January 15th 2025.
As you're driving down the road, you might have noticed some familiar bumps and dips in the pavement. That's right, potholes. Unfortunately, these pesky road imperfections have not only caused frustration for drivers, but they have also taken a toll on their wallets. In fact, last year alone, UK drivers spent a staggering £579 million on pothole repairs. And the worst part? They can be deadly.
It's no surprise if you've encountered a few potholes on your travels throughout the UK. According to motoring experts, the cost of potholes has reached an all-time high. And it's not just drivers who are affected. Cyclists and motorcyclists are also at risk while navigating these dangerous roads.
The AA, a UK-based motoring association, reported that they were called to over 643,000 pothole-related incidents last year. While this number has decreased from the previous year, the cost of repairs has increased. On average, drivers are now spending £300 to fix pothole damage, up from the previous average of £250. This rise in costs can be attributed to inflation, advanced car technology, and a shortage of spare parts.
To give you a better idea of the magnitude of the pothole problem, here's a breakdown of the number of incidents recorded by the AA over the past seven years: 665,702 in 2018, 611,895 in 2019, 489,455 in 2020, 520,557 in 2021, 558,052 in 2022, 647,690 in 2023, and 643,318 in 2024. As you can see, the numbers remain consistently high.
But what exactly causes these potholes? Well, harsh weather conditions and icy roads can make them worse. In fact, the RAC, another motoring organization, reported a 17% increase in callouts between October and December due to severe weather. This past week was one of their busiest periods in the last five years.
It's clear that potholes are a major issue for drivers in the UK. In fact, just a few months ago, a massive pothole on the M25 in Surrey caused multiple drivers to experience tire and wheel damage. One driver, Tessa Pearson, was stranded for six hours on the side of the road and faced a bill of £525 for repairs. It's not just drivers who are affected by potholes, either. According to a Cycling Weekly report, six cyclists have died and 112 have been seriously injured due to defective road surfaces between 2017 and 2021.
The severity of the pothole problem has led to the creation of an annual awareness day, National Pothole Day, which is observed today. And while potholes drain drivers' wallets, they also cost the UK taxpayer. In fact, it would cost a whopping £16.3 billion to bring all pothole-ridden roads in England and Wales up to standard.
But there is some hope on the horizon, as AA President Edmund King explains. The Pothole Partnership, which was launched last year between the AA, British Cycling, JCB, and the National Motorcyclists Council, is working towards finding solutions. King notes that the government has listened to their concerns and is taking steps to address the issue in the long term, rather than just applying temporary fixes.
So, what exactly is being done to fix potholes? Well, the government has allocated almost £1.6 billion to local authorities for road maintenance, which is a significant increase from the previous year. The Department for Transport has also stated their commitment to making sure that this money is used effectively and that roads are maintained before potholes become a problem.
A spokesperson from the Department for Transport assures that they are aware of the pothole problem and are taking action to fix it. They have allocated an additional £500 million to fill seven million more potholes next year. They also believe that Britain deserves better roads and that the government is committed to delivering them.
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