HOT summer weather is making potholes worse — leaving thousands with big car repair bills.
The AA had more than 50,000 calls last month from drivers with vehicles damaged by the craters.
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It said high temperatures had broken up already weak roads by softening the bitumen in asphalt, making surfaces more susceptible to deformation.
Worn tyres are also more likely to fail in heat, while warmer weather has seen a rise in tourists using poorly maintained rural roads.
Potholes can cause broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers.
The average repair bill for anything more than a puncture was £460, figures show.
AA president Edmund King said: “This summer’s heatwave has starkly exposed the fragility of Britain’s roads.
“We urge the Government and local authorities to redouble their efforts in tackling the pothole crisis, prioritising rural routes and frequently used cycling and motorcycling corridors.”
Sir Keir Starmer has called on councils to “get on with the job” of mending the menaces.
The cost of bringing local roads across England and Wales up to scratch has been estimated at a record £16.8billion.
Local roads maintenance funding for this financial year is nearly £1.6billion, up £500million on the previous year.
It is estimated to be enough to fix around seven million potholes.
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