Experts are calling on the Government to introduce urgent measures to ensure roads are kept clear of issues as new data reveals that pothole-related breakdown callouts have risen by two per cent compared to 2022.
According to the latest AA Pothole Index, September saw the highest number of incidents for any September since 2017, with 50,244 callouts recorded.
The main issues reported include punctures, damaged wheels, and problems with steering and suspension, with many potholes now hidden below puddles after heavy rainfall in recent weeks.
These figures highlight the growing concern over road conditions across the country, prompting calls for urgent action from the Government. It is estimated that potholes cost the English economy at least £14.4 billion annually.
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The AA was called to more than 50,000 incidents in September 2024 alone
PA
The data also found that vehicle damage has reached a five-year high, affecting both individual motorists and businesses across the UK.
The new Government is being urged to deliver on its pothole manifesto commitments by the Pothole Partnership, a coalition representing drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians, and road repairers.
The partnership is set to meet with Future Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood later this month to present a five-point plan aimed at tackling the pothole crisis.
They stress that permanently fixing potholes will not only be popular but also reduce casualties and costs to road users.
This call for action comes as the AA reports dealing with 631,852 pothole-related incidents in 2023, the highest figure in five years.
The importance of addressing the pothole crisis is underscored by public sentiment. A survey of over 11,000 AA members found that 96 per cent of drivers consider increased investment in road repairs and upgrades, including fixing potholes, as their top transport issue.
AA President Edmund King said: “Recently we have seen an increase in vehicle pothole damage as the heavy rain means puddles hide the potholes.
“The current Government knows that all road users are fed up with potholes and has the opportunity to make a step change in the spiral of decline by adopting and advocating measures to permanently fix the problem rather than the past patchwork approach.”
King highlighted how potholes had a profound impact on motorists, although they were “tragically costing lives for those on two wheels”.
A 2023 campaign from Cycling Weekly found that between 2017 and 2021, 118 bike riders were killed or seriously injured due to defective road surfaces, with six fatalities.
The Pothole Partnership has five key aims (Permanent, Precise, Price, Provision and Progress) to help pressure the Government to enact measures that will improve the state of roads.
This will include pushing on local authorities to make permanent solutions with UK-wide repair standards, increasing the total spending on potholes from the current £8.3billion fund, guaranteeing the ringfencing of all road maintenance funding and ensuring full transparency from councils.
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Edmund King said there was a need for potholes to be repaired permanently
AA
Caroline Julian, external affairs director at British Cycling, said: “We know from our members that potholes are a longstanding and ongoing frustration and concern. They have tragic and fatal consequences that cannot be ignored.
“If we’re serious about fulfilling our ambitions to get more people cycling, we simply must ensure that our roads are safe and comfortable for them to ride on, and not the crater-filled carriageways they currently face.”
The Pothole Partnership is also working with JCB with its new Pothole Pro. The three-in-one solution is designed to repair a typical pothole in just eight minutes and provides a permanent fix.
Ben Rawding, general manager of JCB, said he was “delighted” with the partnership, adding that the Government has an opportunity to tackle the national backlog to help all Britons.