Britain’s deteriorating road infrastructure has triggered an alarming surge in suspension-related vehicle breakdowns, with RAC data revealing a 9% year-on-year increase in the second quarter of 2025. Between April and June, RAC technicians attended 6,575 breakdowns involving damaged suspension components, up from 6,050 during the same period in 2024. Most concerning is the 23% jump in suspension spring failures, rising from 3,887 to 4,779 year-on-year.
The underlying cause appears rooted in Britain’s worsening pothole epidemic. Nearly 630,000 potholes were reported across England, Scotland, and Wales in 2023—a five-year high that reflects accelerating infrastructure deterioration. The first quarter of 2025 saw pothole-related breakdowns more than double compared to the previous quarter, a trend I’ve noticed correlates directly with delayed maintenance schedules. Councils are now under pressure to implement digital reporting systems that will enable transparent tracking of repairs as mandated by the government.
This crisis extends beyond inconvenience to substantial economic damage, estimated at £14.7 billion annually for England alone. Vehicle owners face an average repair cost of £460 per incident for damage beyond simple punctures, with suspension components bearing the brunt of road surface irregularities. Shock absorbers, springs, and wheels endure excessive stress when traversing degraded surfaces, accelerating component fatigue. Pothole-related compensation claims have more than doubled from 8,327 in 2022 to 20,432 in 2023, yet only 15% of these claims were approved by councils.
Government response includes a recently announced £1.6 billion pothole repair fund, exceeding previous commitments by £500 million. This forms part of a broader £4.8 billion road investment strategy for England, with councils now required to report repair progress or risk losing up to 25% of their allocation.
The ambitious target: filling 7 million potholes over several years. However, the maintenance backlog remains challenging. Despite increased funding, experts estimate £17 billion is needed to fully restore England and Wales’ local road network. At current rates, clearing the pothole backlog would take approximately 12 years, assuming no further deterioration.
Meanwhile, motorist safety concerns grow as the RAC’s Pothole Index rose 17% in late 2024, reflecting the increasing probability of breakdown-inducing damage on Britain’s crumbling roads.
