Fleet managers are being warned to brace themselves for major inconvenience as a result of vehicle damage in the aftermath of the worst winter for more than 25 years.

Bitter weather conditions have left Britain’s roads in tatters, with the number of potholes increasing by the day, say Autoglass.

It has reported record numbers of calls, as a direct result of windscreens cracking because of the pressure they’re being put under by poor road surfaces and loose tarmac chipping screens, and the company is advising fleet managers to be prepared for a huge upsurge damaged vehicles.

Nigel Doggett, managing director of Autoglass, said: “During the past week, we’ve taken thousands of calls reporting damaged windscreens as a result of the poor road surfaces and ultimately it’s going to be fleet managers who will majorly inconvenienced and ultimately pay the price for the roads’ poor condition.

“We’ve advised motorists to be extra vigilant and slow down if they spot potholes on the roads, but the upsurge in calls we’ve experienced suggests that fleets and insurance firms face a fairly hefty payout as a result of 2010’s big freeze.”