New research by the AA has found that
car insurance claims, for damage caused by potholes, accounted for £3 million in
car insurance claims last month alone.
Some £2.85 million worth of
car insurance claims made in February were a result of damage from potholes in roads that have remained untreated by local councils. The AA’s Simon Douglas said that there are probably many more minor problems caused by potholes that never get reported. He explained that the, “claims are just the tip of the iceberg, because it takes serious damage to make it worth [an] insurance claim".
The AA warns that driving along rural roads after dark makes potholes far more dangerous. In these conditions the AA warns that most drivers do not notice the pothole until the damage has already been done.
The organisation says the number of claims for damage by potholes has risen by a staggering 600 per cent in the past three years.
According to the AA, the average quote for third party, fire and theft
car insurance totalled £1,252 by the end of last year. The typical annual comprehensive
car insurance premium totalled £1,000.
