A new study on the state of potholes across England paints a damning picture.

Following on from the National Audit Office (NAO) report shows a disintegrating network.

The new study examines the individual county council statistics on potholes year on year and conducts a driver survey.

Joining up the holes

Quotezone.co.uk gathered data through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to county councils across England.

Results reveal a 40% year-on-year increase in reported potholes, with 92% of drivers saying their local areas are getting worse.

In 2023, one of the wettest years on record, potholes reportedly cost UK drivers almost £500m in repair bills.

Yet 83% of drivers say they paid for the repairs themselves rather than file a claim.

Fed up not filled up

Reports to local authorities increased from 349,125 to 413,094 potholes across England.

Furthermore, 29% of drivers surveyed say they know of potholes that have never been fixed.

Of course, some areas have been more affected than others, a point raised in the NAO report.

Suffolk has been crowned the pothole capital of England, with an increase of 180% between 2022 and 2023.

According to the data, Gloucestershire roads are also particularly cratered, as the number of reported potholes shot up by 98%, from 6,845 cases to 13,554.

Kent follows close behind and way above average, with a 92% increase in reports year on year.

Moving picture

The picture looks different in other areas of the country where the numbers have actually improved, including Staffordshire and Lincolnshire.

Between 2022 and 2023, pothole reports were reduced by 30% in Staffordshire and 1.3% in Lincolnshire.

Derbyshire has barely been affected by the rise in pothole reports, with a minimal 2% increase.

Meanwhile, Lancashire is another area below average, with just a 9% increase.

Weather or not

Commenting on the data, Quotezone.co.uk CEO and car insurance expert Greg Wilson believes that recent years’ “extreme weather conditions” have exacerbated the problems.

“From an insurance perspective, if drivers have fully comprehensive car insurance, they should be covered for pothole damage. Two things to note though, they’ll need proof the damage came from a pothole and the excess on the policy may be more than the damage itself so it’s worth getting a quote for repairs and weighing up the options.

“Claiming on the insurance will also likely mean drivers lose their no claims bonus and the next five years of car insurance could therefore be more expensive, until the claim has cleared.

“Drivers could pursue the local authorities either the council or the road authority depending on the area, and try to claim for any damages – again they’ll need evidence such as photos, measurements and even witness statements can be helpful.

“The Quotezone survey showed 59% of drivers don’t report potholes, with drivers saying a clearer reporting tool to help them raise awareness of problem areas would be key to aiding the situation.”

Prevention or cure

While the basic pothole issue will not be solved overnight, the new government has promised to address it.

In the meantime, some preventative measures can help limit the potential damage.

For example, regularly maintaining tyre pressure, being wary of puddles, and checking navigation apps for problem areas could help reduce the risk of damage.

Furthermore, prompt attention to any issues could help prevent minor damage caused by potholes from becoming a major problem.

For more information, visit Quotezone’s pothole page.