15 January 2025

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 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, have welcomed the Government’s commitment to £1.6bn funding for local road maintenance in England but is pressing local authorities to up their game to the standards of the best by investing in more technology, proactive repairs.

“The good news is that pothole related car incidents have declined but the bad news is that the cost of repairs has increased."

Vehicle damage

As part of the Pothole Partnership, The AA can reveal that pothole related incidents fell in 2024 when compared to the previous year. The UK’s biggest 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 picks 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’ polices in previous years.

AA Pothole Index statistics

Unfortunately, the decline in pothole-related incidents has been overshadowed by an increase in repair costs. In 2023, the average cost of repair was £250, however due to inflation, delays in the parts supply chain and more advanced technology within cars**, the average cost of repair rose to £300. This means the total cost of pothole damage to vehicles rose to £579m in 2024, compared to £474m in 2023***.

Positive steps to improve standards

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.

This quality control is important as recent Freedom of Information Requests by the Partnership found the whole system of local authority repair standards confusing. 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.

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.”

Ben Rawding, General Manager, JCB, said: “ Extra funding is welcome but the way it is managed and spent is equally as important. Using innovative technology such as the JCB Pothole Pro means roads can be fixed faster, more permanently and in a more cost-effective manner. Local authorities need to change tack.”

Caroline Julian, Brand and Engagement Director, British Cycling, said: “Cycling is a critical part of the solution when it comes to the nation’s economic, social and health inequalities, but the state of our roads prevents many people from getting on a bike. Potholes and the poor condition of many of our roads today pose a significant danger to cyclists, often leading to injuries - and at worst, fatalities.

“Greater investment in repairs will create a safer environment, not only protecting current cyclists but also enabling far more people to embrace traveling in a sustainable and healthy way.”

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.”

See our Pothole Partnership Pledge

* Seven million more potholes to be filled next year as public urged to report roads in need of repair - GOV.UK

** Is ADAS the next addition to the MOT? | Institute of The Motor Industry

*** AA estimated repair costs 2024:

The average cost is £300

£300 x 643,318 AA incidents equals £192,995,400 (rounded to £193m x 3 to represent all drivers) equals £579m

*** AA estimated repair costs 2023:

The average cost is £250

£250 x 631,852 AA incidents equals £161,922,500 (rounded to £162m x 3 to represent all drivers) equals £486m