Yahoo News What causes potholes and why does the UK have so many?
A new report warns roads across England and Wales are nearing 'breaking point', with record numbers of pothole repairs needed.
Roads in England and Wales are reaching "breaking point", a new report has warned, with the rate of potholes needing repairs reaching an eight-year high.
Research by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) shows local authorities expect to fix 2.0 million potholes in the current financial year – up 43% from 1.4 million in the previous year.
The annual survey suggests this means many councils simply "don't have the funds" to keep roads safe "in a cost-effective, proactive way, which would allow them to carry out the appropriate maintenance interventions at the right time".
Meanwhile, the amount needed to fix a backlog of local road repairs has reached a record £16.3 billion, up 16% from £14.0 billion a year ago. While highway maintenance budgets increased by 2.3% in 2023/24, inflationary pressures means most councils have experienced a real-terms cut, the report warns.
“Couple this with the effects of the extreme weather we are increasingly facing, and the result is that the rate at which local roads are suffering is accelerating towards breaking point," AIA chairman Rick Green added.
Read more: 'Revolutionary' £165,000 machine claims to fix potholes in 8 minutes
Figures obtained from councils across the country by the Liberal Democrats showed there is a "postcode lottery" when it comes to fixing potholes.
According to the figures, presented in April last year, 556,658 potholes were reported in the financial year of 2021/22 across 81 councils, up from 519,968 in 2017/18.
The Lib Dems claimed that by cutting local authorities’ highways maintenance budgets by £500m since 2020-21 and announcing only a £200m top-up to the national potholes fund in the budget, means some areas are waiting far longer for repairs than others.
In November, Rishi Sunak set out plans to resurface local roads across the money using money saved from the now abandoned HS2 rail project.
The prime minister said: "For too long politicians have shied away from taking the right long-term decisions... tackling the scourge of potholes being a prime example.
"This unprecedented £8.3bn investment will pave the road for better and safer journeys for millions of people across the country and put an end to the blight of nuisance potholes."
Watch: Teenager 'goes fishing' in potholes in protest over state of town's roads
What is a pothole and how do they form?
A pothole is a depression in a road surface caused by wear or sinking.
They start out as tiny cracks in the surface but can grow if not fixed.
The friction of vehicles' tyres on a road heats up the surface and causes it to expand.
Over a period of time, this expansion leads to cracks in the surface. Water can then seep into these cracks. Potholes are formed when the water in those cracks freezes and thaws.
Why does the UK have so many potholes?
The UK is more susceptible to potholes because of its climate.
Cold and wet weather, particularly during the winter months, means water can get into those cracks in the road and then freeze, eventually leading to potholes.
The heavy road use and traffic on the UK's roads is also a factor.
Councils also have tight budgets to fix potholes.
How to report potholes?
Anyone who wishes to report a pothole can go to the government's dedicated website for the problem.
From there, they will be directed to their local council's pothole reporting service, where they can fill in an online form.
To report the pothole, they need the location of the pothole and details of its size. They must also upload any pictures of the pothole.
Councils vow to inspect the area identified within about three to five working days.
If the pothole is on a motorway or an A road then reports should be directed to Highways England.
In Wales, roads are managed by Traffic Wales, while potholes in Scotland can be reported at My Gov Scotland.
In Northern Ireland, potholes can be reported through the NI Direct website.
How to claim for pothole damage?
The government says motorists may be able to claim compensation if their vehicle is damaged by a road.
They should contact the organisation responsible to tell them about the damage, why they think they are responsible and details of where and when the damage was caused.
According to the AA, motorists should start by reporting the pothole to their local authority.
After having their car repaired, they may be able to claim compensation from the council.
Motorists should inform the council of the location of the pothole and include details of quotes, invoices and receipts for their repairs.
If the claim is rejected, motorists can appeal.
Watch: Rod Stewart hits the road to fix Essex's potholes
