Half of drivers now say potholes are their ‘biggest worry’
A summer of high temperatures will lead to more potholes during winter, the RAC has warned. Many parts of the UK experienced record temperatures during a summer frequented by heatwaves and it is these periods which will create even more potholes.
The RAC points towards the negative effect which UV rays have on the bitumen used to bind road materials together. When exposed to long durations of high temperatures, this can cause asphalt to become brittle and break away when it cools.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “As UV and heat oxidise the bitumen binder in asphalt, it becomes harder and less flexible which leads to cracking. Then water penetrates cracks and as vehicles drive over them, the surface breaks and potholes start to appear. This is the last thing our already fragile roads needed.”
A recent Report on Motoring conducted by the RAC spoke to 2,238 drivers and found that half of drivers saw potholes as their biggest worry, up from 47 per cent last year. Some 83 per cent of drivers say they encounter a pothole on most trips they make by car, while more than half come across potholes on every trip. In addition, 58 per cent say that they have to make an effort to avoid them on every trip.
Williams added: “Potholes are often associated with cold or wet winters, but prolonged periods of hot, sunny weather also takes its toll on the roads. Intense UV exposure and heat gradually oxidise the bitumen that binds asphalt together, making surfaces more brittle and prone to cracking.
“Once cracks develop, traffic and later rainfall can quickly turn them into serious defects.:
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