Motorists have been warned that February is the most dangerous month of the year for ‘pothole prangs’ as research reveals a dramatic increase in pothole damage claims this time last year.
Analysis by public sector insurer Zurich Municipal found that last year local authorities saw a 66% increase in pothole-related vehicle damage claims.
It also revealed that claims in the month of February doubled compared to 2022.
Alix Bedford, risk expert, at Zurich UK, commented: ‘Many local roads are already well past their designed lifespan and continuous added pressure coupled with more extreme weather events will eventually mean that patching up potholes will no longer be sufficient.
‘It will get to the point where roads will need to be completely resurfaced. This can be seen as an expensive option, and may cause short term disruption, but investment in the resilience of the roads network will provide longer term relief for road users.’
The South West has seen the biggest increase in pothole-related damage claims over the last year with a 175% increase, closely followed by the West Midlands (154%) and Yorkshire and Humber (74%).
For more on the threat of potholes, check out: Potholes: the drivers’ biggest pain
