The motoring organisation said that in the first three months of 2021, their patrols were called to help 4,694 drivers who had most likely broken down from hitting a pothole. This equates to 52 drivers per day, despite the national lockdown in place at the time.

The RAC stated that this was a three-fold increase in breakdowns, too, when compared to the last quarter of 2020. They claimed it was “the largest rise between quarters the RAC has ever seen”.

Some typical indicators of a pothole-related breakdown are broken suspension springs, distorted wheels and damaged shock absorbers. All of these issues can result in costly repairs for motorists who encounter a pothole.

Nicholas Lyes, Head of Roads Policy at RAC, said: “In many cases, the condition of many roads is now in a desperate state. Many drivers are finding themselves having to use roads that in places better resemble the surface of the Moon.

“The quieter roads brought about by national lockdowns could have been an ideal time for councils to start to fix problem road surfaces, ready for the arrival of more traffic as restrictions are eased. Sadly, our data suggests this may not have been the case and may also suggest many councils are still simply patching up potholes rather than fixing them properly.”

The company is urging the Government to acknowledge the state of the country’s roads, and to take action to tackle the problem. 

They propose that while immediate funding goes some way towards filling potholes, it is not a long term solution for dealing with underlying surface issues. Instead, local authorities must plan and carry out routine maintenance.

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The government-owned company has said this is its ‘biggest ever motorway safety campaign’, and is one part of their 18-point action plan. The main message is that drivers should ‘go left’ if they encounter an issue with their vehicle, and will be broadcast across TV, radio, social media and digital channels.

If road users cannot exit the motorway, they are encouraged to move into an emergency area, onto the hard shoulder, into services, the left-hand verge or an A-road lay-by and switch on their hazard warning lights.

The advert was launched shortly after the Department for Transport (DfT) promised a targeted campaign on the subject. Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, said: “With regard to an information campaign so that people understand how to use all motorways, not just smart motorways, that £5m campaign was one of the calls of the stocktake.”

Acting Chief Executive of Highways England, Nick Harris, also stated: “This campaign is just one of the many steps we are taking to invest in our network with safety as our number one priority, doing everything we can to help drivers feel confident on our motorways.”

Some have criticised the campaign for not being specific enough to smart motorways. Labour’s Shadow Transport Secretary, Jim McMahon, said: “It reduces it down to an insult, insinuating that drivers who became stranded were somehow careless. They were not. They were the victims of an ill-conceived scheme, which is still leaving people at risk today.”

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As petrol and diesel prices increase, more motorists can be tempted to leave it as long as possible before refuelling. However, avoiding filling up the car until the last second can be very risky, as it increases the chance of breaking down in an unsafe place, such as on the motorway.

As well as causing accidents, this exercise can also be bad for the car’s health, as a lack of petrol can lead to the fuel pump overheating. This will increase wear over time and, eventually, lead to the pump failing altogether, which can be costly to replace.

Additionally, waiting until the 11th hour may cost drivers more money, as they will have to pull into the first petrol station they come to. This means they won’t be able to shop around for the cheapest option.

It’s not currently an offence to delay refuelling, but there are cases where drivers have been prosecuted after a crash as a result of it. This is because it can be classed as driving without due care and attention.

GEM Motoring Assist Chief Executive, Neil Worth commented: “If you permit your car to run out of fuel, you risk serious damage to the engine, as well as potentially putting yourself and your passengers at risk of a collision because you will not be choosing where the car finally gives up.

“Check you have enough fuel for a journey. If you need to refuel, plan where you will stop so there is no risk whatsoever that you will run out”, Worth continued.

The warning light on every car tells the motorist when fuel has reached its reserve level. This means there’s about 10 to 15 percent of the tank’s total capacity left, indicating that they should look to fill up soon.

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