Pothole repairs should include a five-year assure, say campaigners as AA reveals 613,000 name outs in a yr
Pothole repairs must have a ‘five-year guarantee’ say campaigners as the AA revealed it was called out last year to 613,638 road damage- related incidents.
The Pothole Partnership want contractors to offer the warranty on each non- emergency pothole they fill.
The AA, a member of the campaign group, said this would be a ‘game-changer’ for the quality of road surfaces.
To mark National Pothole Day today, the motoring organisation revealed that it attended a daily average of 1,681 pothole call-outs last year – though this was 5 per cent down on 2024.
Common vehicle problems caused by poor road surfaces include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs and distorted wheels.
The AA said the average repair bill resulting from such an incident was £350.
This means the cost for UK drivers hitting potholes in 2025 could have been a total of £645million, an increase of £66million from 2024 estimates.
AA president Edmund King said: ‘A five-year warranty on every non-emergency pothole repair would be a game-changer.
To mark National Pothole Day today, the AA revealed that it attended a daily average of 1,681 pothole call-outs last year – though this was 5 per cent down on 2024
‘It shifts the focus from short-term patches to long-lasting repairs and ensures accountability from those carrying out the work.’
Freedom of Information requests, submitted by the Pothole Partnership, show inconsistencies in how councils measure pothole repairs, with 78 methods used across the UK.
The group said the proposed guarantee would mean contractors are required to fix a pothole for free if it reappears within five years.
A Local Government Association spokesman said: ‘Councils face a £17billion backlog of road repairs. Only longer-term funding certainty will help councils more effectively plan for future maintenance schemes, focusing more on preventative measures.’
The Daily Mail has been campaigning for an end to the UK’s pothole plague.
In November’s Budget, the Government committed to providing £7.3billion for local road maintenance funding for the four years.
