Britain experienced a notable increase in vehicle breakdowns last year, primarily attributed to the prevalent issue of potholed roads, as reported by motoring organizations. The AA and RAC breakdown services observed a substantial rise in callouts, reaching their highest levels in at least five years. The condition of the roads prompted the government to allocate funds, redirected from the HS2 high-speed railway project, to address the problem.
According to the AA, there were 632,000 callouts for vehicles damaged by road defects in the past year, representing a 16% increase compared to the preceding 12 months.
This marked the highest figure since 2018, a year affected by extreme cold weather impacting the road network.
The RAC, focusing on breakdowns directly linked to potholes, noted a 33% increase in calls, with patrols attending nearly 30,000 related breakdowns in 2023—approximately 80 incidents per day. The peak occurred in the last three months of the year, marking the worst autumn since 2017.
Potholes typically form when water infiltrates cracks in the road surface, freezes, and expands. The RAC warned that road damage was likely to escalate in the coming months due to this phenomenon.
Common vehicle issues resulting from potholes include punctures, broken suspension springs, damaged shock absorbers, and distorted wheels. Cyclists face an even greater risk, with some incidents resulting in injuries or fatalities.
Organizations such as British Cycling and the AA have called upon the government and local authorities to implement additional measures to address the problem.
These include prioritizing permanent repairs over temporary patches and ensuring full transparency regarding progress in resolving road repair backlogs.
Edmund King, the president of the AA, emphasized the need for a shift from the current cycle of patching up potholes to adopting more permanent repair solutions. He stressed the importance of addressing the issue to break the ongoing cycle of repeated damage.
Years of underfunding for councils, coupled with increased demand on Britain’s roads, have contributed to the worsening condition of road infrastructure.
To combat the “scourge of potholes,” Chancellor Rishi Sunak has committed £8.3 billion from the cancellation of HS2 north of Birmingham, marking the largest-ever funding increase for local road improvements.
Additionally, the government plans to generate up to £100 million for local road improvements by cracking down on disruptive works.
This initiative, part of the “plan for drivers” launched in October, involves extending the period for utility companies to incur fines for works that overrun, including weekends and bank holidays. Fines for companies failing to secure the correct permits will also see an increase from £500 to £1,000.
The government aims to introduce more “lane rental” schemes, compelling gas and water companies to compensate councils for using roads for works.
Transport for London has implemented rental schemes since 2012, and the government is encouraging more councils to adopt similar measures. A stipulation for these schemes is that half of the generated income must be allocated to repairing roads and addressing potholes.
In an effort to assist drivers during roadworks, the government is exploring the creation of a digital database. This platform would centralize information on temporary works, speed limit changes, and road closures, allowing for swift updates to satnav systems. Roads Minister Guy Opperman emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling traffic jams caused by prolonged street works, endorsing a robust approach to utility companies and others involved in road excavations.
