Shocking new data reveals that pothole damage is causing 1.7 million MOT failures across the UK, including 34,758 in Birmingham alone. Two in three of all pothole-related failures were found in the front wheels.
Breakdown of Damage
Data shows 2.5 million failure points for 1.74 million cars after inspectors identified damage often caused by potholes. Specifically, 1.1 million suspension arms and ball joints were damaged, 882,000 springs snapped, and 450,000 shock absorbers were ruined.
Birmingham emerged as the most common hotspot for pothole-related damage, with 34,758 cars failing their MOTs due to faults caused by daily bumps in the road.
DVLA Rules
DVLA rules stipulate: "Your vehicle will fail if the test result lists 'dangerous' or 'major' problems with your vehicle. You might not be allowed to drive until you fix the problems. You might also get a list of 'minor' or 'advisory' problems to monitor or fix in the future."
Government Response
Labour Party Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander told The Sun: "Motorists will not be surprised by these figures at all. It is clear that this country is facing a pothole plague – but after a decade of decline, this government is fixing it. We're not just giving councils a record £7.3 billion to repair their crumbling roads, we're also holding them to account and holding back their full pot of money unless they have a proper plan to fix the issue. Just last week we told councils they will need to report how often they go back to fix the same stretch of road and how well they fix their potholes – meaning councils are carrying out long-lasting repairs and not just quick-fix, patch-up jobs."
RAC Reaction
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, told The Sun: "The fact that millions of cars are failing their MOTs because of pothole-related damage comes as no surprise. According to RAC data, last year saw a 15 per cent increase in the number of drivers suffering pothole-related breakdowns. The figures are a further sign of the work that remains to be done to bring the country's roads up to an acceptable standard. But with the Government announcing a £7.3bn five-year funding package for local roads in December last year, there may be better roads ahead for drivers."
