- AA attended 1,735 pothole related breakdowns a day in April
2023, a 29% increase compared to last year.
- First four months of 2023 sees pothole breakdowns up a
quarter compared to 2022.
- “Make 2023 ‘The Year of the Pothole’” urges AA’s head of
roads policy.
The AA attended more than 52,000 pothole related breakdowns in
April 2023, a 29% increase compared to the same time last year*.
On average 1,735 drivers a day had their vehicle damaged due to
the imperfections on the nation’s roads.
Furthermore, the first four months of 2023 saw pothole breakdowns
rise by a quarter (23%) compared to last year. Should the level
of pothole breakdowns continue at current rates across the
remainder of the year, 2023 looks set to be the second worst year
for road conditions behind 2018.
Make 2023 ‘The Year of the Pothole’
With local authorities now in a new financial year, the AA is
urging drivers and riders to make 2023 ‘The Year of the Pothole’
by reporting every blemish, crack and crater they see, no matter
how small, to highlight the crumbling state of UK roads and
challenge councils to repair their infrastructure.
Councils have a responsibility to inspect roads on a regular
basis, but they cannot be held responsible for a pothole they
didn’t know about. Therefore, it is in everyone’s interest to
highlight the poor condition of the road network, but also give
roads authorities a true picture regarding the condition of the
road network.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said; “The pothole
pandemic looks set to remain for quite some time, with little
hope of a cure on the horizon.
“In order to help government and councils understand the true
state of our roads we need the public to report every pothole
they see. Regardless of their size, depth, the type of road and
its position in the lane, we need to make 2023 ‘The Year of the
Pothole’ so we can get our roads repaired.
“Potholes come in all shapes and sizes, each one posing a
different type of danger. While the worst are like deep caves,
shallower splits that snake across the surface can catch the
wheels of cyclists causing severe damage.
“On safety grounds alone, we need to do all we can to shine a
light on the awful condition of UK roads.”
ends
NOTES TO EDITORS
* Analysis of AA Breakdown statistics, 2017-2023
