Latest AA figures show five-year high for pothole damage to vehicles
Today is National Pothole Day (Monday 15 January 2024). The AA’s latest Pothole Index, released on Pothole Day, reveals shocking figures, showing that pothole damage to vehicles has reached a five-year high, with 631,852 pothole-related incidents in 2023, the highest for five years. Damage to vehicles is estimated at almost half a billion pounds (£474,000,000).
The AA has launched a new coalition between road users and the industry to tackle pothole issues.
The AA states that it dealt with 632k incidents in 2023 of tyre, wheel, steering, and suspension damaged by potholes which if rounded up on a national scale represents a staggering 2m vehicles affected by poor road maintenance. This is an increase of 16.39% when compared to 2022 (543k). As most new cars don’t come with a spare tyre as standard, pothole punctures are costing drivers more time and money.”
The Pothole Partnership
The Pothole Partnership brings together the AA, National Motorcyclists Council, British Cycling, IAM RoadSmart, the British Motorcyclists Federation and manufacturer JCB.
Representing the interests of drivers, motorcyclists, cyclists, pedestrians and road repairers, the Pothole Partnership will press the case for more effective and permanent road repairs.
This development is a clear sign of just how bad our potholed roads have become. I support their Pothole Partnership Pledge, which is trying to improve pothole repairs.
However, I am in agreement with Mark Morrell, better known as Mr Pothole, who says it doesn’t go far enough:
“Complete roads resurfacing is the real answer to the Pothole Armageddon coming on UK roads. Which has been a result of the following factors:
* Decades of under investment in maintenance on our ageing road network.
* Increasing vehicle volumes and their weight.
* Poor quality maintenance and repair work adds to the perfect storm on UK roads.
* Weather patterns due to climate change with more rain fall impact failing carriageways.”
The AA President, Edmund King, said:
“Potholes are the number one concern for 96% of drivers and can be fatal for those on two wheels so hopefully pressure from the Pothole Partnership will lead to permanent repairs.”
and:
“Currently, we often have a vicious circle of: pothole formed; damage caused; pothole patched; pothole reappears with more damage caused – when what we need are more permanent repairs.”
Pothole funding
The government announcement of £8.3bn from the cancellation of the Northern leg of HS2 sounds good but The Pothole Partnership wants it ring-fenced and expenditure increased in the early years and used more effectively.
Mr Pothole points out that the funding is over 11 years, which means only an additional £750m per year. This is, he says, “Enough to resurface 0.2% of the over 250k miles of our public road network. At a time when 20% (50k miles) of UK roads need major maintenance works over the next five years.”
In 2006 £4bn per year was spent on road maintenance. Currently, the government provides only £1.2bn funding annually for local road maintenance, increasing to just under £2bn (50% of the 2006 level) as of 2024. If you allow for inflation, then it is even worse.
Mr Pothole warns that “Unless government and authorities inject billions in annual resurfacing of our roads, then we will get Pothole Armageddon.”
The JCB Pothole Pro
Mr Pothole says that it is often a false economy to just patch potholes when that stretch of road needs resurfacing and backs the Pothole Partnership which said:
The award-winning JCB Pothole Pro is a unique 3 in 1 solution specifically designed to sort out any pothole repair or large reinstatement operation, efficiently, economically, and permanently. Because it comes equipped with 3 dedicated tools to cut, crop and clean, there’s no need for additional specialist equipment or extra manpower, saving both time and money. It can repair a typical pothole in just 8 minutes and provides a permanent fix.”
The Pothole Partnership Pledge
Permanent: Local authorities to limit the practice of temporary pothole repairs or patches and, where possible, every pothole or patch to be repaired permanently.
Precise: All local authorities / contractors to adhere to UK-wide repair and inspection standards, and report annually on the repairs undertaken.
Price: Government to demonstrate greater urgency by accelerating and increasing spending of the £8.3bn pothole funding for England in the first three years – with total clarity on the distribution to local authorities.
Provision: Central and local government to guarantee ringfencing of ALL road maintenance funding to help deliver innovations that enable permanent repairs.
Progress: Full transparency from local authorities on their roads repair backlog, categorised by potholes, patching works and road resurfacing.”
Claiming for pothole damage
There will be no hiding places for authorities when the public use AI surveying apps. This crowd-sourced data will highlight in real time the poor condition of the UK roads network, making it even easier to claim.
Fight your pothole claim!
Below is a TikTok explaining how to claim for pothole damage
@thecomplainingcow 🚨 Hit a pothole? You might be able to claim compensation from the council. Most people pay for repairs themselves without realising they may have legal rights. Here’s how to build a strong pothole claim and the evidence councils DON’T want you collecting. Save & share this with every driver you know. Follow for more consumer rights tips, complaint hacks, and money-saving advice. #potholes #pothole #consumeradvice #driversuk #moneytips
See my full guide on How to complain about potholes and claim compensation
Media appearances discussing potholes and compensation claims
I regularly appear on television and radio discussing potholes, road safety, motoring complaints and compensation claims. Below Mr Pothole and I are on BBC Breakfast talking about potholes in relation to the latest figures. We talk about the increase in them and how to complain and get redress.
BBC Breakfast National Pothole Day 15/01/23
I was on Sky News discussing how to complain for damage caused by potholes after Paul Hughes’ story regarding Pothole that caused serious cyclist crash not fixed.
How to complain about pot holes
I also talk about consumer rights and customer service in other sectors such as retail, utilities, finance, travel, motor sectors and more. Further media appearances can be found on the media page.
Further pothole information
See Interview with Mr Pothole on East London Radio. Mr Pothole talks to me about his pothole campaign, how to report and complain about potholes and gain redress if you are affected by them. He talks more about funding and reports too.
It’s time to fix the potholes – for health and the economy!
AA reports potholes incidents at their highest in 5 years August 2023.
Help with complaining to companies
GET THE BOOK! How To Complain: The ESSENTIAL Consumer Guide to Getting REFUNDS, Redress and RESULTS!
Want to get better at complaining? See 101 Habits of an Effective Complainer.
