Image: RAC
More than 70 parliamentarians were recently given ‘unrivalled insight’ on how best to tackle the UK’s pothole crisis, at an event organised by the RAC at Westminster.
The event saw senior representatives from the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), Institute of Highways Engineers (IHE), Asphalt Industry Association (AIA) and Road Emulsion Association (REA) share their expert knowledge with MPs and peers of all political parties, advising how councils can best use the funding they have to look after their road networks.
Parliamentarians were also given easy access to a range of the latest data points, allowing them to both understand the condition of the roads within their individual constituencies, and see how much proactive maintenance – including preservation treatment and full resurfacing – councils have completed.
The combination of expert insights, together with data that revealed the true state of the roads, was designed to give MPs and peers the evidence they need to encourage local authorities to change the way they think about road maintenance.
The RAC say this can help ensure they make the very best use of the record £1.6bn funding they are receiving from the Government this financial year.
Simon Williams, RAC head of policy, said: “We have long advocated councils take a much more proactive approach to looking after their roads and put an end to the cycle of merely filling potholes.
“We need to shift the focus to carrying out the right type of maintenance at the right time, so our roads aren’t left to deteriorate.
“Preserving those that are currently in reasonable condition – using techniques such as surface dressing – and resurfacing the ones that are beyond repair is the ultimate answer to getting rid of the country’s potholes.”
The event took place in the same week that the RAC announced the number of ‘pothole breakdowns’ doubled in the first three months of 2025.
The data shows RAC patrols attended 9,439 pothole-related breakdowns in the first three months of 2025 – more than double the number they were called out to between October and December last year.
Additionally, call-outs for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels – the breakdowns most likely to be caused by wear and tear from poor road surfaces – increased by 19% compared to the same period (January to March) in 2024.
Simon Williams added: “Our pothole-related breakdown data is a very clear reflection of the true state of the UK’s roads, and it sadly shows the pothole plague is as prevalent as ever.
“Suffering a breakdown due to wear and tear caused by the poor quality of roads is frustrating beyond belief, particularly as the average cost of repairing anything more than a puncture is £460. The cost of motoring is high enough already without having to fork out extra money to get your car back on the road.
“Drivers shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of these costs – they’re only having to because the roads have been allowed to get into such a dire state.”
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