Pothole season...

How many times do you think you’ve said the ‘p’ word during and after you’ve been out driving? (no, not that one, but I’m sure that one comes up as well!)

Of course, I’m talking about potholes (again) but a recent report from the RAC has caught my attention.

Pothole related breakdowns have increased by 25% between July and September this year, compared to that of 2024.

• Over the summer (July-September), RAC patrols attended 5,035 breakdowns caused by potholes – up from 4,040 over the same period last year.
• Over the 12 months to the end of September 2025, there were 25,758 pothole-related breakdowns – an 11% increase on the previous year (23,147)
• On average that’s 71 breakdowns a day thanks to potholes. Yup, 71 cars a day are paying the price.
• The most common damages? Broken suspension springs, distorted wheels, damaged shock absorbers.
• And here’s the kicker: one such pothole-induced repair job cost up to £590 according to the RAC.

You can read the full article here

Why this is relevant to you

The roads might look fine… but machines built for smooth running are being hit by hidden hazards. A pothole is like a surprise punchline in a bad joke — except you’re paying for it. If your tyres, suspension, wheels or alignment get damaged, you might end up with more than just a flat mood — you’ll have flat finances.

With the cold, wet months ahead, potholes become even more treacherous (water gets in cracks, freezes, things get worse). And if you’re driving around with bumps and knocks, you’re more likely to run into serious damage.

What you can do (and how we can help)
To keep your car safe and your driving smooth, here’s a little action plan:

• Check your tyres: tread depth, correct pressure, no weird bulges.
• Check your wheels & alignment: if you’ve hit a pothole lately and felt a thump or seen your steering pull, get it checked.
• Suspension & shocks: if your ride feels bumpier than usual, or you hear clunks, don’t ignore it.

If you’d like to book a check, repair, or just chat about what your car might need after the summer of potholes, drop us a reply or call 01280 812121. We’ll help keep your journey smooth and avoid those unwanted “oops I hit that pothole” moments.

Safe driving (and may your wheels stay round),

Ian

P.S. If you’ve hit a pothole and felt that “thunk”, don’t wait for something worse to show up. Let’s get ahead of it together.