Nearly six out of 10 drivers said the condition and maintenance of local roads was one of their top motoring concerns, according to a new survey by the RAC.
For the first time ever, a majority of drivers (56%) surveyed for the RAC Report on Motoring said that the state of the roads looked after by councils was one of their top driving-related concerns.
Almost three-quarters (73%) of the surveyed drivers told the RAC the condition of the local roads they use regularly is poorer than a year ago, compared to 67% last year and just 49% in 2019.
More than a quarter of drivers (27%) say their vehicle has suffered damage as a result of potholes in the last year, a figure which rises to 32% among those who live in rural areas.
Responding to the report, Cllr Claire Holland, transport spokesperson for the Local Government Association, said ‘limited resources’ and the £16.3bn local roads repair backlog meant councils ‘have had to prioritise road repairs according to local circumstances.’
‘Inflation and ongoing pressures from other council services mean that money for fixing potholes is constrained,’ she continued.
‘Many factors affect repair rates, such as the road profile, traffic levels and available budgets.
‘As this report highlights, the new government should commit to maintain the previous administration’s spending plans for local highways maintenance, alongside the need for long-term funding certainty, to help better support resurfacing schemes and prevent potholes in the first place.’
This article first appeared on local.gov.uk.
