Millions of drivers have been left frustrated "beyond belief" over a major road issue which has caused vehicles to break down.
It comes after reports revealed pothole-related issues have surged by nearly a fifth in just 12 months, according to new figures.
A report has found that between January and March this year, the RAC attended 9,439 callouts directly linked to poor road surfaces across the UK.
This represents a significant 19 per cent increase from the 7,904 pothole-related breakdowns recorded during the same period last year.
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Pothole damage to vehicles have increased by a fifth from last year
PA
Common vehicle problems caused by these road defects include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.
However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously acknowledged the severity of the issue, stating that broken roads "can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs," adding councils should "get on with the job" of repairing them.
Potholes typically form when water seeps into cracks in road surfaces, then freezes and expands, creating the hazardous craters that plague Britain's streets.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the situation was "frustrating beyond belief" for drivers who have had to fork out hundreds of pounds in repairs.
He said: "Suffering a breakdown due to wear and tear caused by the poor quality of roads is frustrating beyond belief, particularly as the average cost of repairing anything more than a puncture is £460. The cost of motoring is high enough already without having to fork out extra money to get your car back on the road."
Williams added drivers "shouldn't have to bear the brunt of these costs", which they face "only because the roads have been allowed to get into such a dire state".
To combat the growing pothole problem, Labour announced it has allocated £1.6billion for local roads maintenance in England for this financial year.
This represents a significant increase of £500million compared to the previous 12 months, with officials estimating that this additional funding could be enough to fix approximately seven million potholes.
However, the RAC explained a quarter of this increased funding is being withheld until local authorities provide evidence that they are using the money effectively.
Williams has now urged councils to take a more strategic approach to road maintenance. "After filling dangerous potholes as permanently as possible, we urge councils to prioritise preventative maintenance such as surface dressing to stop future potholes appearing," he said.
Meanwhile, Local Government Association transport spokesperson Adam Hug has called for more sustainable funding solutions.
"Greater, long-term funding certainty for local highways authorities with five-yearly funding allocations on a par with National Highways is needed to tackle the multibillion-pound local roads backlog," he warned.
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Drivers spend roughly £500 on fixing pothole-related issues
PA
A Department for Transport spokesperson defended the Government's approach to the pothole crisis, stating it is committed to ending the "pothole plague on Britain's roads".
The spokesperson shared: "With the average driver forking out nearly £500 to repair serious pothole damage, we know that fixing cratered roads is not just about pride in our communities, but the pound in people's pockets too.
"The public deserves to know how their councils are improving their local roads, which is why they will have to show progress or risk losing a quarter of our record funding boost."
