Potholes hidden in puddles behind surge in breakdowns this winter, RAC warns
Drivers are reporting pothole damage at nearly three and a half times last year’s rate, according to figures from the RAC, after one of the wettest Februarys in more than a century left roads waterlogged across the UK.
Reports to the RAC from broken-down drivers mentioning potholes averaged 225 a day in February, compared to 66 a day in the same month last year and 43 a day across the whole of 2025.
In total, 6,290 RAC members reported pothole-related breakdowns in February alone.
Reports peaked at 336 drivers on Friday 6 February, more than two and a half times the highest daily figure recorded last year.
January added a further 5,106 reports, an average of 165 a day, bringing the total for 2026 so far to 11,396, an average of 193 a day.
The RAC says near-constant rain is to blame, with Met Office data showing almost 19 days of rainfall in February, making it one of the worst on record in 126 years.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said the rain created standing water and puddles that concealed potholes from drivers.
“This led to an incredible amount of standing water and puddles on our roads, many of which were hiding potholes which sadly too many drivers fell foul of,” he said.
Williams said poor drainage may also be a factor, possibly because councils have carried out less drainage work than in previous years.
“Water is the enemy of the roads as it gets in through defects, undermining the integrity of the surface from underneath,” he said.
“And when the temperature drops below zero it freezes and expands, creating potholes.”
The RAC estimates serious pothole damage, beyond a puncture, is likely to cost drivers up to £590 based on its garage data.
In 2025, RAC patrols attended 26,048 call-outs for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels, the breakdowns most commonly linked to poor road surfaces.
The organisation is also reporting 20% more punctures compared to the same period last year.
Flintshire County Council was asked for its pothole report and repair figures for 2025-26.
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