There’s nothing worse than going over a pothole and seeing a crack emerge on your windscreen, but this could become increasingly common as fewer roads are being resurfaced in England. 

Windscreen repair specialists are seeing more and more customers, as the number of miles of road being resurfaced or receiving life-extending treatment has dropped to its lowest point in five years. 

In fact, between 2017/18 and 2021/22 the number of roads getting resurfaced dipped by 29 per cent, the equivalent of 465 miles, according to RAC figures. 

There was also a 34 per cent decline in the number of roads getting life-extending treatment, which delays the need for resurfacing. 

RAC head of policy Simon Williams confirmed the poor state of Britain’s roads, saying: “It’s the general reduction in road improvement work that’s causing potholes to appear in the first place.”

This is becoming a big problem for drivers, as going over uneven surfaces can cause damage to their cars. 

Not only could it result in a cracked or chipped windscreen due to the bumpy ride, it can also lead to buckled wheels or lumps in the tyres.

Potholes have been known to crack alloys, knock the tracking and alter wheel balancing. 

In fact, one-third of vehicle damage is caused by potholes, while really bad dips in the road can even lead to car accidents if the driver loses control of the vehicle. 

While the government and local authorities need to do more to repair the state of England’s roads, motorists can also do their bit. 

For instance, they can keep an eye out for potholes and veer around them, if possible. 

It is also sensible to leave plenty of distance with the car in front, drive slowly over potholes, avoid braking as this puts more stress on the suspension, keep control of the steering wheel, and get the car looked at immediately to check for damage.