Britain’s “pothole plague” tightened its grip on drivers in 2025, with RAC patrols dealing with a sharp rise in breakdowns caused by crumbling road surfaces. The UK is estimated to have more than one million potholes, now one of the leading causes of vehicle breakdown, despite the Government allocating £1.6 billion to fix roads by the end of 2026.
During the summer alone, RAC patrols attended 5,035 pothole-related incidents – including broken suspension springs, buckled wheels and damaged shock absorbers – up from 4,040 in the same period last year and well above the typical summer average of 4,372. Across the 12 months to the end of September 2025, potholes directly affected drivers on 25,758 occasions, an 11% increase on the previous year’s 23,147.
That equates to an average of 71 pothole-related breakdowns every day, up from 63 a day a year earlier, and is seen as an early warning sign ahead of the colder, wetter months when road surfaces typically deteriorate further.
Winter conditions create a perfect storm for vehicle damage. Freezing temperatures not only accelerate pothole formation but also increase the risk of premature suspension spring failure. The combination of cold weather and road salt poses a particular threat, especially to those vehicles equipped with lower-quality springs, produced from inferior grade steel and lacking adequate protection.
Lesjöfors Springs offers a solution engineered specifically for these challenging conditions. Unlike some alternatives, Lesjöfors Springs feature premium-grade spring steel protected by an advanced dual-layer coating system—zinc phosphate underlayer and epoxy resin powder-coating. This superior protection minimises the risk of premature failure even in the most demanding winter conditions.
As Britain’s roads continue to deteriorate, protecting your vehicle’s suspension becomes increasingly crucial. Lesjöfors Springs represent not just a repair choice, but an investment in vehicle safety and reliability.
