Massive increase in pothole-related breakdowns reported by RAC

Fleets are being warned that pothole-related breakdowns could increase further in the year ahead after the RAC reported a substantial rise in callouts.  

Publishing the new data to coincide with National Pothole Day (Wednesday, January 15), the RAC says that breakdowns jumped by almost a fifth (17%) in the final three months of 2024, compared to the previous quarter.

RAC patrols assisted 4,709 drivers from October to December for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels, with callouts most likely to be caused by wear and tear from defective road surfaces. 

There were 669 more callouts in the last quarter than the 4,040 recorded in the third quarter of 2024. 

In the same winter period, almost four-in-10 breakdowns (39%) the RAC attended were a result of punctured tyres. This was the highest proportion of breakdowns caused by punctures in any quarter during 2024. 

Garage data analysed by the RAC shows that repairs cost, on average, £460, for anything more serious than a puncture.

This is around 43% more than the average cost of pothole compensation claims paid out by councils to drivers in 2023 at £260 per claim, according to FOI data

RAC Breakdown spokesperson Alice Simpson said: “The poor condition of Britain’s roads is by far and away drivers’ top concern, yet despite the mild weather our figures show there was no relief from the problem in the final quarter of 2024 – with our patrols attending more pothole-related breakdowns compared to three months earlier.

“In the aftermath of this month’s blast of snow and ice, we may see the unwelcome trend continue in 2025 as excess water freezes and expands in cracks on the roads. 

“To prevent water-damaged roads in future, we urge local highways authorities to resurface those in the worst condition and surface dress other roads to stop them deteriorating further.”

The Government announced funding of £1.6 billion to make roads safer in December, enough to fix the equivalent of over seven million extra potholes in 2025/26. 

Simpson continued: “Hopefully the Government funding announced before Christmas will go some way towards literally filling in the cracks, giving road users smoother, safer surfaces.

“The £1.6bn allocated to pothole repairs is the biggest one-off road maintenance settlement councils in England have ever been given. 

“What’s especially positive is it comes with guidance to use the money wisely by carrying out preventative maintenance, which we hope stops more potholes appearing in the future.”  

Roads minister tests the ‘Pothole Pro’ for National Pothole Day

Future of roads minister, Lilian Greenwood, is marking National Pothole Day, with a visit to the JCB Factory outside Derby, to see technology helping councils tackle potholes.

Derbyshire is highlighted by the RAC as the worst area in England for potholes.

At the JCB Power Systems factory, the roads minister will operate JCB’s ‘Pothole Pro’, a machine that can fix a pothole in eight minutes, with a cost of around £30, and is currently used in 20 local authorities.

Greenwood said: “JCB’s ‘Pothole Pro’ is one of the many great examples of using new technology to repair potholes faster and demonstrates how companies are harnessing new technology to repair potholes faster.

“We’ll continue to engage with local leaders and industry to ensure innovations are being used to deliver roads the country deserves.”

James Barwise, policy lead at the Road Haulage Association (RHA), told Fleet News that poorly maintained roads cause “misery for millions of road users in delays and increased costs”. 

“Congestion costs the economy £30bn a year,” he added: “We urge the Government to ensure local authorities are equipped with latest technology for longer lasting and more cost-effective road maintenance.

“We also call on local authorities to allocate and ringfence pothole funding and perform permanent rather than temporary repairs.”

Pothole Partnership calls for more permanent repairs

The Pothole Partnership is calling for more permanent repairs and greater use of innovation and technology to reduce vehicle damage and injuries to cyclists and motor cycle riders.

One year after launching The Pothole Partnership, comprising of the AA, British Cycling, JCB and the National Motorcyclists Council and other supporting organisations, is pressing local authorities to up their game to the standards of the best by investing in more technology, proactive repairs. 

AA data suggests that pothole-related incidents fell in 2024, when compared to the previous year. 

It attended 643,318 pothole-related incidents in 2024, compared to 647,690 in 2023. Similar to the RAC, these were for damaged tyres, wheels, steering or suspension.

The AA estimates that the average cost of repair was £250 in 2023, however due to inflation, delays in the parts supply chain and more advanced technology within cars, the average cost of repair has risen to £300. 

This means the total cost of pothole damage to vehicles rose to £579m in 2024, compared to £474m in 2023.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “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.”

Crucial drivers carry out regular tyre checks

Peter Simson, director at Tyron Runflat, said: “For long enough we have seen our roads plagued with dangerous potholes, creating treacherous road conditions for all road users. 

“The £1.6 billion investment proposed by the Government to fix the country’s pothole problem is a step in the right direction, but we fear it could be too little too late.” 

He continued: “I have spent much of my career working in the wheel manufacturing industry and I have both seen, and experienced first-hand the dangers of potholes.

“While people first assume the tyre is the main concern, it is also the wheel, and in particular, alloy wheels. 

“Impact damage may well be visible at the time, but wheels are susceptible to fatigue cracks that worsen over time, sometimes confused with slow punctures, and may result in failure later down the line. 

“It is vital that the ongoing challenges and dangers of potholes aren’t ignored. As the cost to consumers and insurance companies continues to rise, we feel it is time for major steps forward to fix our roads and keep road users safe.”

Joining Tyron Runflat in its mission to raise awareness of the dangers of potholes is the charity TyreSafe.

TyreSafe’s chair, Stuart Lovatt said: “Potholes are more than just an inconvenience—they are a serious safety risk for road users and a significant contributor to tyre and vehicle damage. 

“Raising awareness of these dangers is essential, particularly as recent statistics reveal the true cost of pothole-related incidents, both financially and in terms of road safety. 

“It’s crucial that road users remain vigilant. Regular tyre checks and proper maintenance after hitting a pothole can help mitigate some of the risks associated with damage to the tyre or wheel.”

Nextbase launches new tool for dashcam users to report potholes

Dashcam users across the UK can now easily submit evidence of the UK’s 1 million potholes to their local councils. 

British dashcam firm Nextbase has chosen National Pothole Day (January 15) to launch a new online directory for drivers to easily submit footage from dashcams or other evidence of potholes to their local council. 

The directory follows the success of the National Dash Cam Safety Portal, which allows users to directly upload footage of dangerous drivers to local police forces and has amassed more than 150,000 submissions over its five years of operation.

Nextbase head of road safety, Bryn Brooker, said: “Our dashcam users are already out there recording this evidence every day and are eager to help make the roads safer, so we're making it simple for them to put this data to good use. 

“We are also working towards using dashcam technology to report directly and automatically to councils to help make potholes a thing of the past. 

“Just as our National Dash Cam Safety Portal has helped police tackle dangerous driving, this new directory will help local authorities better target their road maintenance efforts and make the most of the Government's £1.6bn funding initiative.”