A major new partnership has been created to tackle the scourge of potholes as new data shows pothole damage to vehicles has hit a five year high.
The new Pothole Partnership – made up of the AA, JCB, British Cycling, the National Motorcyclists Council, the British Motorcyclists Federation and IAM RoadSmart – was launched on National Pothole Day today (January 15).
New research has found that the AA dealt with 631,852 pothole-related incidents in 2023, the highest for five years.
The newly formed Pothole Partnership is committed to dealing with the issues, unveiling a new five-point plan to tackle the issues.
More than 630,000 pothole-related incidents were dealt with by the AA
GETTY
Damage to vehicles from potholes cost drivers a staggering £474million, with the new Partnership calling on the local and national governments to act on improving the state of roads.
The AA dealt with 632,000 incidents last year of tyre, wheel, steering, and suspension damage caused by issues with roads, a significant increase of 16 per cent when compared to 2022.
Speaking to GB News’ East Midlands Reporter Will Hollis, Ben Rawding, General Manager at JCB, said the Pothole Partnership wanted to end the culture of “temporary patches” and create permanent measures.
He added: “Potholes aren't a new thing. And that's what the data shows year after year. The lack of progress on that pothole backlog is not being made.
“So that's really what we tried to deliver with the Pothole Partnership, a coalition of road users right across the board, working out with a five Point Plan how we actually make a step change, finally catch up on Britain's roads, and as I say, fix these defects permanently.”
The JCB Pothole Pro vehicle comes equipped with three separate tools to cut, crop and clean, meaning a typical pothole can be repaired permanently in just eight minutes.
Edmund King, AA President, said: “Currently, we often have a vicious circle of: pothole formed; damage caused; pothole patched; pothole reappears with more damage caused - when what we need are more permanent repairs.
“Potholes are the number one concern for 96 per cent of drivers and can be fatal for those on two wheels so hopefully pressure from the Pothole Partnership will lead to permanent repairs.”
The Pothole Pledge looks to ensure that repairs are permanent, and that all local authorities report on annual repairs in a transparent way, as well as call on governments to increase spending and guarantee ringfencing of all road maintenance funding to deliver innovations.
In November last year, the Government committed £8.3billion to boost funding for potholes, although the increased investment will be spread across the next 11 years.
The money, which was redirected from HS2 funding, could help resurface more than 5,000 miles of road across England.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said well-maintained road surfaces could save drivers up to £440 each in expensive vehicle repairs, allowing motorists to keep more money in their pockets.
Caroline Julian, external affairs director at British Cycling, said: “We know from our members that potholes are a longstanding frustration and concern. They have tragic and fatal consequences that cannot be ignored.
“If we’re serious about fulfilling our ambitions to get more people cycling, we simply must ensure that our roads are safe and comfortable for them to ride on, and not the crater-filled carriageways they currently face.”
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Edmund King said there was a need for potholes to be repaired permanently
AA
Similarly, Craig Carey-Clinch, executive director at the National Motorcyclists Council, added: “The situation is becoming ever more acute for motorcyclists.
“Potholes and other road surface-related defects are already shown to be extremely dangerous for motorcycle riders. The same pothole that damages a car, could prove fatal to a rider. Action is needed now to urgently clear the backlog of repairs.
“The NMC fully supports the Pothole Partnership and urges the Government to front-load the £8.3billion that has been announced. The problem is now, not in seven or nine years time.”
