Potholes Now Pose a Severe Risk to Life, Safety Experts Warn

According to a freedom of information request, local authorities paid over £32 million in compensation for 5,596 personal injury claims due to potholes between 2017 and 2021. 

Pothole-related breakdowns hit a five-year high in July this year, with 50,079 callouts to vehicles stranded with faults caused by potholes, an increase of nearly one-fifth from 41,790 in July 2022.

With fewer potholes being repaired in the last financial year than any other in the past decade, there is concern that thousands more will be injured and killed due to poorly kept roads.

A wet summer has meant that UK roads are worse than expected as water causes more significant damage and repairs are harder to carry out.

If left, potholes grow as traffic wears away the edges, leaving larger holes that will cause severe damage if driven through.

Motoring organisations report that these more enormous potholes fill up with water in the wet, making them more challenging for motorists to spot.

Drivers risk losing control of their car when they drive over potholes, mainly if they don’t spot them and move at speed.

Potholes can cause extensive damage to a car’s tyres, which can affect steering alignment, and can also cause wheels to burst, pop or deflate while driving, which could send the vehicle out of control.

They can also cause the suspension to become misaligned, leading to tyres being at the wrong angle and losing control.

Over 29,000 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads last year, and a loss of control caused 11% of crashes.

Gary Digva, founder of Road Angel, is now pleading with local authorities to assess the risk to life if the pothole problem in the UK is not repaired.

He said: “It is shocking to see that the pothole plague in the UK is not being taken seriously by local councils given how many people are injured.

“With fewer potholes being repaired than in the last decade, it is only a matter of time before we start seeing an increase in accidents, injuries and fatalities unless something changes.

“Potholes are hazardous for motorists as they can cause them to lose control, mainly if they cause damage to the tyres of suspension or swerve out of the way to prevent damage.

“Almost 30,000 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads last year, and we fear these numbers could increase with the current state of the streets.

“Potholes threaten motorists and are dangerous for cyclists because the uneven surfaces can cause the bike to lose control, leading to accidents and serious injuries.

“Pedestrians could also get caught in the crossfire of out-of-control vehicles, putting them at serious risk of harm if walking along a busy road.

“To make matters worse, we have had an unusually wet summer this year, which makes potholes harder for road users to see, meaning more people are at risk of hitting potholes and losing control.

“The best advice to motorists while the roads are substandard is to drive cautiously and reduce speeds when approaching a pothole.

“Motorists concerned for their safety after hitting a pothole should ensure they go to a qualified mechanic to check the vehicle for any damage.

“It is also worth noting that to claim in the event of injury or car damage from a pothole, evidence must be collected to show the council’s negligence caused it.

“This is a tough process, but can be done using witness statements, photo or video evidence and medical records, so while the councils neglect the roads, it may be worth investing in a dashcam to capture pothole proof.”