Why Britain’s Potholes Are the Biggest Obstacle to Autonomous Public Transport

The race to bring autonomous vehicles to UK roads is gathering pace.

Tech companies, automotive manufacturers, and government pilots all promise a future where buses and taxis glide along our streets without human drivers. Yet amid the excitement, one stark reality is often overlooked: Britain’s road network is riddled with potholes, and until that issue is resolved, the dream of fully autonomous public transport will remain out of reach.

Autonomy Demands Predictability

Self-driving technology thrives in environments where conditions are consistent and predictable. Rail networks, for example, lend themselves to automation because the track is fixed, controlled, and monitored. Roads, by contrast, are highly variable. A pothole that appears overnight isn’t just an inconvenience for human drivers—it’s a critical hazard for autonomous systems. Sensors and algorithms struggle when the surface itself becomes unpredictable, forcing vehicles into split-second decisions that current technology isn’t equipped to make reliably.

Safety and Liability at Stake

For public transport, the bar is even higher than for private cars. Passengers expect—and deserve—absolute safety. If an autonomous bus swerves suddenly to avoid a pothole or fails to detect one and damages its suspension, the question of liability becomes immediate. Is it the technology provider, the operator, or the local council responsible for the road surface? Without a clear answer, no operator can risk deploying driverless services at scale.

The Scale of the Problem

The UK faces a backlog of road repairs estimated to cost billions. Local authorities already struggle to keep up with basic maintenance, and extreme weather linked to climate change is only accelerating the rate of deterioration. Autonomous trials may succeed on small, well-maintained test routes, but rolling out a nationwide system on our existing road network would be like trying to run high-speed trains on warped and broken tracks.

Investment Must Start Below the Wheels

Before we invest billions more in sensors, software, and pilot schemes, we need a serious national commitment to fixing the very ground these vehicles rely on. A long-term road maintenance strategy—supported by smarter monitoring, new materials, and ring-fenced funding—should be seen as a prerequisite for autonomy, not an afterthought. In fact, improving road surfaces now would benefit not only future autonomous fleets but also today’s drivers, cyclists, and bus passengers.

A Vision That Connects the Dots

Autonomous public transport is not just a technology challenge; it’s an infrastructure challenge. If the UK wants to lead the world in driverless mobility, it must first address the humble pothole. Smooth, safe, and reliable roads are the foundation on which autonomy depends. Without them, the promise of fully driverless buses and taxis will remain stuck in the slow lane.