Councils have been ordered to fix roads while they are empty, as new figures show pothole-related breakdowns increased by nearly two-thirds this year. The Department of Transport has instructed local councils to go ahead with planned maintenance during the lockdown to clear a backlog of road repairs. Research by the RAC published today shows that 3,426 vehicles were damaged by potholes between January and March. Although last winter was relatively mild overall, severe flooding during major storms earlier this year caused damage to road surfaces in some areas. 'This means the quality of local roads is, ironically, as important as ever.'

Source: Daily Mail May 01, 2020 00:57 UTC