09 January 2026
A new red, amber, green ratings system, which now allows drivers and cyclists to see which councils are delivering effective pothole repairs in their local areas has been welcomed by The AA and The Pothole Partnership.
Backed by the Government’s record £7.3 billion investment, councils are now better equipped to tackle the nation’s pothole problem and upgrade our roads for all road users. This initiative is long overdue as The AA dealt with more than 600,000 pothole-related incidents last year.
This significant funding boost supports the AA and the Pothole Partnership’s aim of proactive, permanent repairs, helping to save motorists potentially hundreds or even thousands of pounds in vehicle repair costs caused by potholes, while making roads safer for everyone.
The new ratings - the first of their kind - grade 154 local highway authorities as red, amber or green based on how effectively they are spending the Government’s record £7.3 billion funding to fix potholes and invest in long term measures to maintain roads.
The Government’s interactive map shows every council’s rating, to highlight best practice and drive improved performance from councils.
It comes after the Government backed councils with a record multi-year investment to improve the condition of their roads, after years of them calling for long-term certainty. This is allowing councils to repair potholes effectively and move away from expensive, short-term repairs and instead invest in long-term preventative measures. The fixes will mean more money in drivers’ pockets - with the average bill from hitting potholes around £320, with some motorists paying over £1,000 last year.
Edmund King, AA president and founding member of the Pothole Partnership, said: “The top transport demand for 96% of AA members is fixing potholes with increased investment in repairing and upgrading roads. We welcome this Government initiative to hold local highways authorities to account which should help to promote the Pothole Partnership objective of more proactive and permanent repairs.”
Caroline Julian, Brand and Engagement Director of British Cycling and founding member of the Pothole Partnership, said: “For cyclists, potholes are far more than an annoyance. One unexpected impact can cause a serious crash, life changing injury or, in the worst cases, a fatality. Safe riding depends on safe roads, and a smooth, well-maintained surface isn’t a luxury for cyclists, it’s essential for their safety.
“This new mapping tool is a step forward. It gives riders clear insight into how well their council is maintaining the routes they rely on every day, whilst holding decision makers to account.”
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “For too long drivers have paid the price because our roads were left to deteriorate. I have heard time and again their frustration on footing the bill because they hit a pothole – money they should never have to spend in the first place.
“We’ve put our money where our mouth is, increasing the funding for councils with £7.3 billion to fix roads and given them the long-term certainty they have been asking for. Now it’s over to them to spend the money wisely, and for the first time we are making sure the public can see how well councils are driving the improvements they want to see in their local area.
“This government’s record investment will save drivers money on repairs, make roads safer and help restore pride in our communities.”
The red, amber, green ratings are based on three key areas: the condition of local roads, how much councils are spending on road repairs, and whether they are following best practice in maintaining highways.
The first of its kind rating system shines a light on where local authorities are excelling and, crucially, where more needs to be done to deliver change people see in their communities.
To boost standards, councils currently rated red will receive dedicated support to bring them in line with best practices, backed by £300,000 worth of expert planning and capability assistance. The support programme will include peer reviews where sector experts will help improve processes and provide practical advice.
As an incentive to maintain roads better, access to full future funding allocations will be linked to performance, ensuring councils are encouraged to get on with the job and use taxpayer money efficiently to repair and maintain their roads before potholes form.
To further ensure transparency from councils, 25% of local highway authorities’ annual funding was withheld until they published transparency reports setting out their maintenance plans, allowing residents and taxpayers to see how the money is being used. The withheld £125 million in funding was unlocked at the end of last year, following all councils successfully submitting reporting.
Pothole Dodger
Potholes are the number one transport concern for 96% of AA members and such a big issue that The AA App now incorporates a game called ‘Pothole Dodger’. In the fun and fast interactive game to celebrate National Pothole Day, competitors need to avoid the potholes and AA members can be entered into a prize draw to win prizes (see AA App for details).