Furious motorists suffer the consequences of ruined roads

Potholes – they are more than just an inconvenience, they damage vehicles and cause accidents.

According to the AA, more than 13 million drivers suffered damage to their vehicles over a two-year period.

Last year, 1,031,787 potholes were reported to local councils.

In November, a coroner warned failure to fix shallower potholes was putting cyclists at risk.

So what is the solution?

The Local Government Association believes the key is to put money from vehicles straight back into local road repairs.

Earlier this autumn, it issued a call for the government to match rising income from fuel and tax to allow councils to spend an extra £400m each year on improving local roads.

The move was praised by a spokesman from V12 Sports and Classics who frequently sees the damage caused by potholes.

“I think the Local Government Association’s proposal was a great idea,” he said.

“Potholes are estimated to cause as many as one in 10 mechanical failures on our roads so anything which would help to address that has got to be a positive.”

Putting forward its plan, the LGA said if the government matched the increase in fuel and motoring tax income generated over the last 10 years, councils would have an extra £418m to spend.

With our roads busier than ever before, the national voice of local government said the time to act was now.

“The government needs to develop a fully funded plan to help councils deliver the desperately-needed local road improvements we need,” said LGA transport spokesman Martin Tett.

“This should include matching the extra growth in tax take with the funding it provides councils.

“This would see councils given an extra £400 million a year to spend on filling potholes, easing congestion and protect vital bus routes. Only with long-term funding can councils deliver roads truly fit for the 21st century.”

Earlier this year, Confused.com published in-depth research showing the extent of the UKs pothole problem.

Following Freedom of Information requests to almost 200 local authorities, the insurance company revealed 1,031,787 potholes were reported across the UK in 2016.

The West Midlands had 72,462 potholes, reaching a total depth of 2,806m.

According to V12 Sports and Classics this isn’t just an inconvenience – it can cause serious damage to vehicles.

Problems can range from damage to the suspension or shocks to wearing brake pads and split tyres.

The figures back this up.

Confused.com also revealed a third of drivers had their cars damaged by potholes and councils had paid out £3.1m compensation in 2016.

V12 Sports and Classics is one of the fastest growing independent car supermarkets in the UK.

It offers more than 850 cars across three showrooms in Hinckley, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton.

V12 Sports and Classics is also the only car supermarket professionally associated with the AA.

For more information on how the team could help you find your dream car visit www.v12sportsandclassics.co.uk or pop into one of the showrooms.