Pothole-related incidents in June hit their worst level for five years, the AA has revealed.

Holiday drivers flocking to lower-priority country roads could be the biggest threat over the summer

Its Pothole Tracker for last month shows the AA patrols attended some 46,650 vehicles with damage related to pothole incidents. That’s the highest level for the month since June 2018’s toll of 49,273, and the 50,000+ seen in June 2017.

The Government pledged an extra £200m for pothole repairs in the Spring Budget 2023. But although councils have made great strides in repairing main roads and those in built-up areas, the fear is that cars on holiday trips are now encountering the rural plague of potholes on roads with a lower repair priority.

That’s borne out by further analysis by the A, with the early July pothole breakdown count indicating an increased level of incidents. While pothole breakdowns in June averaged 1,555 per day, the first five days of July averaged 1,599 for each.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “Pothole incidents on rural roads that draw large numbers of holidaymakers can be a nightmare for everyone – the travellers as well as the roadside rescue organisations. Not only is the damage costly to the vehicle owners, but the repairs are seldom simple to fix and, sometimes being off the beaten track, they take time to sort out – particularly with so many cars no longer carrying a spare tyre.

“Holiday drivers need to keep their eyes peeled for potholes and other damage on country roads, which is not easy if rain creates surface water that hides the big ones. These conditions also make riding much more treacherous for those on two wheels where the consequences can be fatal.”

The AA has also called on travellers and local residents who encounter potholes to report them direct to county councils via the local authorities’ websites. Online sites such as www.fixmystreet.com can also be used to report problems, which are then sent onto local councils.