The Pothole Partnership is calling for more permanent repairs and greater use of innovation and technology on National Pothole Day (15 January) to reduce vehicle damage and injuries to cyclists and motorcycle riders.
One year after launching, The Pothole Partnership (which comprises The AA, British Cycling, JCB and the National Motorcyclists Council and other supporting organisations) has welcomed the Government’s commitment to £1.6bn funding for local road maintenance in England.
However, it is pressing local authorities to up their game to the standards of the best by investing in more technology and proactive repairs.
As part of the Pothole Partnership, The AA has revealed that pothole related incidents fell in 2024 when compared to the previous year. The breakdown provider attended 643,318 pothole related incidents in 2024, compared to 647,690 in 2023. Typically these are damaged tyres, wheels, steering or suspension.
While last year picked up the bronze medal of ‘worst year for potholes’, the Pothole Partnership is hoping that the £1.6 billion pothole funding being given to local councils in England will ensure 2025 ‘falls to near the bottom of the table’.
With more than 1,700 drivers a day having their vehicles damaged by road defects, the partnership is urging local authorities to prioritise permanent resurfacing and repairs over adopting ‘patch and run’ policy in previous years.
Edmund King, AA president, said: “There is some light at the end of the pothole tunnel. The Government has listened to the Pothole Partnership and is beginning to instigate policies that should lead to longer term fixes rather than the recent patchwork approach.
“The good news is that pothole related car incidents have declined but the bad news is that the cost of repairs has increased. Potholes are still the number one issue for drivers and more needs to be done to build on this improvement.”
The Pothole Partnership is pleased that the recent Government announcement on extra funds to fix local roads in England made a reference to 25% of funds being withheld until local authorities proved they are delivering more proactive maintenance and getting away from the wasteful patchwork approach.
The announcement said: “The Government is also making sure authorities spend the money wisely, collect the right data, and deliver proactive maintenance before potholes start to form. The funding has built-in incentives, with 25% of this uplift held back until authorities have shown that they are delivering.”
The partnership says this quality control is important as recent Freedom of Information requests found that local authorities have 78 different ways of measuring the effectiveness of their pothole repairs.
One local authority even admits that they don’t bother measuring the longevity of their repairs, underlining the wide chasm between the best and the worst.
Craig Carey-Clinch, executive director, National Motorcyclists Council, said: “The NMC welcomes the £1.6bn to be invested in local roads. Potholes and road surface related defects are extremely dangerous for motorcycle riders.
“The same pothole that damages a car, could prove fatal to a rider. With additional funding in place, action to clear the backlog of repairs can now be stepped up, plus investment in more permanent repairs.”
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