a surge in potholes.

Road surfaces can crumble when rainwater enters cracks and expands when frozen.

And the motoring group said the bad weather could mean by spring the nation’s roads will be covered in potholes.

RAC head of roads policy, Nicholas Lyes, said: “The wet weather we’ve had both before and after the coldest start to winter in 12 years in December is the perfect recipe for potholes to start peppering the roads.

“We fear that by the spring, drivers will be plagued by a plethora of potholes across the country’s roads which makes journeys uncomfortable and frustrating or, worse still, could lead to very expensive garage repair bills.

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“It’s also important to remember that potholes are so much more than just an annoyance, they are a true road safety danger, especially for those on two wheels as they represent a huge risk to their personal safety.

“There are too many occasions where potholes have been poorly patched up by cash-strapped councils which then return all too quickly.

“It’s frankly absurd that, as a country, we seem unable to get on top of such an age-old problem when roads play such an important role in people’s everyday lives.”

The motoring group is being called out to an increasing number of pothole-related vehicle breakdowns.

According to RAC data, between October and December last year, it responded to an average of 20 call-outs a day for faults such as damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.

This is up from 16 a day during the previous three months, according to the figures which were released to mark Sunday’s National Pothole Day.

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “We are investing more than £5bn from 2020 to 2025 into local highways maintenance – including the Potholes Fund announced at the 2020 Budget.

“This will fill millions of potholes a year, repair dozens of bridges, and resurface roads up and down the country.”

Additional reporting by Press Association.