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Heavy rainfall at the beginning of the year led to a surge in motorists encountering potholes concealed in puddles, according to recent data. The RAC reported that the daily average number of pothole complaints it received from stranded drivers in February was three-and-a-half times greater than the same month last year.

This was attributed to the "incredible amount of standing water" on roads, which was "hiding potholes". Provisional Met Office figures indicate England experienced 42% more rain than usual between December and February, as a series of low-pressure weather systems swept across the UK from the Atlantic, bringing repeated bouts of wet and windy conditions.

The heavy rain was particularly noticeable across southern and central England. The RAC stated that 6,290 of its members cited potholes when reporting breakdowns last month, compared with 1,842 in February 2025.

January saw 5,106 mentions at a daily average of 165, up from 63 in the same month last year. Common vehicle issues caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and bent wheels.

RAC's head of policy, Simon Williams, said: "In February, there was an incredible amount of standing water and puddles on our roads, many of which were hiding potholes, which sadly too many drivers fell foul of. While this amount of rain is hard for the saturated land to cope with, the RAC suspects that poor drainage may also be to blame, possibly as a result of councils not carrying out as much of these works as they have done in the past."

Mr Williams characterised water as "the enemy of the roads" as it infiltrates cracks and - when the temperature plummets below 0C - freezes and expands, leading to potholes.

He added: "Preventing water from sitting on our local roads is key to their long-term health, so it's vital more work to improve drainage is carried out. Without this, drivers will continue to have to fork out their hard-earned money on fixing their cars."

According to RAC data, the repair bill for a car suffering more severe pothole damage than a puncture can escalate to £590.

Tom Hunt, who presides over the Local Government Association's inclusive growth committee, said: "Councils are very aware of the recent and persistent rainfall and the impact on local highways. Local teams are working hard to fix potholes swiftly.

"However, many factors affect how quickly roads can be fixed, including the weather, safety risks, the type of road and traffic levels, to budget pressures. We urge members of the public to continue to report potholes and other road damage."

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "We are providing councils with a record £7.3 billion over the next four years to help them tackle potholes, and it's now over to them to get on with maintaining and upgrading their roads.

"Our new council rating system charts how well they are delivering for local people, including their long-term fixes rather than just patching up potholes."