One-in-six drivers (17%) who didn’t act on advisory notices following an MOT in the last 12 months – an estimated 6m people – went on to experience a vehicle breakdown or were involved in a collision as a result, according to new RAC research. *
This is down from 8.3% in 2015 and 4.3% in 2021.
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of motorists said they would stand in front of or next to their car, an RAC poll indicated.
Part of the Department for Transport’s (DfT) 30-point ‘plan for drivers’, which was published yesterday (Monday, October 2), it aims to make recovery drivers more visible at the roadside.
Since the start of 2023, the RAC has dealt with 18,250 breakdowns for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels – the call-outs which are most likely caused by defective road surfaces.
The RAC also saw a 14% spike in wheel changes compared to the same period last year.
The breakdown provider has seen a marked increase in issues caused by potholes since the start of the month, with increased rainfall and standing water hiding issues in the road surface from sight.
The RAC breakdown service says that the period from June to September 2021 was its worst third quarter for the proportion of pothole-related breakdowns since 2006.
Thousands of drivers suffered pothole-related breakdowns between April and June despite traffic volumes plummeting amid the coronavirus lockdown, new figures show.