The UK is facing a growing pothole crisis, with an estimated 2 million potholes no affecting roads nationwide. This reflects the declining condition of the country’s road infrastructure and poses a serious risk to all road users – particularly cyclists.
Recent research highlights the scale of the issue.
A March study analysing government data found that:
However, this is not a regional issue. Poor road surfaces are now a nationwide problem, and conditions continue to worsen year on year.
According to a June RAC report, pothole-related vehicle breakdowns have reached a five-year peak.
Between April and June alone:
Nicholas Lyes, Head of Roads Policy at the RAC, attributed this rise to last winter’s below average temperatures and heavy rainfall. Water entered cracks in the road, froze, expanded, and rapidly weakened the surface as traffic passed over it.
Potholes develop due to a combination of factors, including:
Given Britain’s climate and traffic levels, the growing prevalence of potholes is sadly unsurprising.
The government pledged £5 billion for road and highway maintenance between 2020 and 2025. Additional annual funding is provided for pothole repairs outside London.
In the Spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced an extra £200 million per year, increasing the total pothole repair fund to £700 million annually. Local authorities also receive funding through several maintenance schemes.
However, many experts argue this is still not enough.
The Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) Survey, published by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA), paints a concerning picture.
According to Mark Morrell of the AIA:
This funding gap means potholes continue to form faster than they can be repaired.
Potholes present a serious hazard to cyclists, often causing riders to lose control and fall into live traffic.
The danger increases in wet weather. Rain fills potholes with water, making them difficult to spot and easy to mistake for shallow puddles.
In one real case, a cyclist believed he had ridden through a puddle but instead hit a deep pothole. The impact broke his bike frame and caused injury. He later made a successful claim against a local authority.
In a more tragic incident, a retired music teacher lost his life after his bike became trapped in a 23cm deep pothole in Wyre, Lancashire.
While fatalities are rare, even one is too many.
Our goal is not only to help injured cyclists secure compensation, but also highlight the urgent need for better road maintenance and safer infrastructure.
Responsibility lies with both central and local government to address what many describe as the woefully inadequate state of the UK’s roads and to protect vulnerable road users.
The NJS Law Cycling Accident Claims team is sympathetic, understanding, and experienced in helping cyclists injured due to poor road conditions.
If you would like to discuss a pothole related cycling accident, we offer a free, no obligation consultation.
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