Pothole breakdowns hit a five-year high as September sees almost 50,000 drivers thwarted by cratered roads

Almost 50,000 AA members had to contact the breakdown provider last month due to damage caused to their vehicles by potholes – the highest volume of callouts it has received in a September for five years.

Its latest figures show that 47,223 pothole-related breakdowns were attended – a 10 per cent increase from September 2021 (42,152) and the worst September since 2018. 

The motoring organisation says extra funding promised from some of the savings from HS2 is ‘desperately needed to address the pothole plague’ and should be made available as soon as possible.

The AA has attended 458,391 pothole-related incidents so far in 2023, an average of 50,992 per month.

If this trend continues, 2023 is on target to exceed 2019’s total of 550,876 and indicates that much more is needed to get local roads back up to scratch.

With a warm and sunny start to September, councils will have hoped to use some of their share of the £700million from the Pothole Fund to fill in as many potholes as possible, but the return of the wet weather put paid to those plans with the second half of the month resulting in a washout and leaving tens of thousands of holes unfilled. 

This meant that more family budgets than in the previous five years took a hit as drivers fell foul of deteriorating road surfaces.

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said: ‘With family budgets stretched, thousands of drivers have yet again found themselves needing to find extra funds to repair the damage to their car’s tyres, wheels, or suspension components.

‘The trend of pothole-related breakdowns continues to head in the wrong direction and 2023 still looks to be one of the worst years on record for pothole damage, again highlighting the need for more investment in local roads maintenance funding stronger than ever.’

This is the volume of pothole-related breakdown callouts the AA has received in the month of September over the last six years

Mr Cousens added: ‘We know that longer term funding has been pledged from HS2 savings but the Chancellor has the opportunity to give some short-term pothole relief by announcing more cash for roads in his Autumn Statement. 

‘There is a financial cost to vehicles damaged by potholes but there can be a cost in lives for those on two wheels damaged by potholes.’

Earlier this month, the Department for Transport promises future investment in England’s major roads will focus on maintenance rather than the opening of new highways.

It made the comment in response to a report by the Commons’ Transport Select Committee on National Highways’ multibillion-pound portfolios of projects.

The cross-party committee argued that money for the Government’s next Road Investment Strategy should be prioritised on renewal and maintenance rather than costly enhancements that have been prone to delays and overspending.

Responding to the report, the DfT stated: ‘Maintenance and renewals to keep the network in a safe and serviceable condition and minimise the need for more structural, intrusive repairs, are likely to be a growing and essential element of the roads programme.

‘The Government recognises that failure to invest in a well-maintained road network will result in lost time, lower productivity, and higher costs for road users and those that rely on the network.

‘It will also reduce the quality of life and increase intrusion for those neighbouring the network.’

The department went on to say that ‘almost half’ of funding for its road investment for the years 2020 to 2025 – totalling £27.4 billion – is budgeted for maintenance work.

Further details of its spending from 2025 to 2030 is expected to be announced before the end of this year.