24 May 2023
The AA attended more than 52,000 pothole related breakdowns in April 2023, a 29% increase compared to the same time last year*. On average 1,735 drivers a day had their vehicle damaged due to the imperfections on the nation’s roads.
Furthermore, the first four months of 2023 saw pothole breakdowns rise by a quarter (23%) compared to last year. Should the level of pothole breakdowns continue at current rates across the remainder of the year, 2023 looks set to be the second worst year for road conditions behind 2018.
Typical pothole examples
Make 2023 ‘The Year of the Pothole’
With local authorities now in a new financial year, the AA is urging drivers and riders to make 2023 ‘The Year of the Pothole’ by reporting every blemish, crack and crater they see, no matter how small, to highlight the crumbling state of UK roads and challenge councils to repair their infrastructure.
“Regardless of their size, depth, the type of road and its position in the lane, we need to make 2023 ‘The Year of the Pothole’ so we can get our roads repaired.”Councils have a responsibility to inspect roads on a regular basis, but they cannot be held responsible for a pothole they didn’t know about. Therefore, it is in everyone’s interest to highlight the poor condition of the road network, but also give roads authorities a true picture regarding the condition of the road network.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said; “The pothole pandemic looks set to remain for quite some time, with little hope of a cure on the horizon.
“In order to help government and councils understand the true state of our roads we need the public to report every pothole they see. Regardless of their size, depth, the type of road and its position in the lane, we need to make 2023 ‘The Year of the Pothole’ so we can get our roads repaired.
“Potholes come in all shapes and sizes, each one posing a different type of danger. While the worst are like deep caves, shallower splits that snake across the surface can catch the wheels of cyclists causing severe damage.
“On safety grounds alone, we need to do all we can to shine a light on the awful condition of UK roads.”
* Analysis of AA Breakdown statistics, 2017-2023