Scientists have warned that the growing popularity of SUVs on UK roads could be making the nation's pothole problem significantly worse, with research linking heavier vehicles to accelerated road deterioration.
Experts explained how the combined effect of increasing numbers of larger cars has contributed to the worsening state of the nation's roads.
Professor Anna Goodman, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, noted that the typical SUV exerts around five times more force on the road than the typical passenger car.
She added that SUV ownership in England has surged dramatically over two decades, rising from just three per cent of vehicles to more than 30 per cent.
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The Institution of Civil Engineers identified heavier vehicles, including electric cars, as factors in pothole formation and shortened road lifespans.
Research conducted by Opinium for Kwikfit found that nearly one in eight drivers in regions such as London and Yorkshire opted for an SUV or heavier car, partly due to the state of the roads.
Across the country, six per cent of motorists said poor road surfaces were the primary factor influencing their decision to buy a larger vehicle, with this figure doubling among those whose cars had previously been damaged by potholes.
The report found SUVs and larger vehicles to be a key contributor to road damage
|PA/GETTY
However, scientists have cautioned that these buyers are inadvertently worsening the very problem they hope to avoid.
Dr Ali Rahman, an assistant professor of civil engineering at the University of Leeds, said: "The rising prevalence of SUVs does exacerbate pothole formation, because higher axle loads increase surface stresses, crack initiation, and road wear.
"They contribute a secondary but growing share of the problem, especially in cities where the road network was not designed for heavier passenger vehicles."
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Drivers spend roughly £500 on fixing pothole-related issues | PAProfessor Christian Brand from Kellogg College, Oxford, explained that SUVs typically weigh between 200kg and 300kg more than hatchbacks or saloons.
While individual lorries can inflict damage equivalent to many cars, the rapid expansion of SUV numbers means their collective impact on lightly constructed urban roads is becoming increasingly significant for local maintenance budgets.
The cost for repairing all potholes and local roads throughout England and Wales has now reached an unprecedented £18.6billion, according to annual estimates from the Asphalt Industry Alliance.
Meanwhile, London is considering launching additional charges for SUVs, primarily because of the heightened safety risks they present to other road users and the space they occupy.
The backlog of necessary repairs for potholes has reached a record £18.6billion nationwide
| GETTYTransport for London is currently undertaking research into the effects of these vehicles on safety and congestion before announcing any potential measures.
A spokesperson for Mayor Sadiq Khan shared how TfL will look at the full impact of the continued growth in size and weight of SUVs, including any impact they have on the state and condition of London's roads.
Steve Gooding, director of the RAC Foundation, said: "Is it any wonder people are turning to rugged off-road oriented vehicles with the shocking state of many roads?
Big wheels with all-terrain tyres are a better bet for bouncing over potholes but rarely come with the smaller, lighter cars that drivers might otherwise choose as perfectly suitable for the trips they need to make."