Britain’s Pothole Problem Is Now a Full-Blown Crisis

Describing the condition of the UK’s roads as a “problem” no longer does it justice. For many drivers, the scale of deterioration has reached crisis point.

Anyone who has taken to the roads recently will be familiar with the jolting impact of deep craters, crumbling edges and temporary repairs already breaking apart.

The scale of the issue is reflected in new figures from The AA. In January alone, the organisation responded to almost 69,000 call-outs linked to vehicle damage — an 18% increase on the same period the previous year. For motorists, that surge represents not just inconvenience but mounting repair bills for tyres, suspension systems and wheels.

So what is driving this sharp rise in pothole-related breakdowns? While bad luck can play a part, the underlying causes are more structural — and more predictable.

At the heart of the problem is the freeze–thaw cycle. When rainwater penetrates small cracks in road surfaces and temperatures drop below zero, the water freezes and expands by around 9%. That expansion acts like a wedge, forcing the surrounding asphalt apart. As temperatures rise, the ice melts, leaving a weakened cavity beneath the surface. Repeated cycles of freezing and thawing steadily enlarge the damage until the road collapses under traffic loads.

This winter’s persistently wet conditions have intensified the effect. Saturated road surfaces combined with fluctuating temperatures create ideal conditions for rapid deterioration. In short, once cracks appear, weather conditions can quickly accelerate their growth into full-scale potholes.

Traffic weight is another significant factor. While SUVs are often blamed for increasing wear and tear, heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) are responsible for the vast majority of structural stress on road networks. A single tyre on a fully loaded lorry can exert a force of around five tonnes on the road surface. Engineering studies suggest that the damage caused by heavy vehicles increases exponentially with axle weight — meaning one HGV can cause as much wear as thousands of cars.

Many of the UK’s local roads, particularly B-roads and rural routes, were not designed to withstand today’s freight volumes. As logistics demand has grown, so too has the mechanical strain placed on ageing infrastructure.

Compounding the issue is the widespread reliance on temporary repairs. Emergency pothole filling often involves the use of cold-mix asphalt, a quick and relatively inexpensive material that can be applied in poor weather conditions. However, cold mix is intended as a short-term solution and may only last a matter of weeks. When applied in wet conditions — sometimes even into standing water — the bond between the repair material and the surrounding road surface can be weak, leading to rapid failure.

A longer-lasting solution typically requires hot-mix asphalt, dry weather and more extensive preparation of the damaged area. Yet local authorities facing tight budgets often prioritise rapid response over comprehensive resurfacing. This creates what many describe as a “patch and repeat” cycle, where the same defects reappear months later.

Financial pressures are a central part of the story. Since the late 2000s, local authority budgets have faced sustained reductions, limiting the ability of councils to invest in preventative maintenance. Instead of resurfacing entire road sections — a strategy that can extend lifespan significantly — many authorities are forced to focus on reactive repairs to address immediate safety risks.

Preventative resurfacing may appear more expensive upfront, but engineers widely agree it is more cost-effective over the long term. Once water infiltration and structural weakening take hold, repair costs escalate rapidly.

For motorists, the consequences are tangible. Damaged tyres, misaligned suspension and cracked alloy wheels are becoming increasingly common. Beyond the financial cost, deteriorating roads also raise safety concerns for cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

Unless sustained investment is directed towards structural maintenance rather than short-term fixes, the cycle is likely to continue. Weather patterns, traffic volumes and ageing infrastructure will keep converging to produce new failures.

The UK’s pothole crisis is not simply the result of a harsh winter. It is the product of environmental stress, heavy vehicle loading and prolonged underinvestment. Without a shift from reactive patching to strategic resurfacing, drivers can expect the jolts — and the repair bills — to keep coming.