Pothole-Related Breakdowns Rose 15% Last Year — and Your Fuel Costs Are Part of the Problem

71 Pothole Breakdowns Every Day

New data from the RAC reveals that 26,048 drivers suffered pothole-related breakdowns in 2025 — a 15% increase on the previous year and the equivalent of 71 breakdowns every single day.

The figures, published as part of the RAC's Pothole Index, track breakdowns caused by damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs, and distorted wheels — all injuries directly linked to poor road surfaces. The numbers exclude punctures, since those could be caused by debris rather than road condition.

The final quarter of 2025 also saw a rise, with 290 more pothole-related breakdowns between October and December compared to the same period in 2024.

Why This Matters for Fuel Costs

Potholes don't just damage your car — they hit your wallet at the pump too. Poor road surfaces force drivers to brake and accelerate more frequently, reducing fuel efficiency. Damaged suspension and misaligned wheels from pothole impacts can increase rolling resistance, meaning your engine has to work harder and burn more fuel to cover the same distance.

The RAC estimates that a typical pothole repair costs up to £590 for anything worse than a puncture. Combined with the extra fuel you're burning on rough roads, the true cost of the UK's road crisis is significantly higher than most drivers realise.

The Government's Response

The government recently introduced a new traffic light ratings system for council road maintenance. The results aren't encouraging:

• Only 17% of councils in England are rated 'green' for road conditions
• 7% are rated 'red' — the worst category
• Just three councils (Portsmouth, Rotherham, and West Berkshire) score green in all categories

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: "Record levels of funding from central Government should spell the end of the woeful roads many drivers are sadly used to. But as our latest data shows, drivers are still breaking down in their thousands as a direct result of potholes."

How Bad Roads Affect Your Driving Costs

The connection between road quality and running costs is often overlooked. Here's how poor roads hit your pocket:

• Suspension and wheel damage — repairs averaging £590 per incident
• Increased fuel consumption — rough surfaces and constant speed changes reduce fuel economy by an estimated 5–10%
• Tyre wear — potholes and uneven surfaces accelerate tyre degradation
• Insurance premiums — pothole damage claims can affect your no-claims bonus

What You Can Do

While you can't fix the roads yourself, you can minimise the financial impact:

• Report potholes — most councils have online reporting tools, and the more reports a pothole receives, the faster it's likely to be fixed
• Keep tyres properly inflated — this improves fuel economy and helps absorb impacts better
• Reduce speed on poor surfaces — slower speeds give you more time to spot and avoid hazards
• Compare fuel prices — if you're spending more on fuel because of rough roads, at least make sure you're paying the lowest price per litre. Use FuelNearby to check prices before filling up
• Check your alignment — if your car pulls to one side after hitting a pothole, get your wheel alignment checked. Misalignment increases fuel consumption and causes uneven tyre wear

*Source: RAC Drive*