Almost two in three British drivers have named potholes as their biggest motoring concern, despite Labour funnelling billions into fixing UK roads.
The concerns follow a shocking report which found that 61 per cent of motorists are worried about the state of UK roads, with potholes crowned as the number one driving irritation in 2024.
The findings come from a survey of over 1,700 motorists highlighting growing frustration with road conditions across the UK.
Road surface issues, including potholes, were identified as a factor in 12 per cent of road accidents, underlining the safety implications of deteriorating road conditions.
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The concerning state of the roads was highlighted today on National Pothole Day which hopes to raise awareness of the impact more than one million potholes have on Britons.
The annual awareness day aims to encourage public reporting of potholes through the Fill That Hole website, with the goal of improving road safety nationwide.
Tom Banks, motoring expert at Go.Compare, said: "Potholes are a major concern for British motorists and rightly so. Potholes are formed when water gets into a highway’s foundation. That water then freezes and expands in cold weather."
David Giles, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, warned that local road conditions have reached an all-time low due to decades of underfunding.
The poor state of roads has become such a significant issue that it would now cost more than £16billion to address the backlog of repairs across England and Wales, the expert estimated.
Last year, Labour revealed that it would set aside an extra £500million to treat the pothole problem, following pressure from drivers and other MPs.
Hitting a pothole can result in multiple types of vehicle damage, ranging from immediate tyre problems to more serious mechanical issues. Common damage includes suspension problems, steering alignment issues and blown tyres or punctures.
In some cases, drivers report fluid leaks after hitting potholes, while additional accidents can occur when motorists swerve to avoid them.
The severity of damage often depends on both the depth of the pothole and the speed at which the vehicle was travelling when it hit the obstacle.
"Sometimes you can drive over a pothole and not suffer any damage, but in other cases, you could find yourself blowing out a tyre, damaging your wheel rim, or even having other issues like exhaust damage and fluid leaks," Banks explained.
He added: "When the temperature increases again, a void under the road surface is created that eventually collapses under the weight of continuous traffic.
"To submit a claim through the local authority, gather all the information you can including photos of the pothole and its position on the road, a precise location, and photos of the damage to your vehicle."
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Giles warned: "If we want to see want to see improved conditions, local authorities need sustained, targeted and accountable funding – provided on both a needs and improvement basis – over the long term.
"This would allow highway engineers to carry out the right maintenance and repair interventions at the right time – delivering better value for money for the public funds allocated and helping to ensure we have a local road network that is safe, keeps people connected and supports economic growth."
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The concerns follow a shocking report which found that 61 per cent of motorists are worried about the state of UK roads, with potholes crowned as the number one driving irritation in 2024.
The findings come from a survey of over 1,700 motorists highlighting growing frustration with road conditions across the UK.
Road surface issues, including potholes, were identified as a factor in 12 per cent of road accidents, underlining the safety implications of deteriorating road conditions.
Do you have a story you'd like to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]
The concerning state of the roads was highlighted today on National Pothole Day which hopes to raise awareness of the impact more than one million potholes have on Britons.
The annual awareness day aims to encourage public reporting of potholes through the Fill That Hole website, with the goal of improving road safety nationwide.
Tom Banks, motoring expert at Go.Compare, said: "Potholes are a major concern for British motorists and rightly so. Potholes are formed when water gets into a highway’s foundation. That water then freezes and expands in cold weather."
David Giles, Chair of the Asphalt Industry Alliance, warned that local road conditions have reached an all-time low due to decades of underfunding.
The poor state of roads has become such a significant issue that it would now cost more than £16billion to address the backlog of repairs across England and Wales, the expert estimated.
Last year, Labour revealed that it would set aside an extra £500million to treat the pothole problem, following pressure from drivers and other MPs.
Hitting a pothole can result in multiple types of vehicle damage, ranging from immediate tyre problems to more serious mechanical issues. Common damage includes suspension problems, steering alignment issues and blown tyres or punctures.
In some cases, drivers report fluid leaks after hitting potholes, while additional accidents can occur when motorists swerve to avoid them.
The severity of damage often depends on both the depth of the pothole and the speed at which the vehicle was travelling when it hit the obstacle.
"Sometimes you can drive over a pothole and not suffer any damage, but in other cases, you could find yourself blowing out a tyre, damaging your wheel rim, or even having other issues like exhaust damage and fluid leaks," Banks explained.
He added: "When the temperature increases again, a void under the road surface is created that eventually collapses under the weight of continuous traffic.
"To submit a claim through the local authority, gather all the information you can including photos of the pothole and its position on the road, a precise location, and photos of the damage to your vehicle."
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Giles warned: "If we want to see want to see improved conditions, local authorities need sustained, targeted and accountable funding – provided on both a needs and improvement basis – over the long term.
"This would allow highway engineers to carry out the right maintenance and repair interventions at the right time – delivering better value for money for the public funds allocated and helping to ensure we have a local road network that is safe, keeps people connected and supports economic growth."
Find Out More...