Pothole-related car insurance claims have risen by 171% in the first four months of 2018, new research has revealed today.
The AA warned potholes are costing motorists and insurers at least £1m per month, with an estimated 4,200 claims made for damage so far this year.
The AA added there were more pothole claims made during the first four months of 2018 than for the whole of last year.
Janet Connor, the AA’s director of insurance, said: ‘This year we are seeing a growing number of pothole claims described as: “car severely damaged and un-driveable” which didn’t happen at all last year.
‘The pothole epidemic has become nothing short of a national disgrace.’
Ms Connor is calling for the Government to ring-fence 2p per litre of current fuel duty to create a £1bn ‘pothole fund’ for local councils.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said only 'long-term, consistent' investment from the Government would enable councils to improve the local road network.
Cllr Martin Tett, the LGA’s transport spokesman, said: 'The LGA has been calling on the Government to annually reinvest a portion of existing fuel duty into local road maintenance which would generate much needed funding for councils to spend on improving roads and filling potholes and begin addressing the £9.31bn roads repair backlog.
'In the short term, councils are likely to need more support from the Government as the full extent of the repairs needed after the recent winter weather has been made known, and we hope that the Government will stand ready to provide this.'