The hidden cost of pothole repair backlog

More drivers than ever are being left out of pocket and stranded at the roadside due to a £17 billion pothole repair backlog, says Start Rescue.

The leading breakdown provider has witnessed a 44.7% increase in the number of pothole-related call-outs in the five months from October 2024 to now.

“Drivers are having to deal with flat tyres, damaged wheels and broken suspension, often resulting in large bills to repair their cars,” says Lee Puffett, Managing Director of Start Rescue. “There needs to be action to resolve this and make our roads safer for everyone.”

The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey report carried out by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) states the backlog of carriageway repairs in England and Wales has reached a record high of almost £17 billion.

David Giles, Chair of the AIA, which commissions the ALARM survey, said: “Over £20 billion has been spent on carriageway maintenance in England and Wales over the last decade. However, due to the short-term allocation of this funding, it has resulted in no quantifiable uplift in the condition and resilience of the network.

“In fact almost all (94%) local authority highway teams reported that, in their opinion, there has been no improvement to their local network over the last year: a view no doubt shared by the majority of road users.”