'I'm a pothole expert - this is why UK roads are in a state of crumbling chaos'

A pothole expert has lifted the lid on why the motoring menaces are plaguing our roads like never before - and why the UK's struggling to tackle the problem. In March the government said councils' road maintenance fund would be boosted by £500m but to scoop the windfall local authorities must publish annual reports on how they filling in their potholes.

It's claimed filling in all of England and Wales's potholes would take over a decade and cost £17bn - with six potholes for every mile of roads. Now Phil Sabin, technical director at pothole repair firm Holcim UK, has told the Express why in his 40 years in the industry he has never seen our roads in more disrepair.

Why is the UK struggling to tackle the issue?

"Part of the reason why the UK’s pothole problem is becoming worse is down to the growing number of road users.

"The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders revealed the number of vehicles in use on UK roads has hit a record high of almost 42 million.

"With this figure continuing to rise, the wear and tear inflicted on the UK’s roads will increase over time, and we will see thousands more potholes appearing as a result.

"Another significant problem has been the decades of underinvestment in preventative maintenance, with just 3% of England’s 183,054-mile council-run road network having received any form of upkeep in 2023/24.

"However, the government’s recent announcement of an additional £4.8 billion in funding for works on motorways and major A-roads is very welcome and will help local authorities to invest in better and more sustainable road materials.

"The efforts of councils to fix potholes are made more difficult by the fact that many go unreported, with the AA finding that only one in five people will report a pothole when they see one.

"Additional funding is great, but if local authorities aren’t aware of potholes, it stands to reason they won’t be in a position to fix them.

"As such, we can all play our part as responsible road users to notify our councils whenever we see a new pothole appear. Doing so would help us all to minimise the costly damage potholes inflict on our vehicles and pave the way for smoother, safer and more sustainable roads for drivers and pedestrians alike."

What is a pothole, and how are they formed?

Phil explains: "A pothole is a structural failure in a road surface, primarily caused by water infiltration."

"When moisture seeps into cracks and beneath the asphalt layer, it sets the stage for pavement failure. In cold conditions, trapped water freezes and expands, exerting pressure on the asphalt and weakening aggregate bonds.

"Over time, vehicles passing over the weakened pavement exacerbate the micro-cracking, accelerating the degradation of the road. As temperatures rise and ice melts, air pockets that compromise the pavement’s integrity are left behind and, under repeated stress, the unsupported asphalt eventually gives way, forming a pothole."

Where are they found?

"While potholes can form anywhere, the UK’s frequent rainfall and changing climate makes the country a particularly active breeding ground for them.

"On a more regional basis, Derbyshire stands as the worst affected region of the country, with 180 amber and red road surface conditions ratings.

"West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire, meanwhile, come in at a close second and third, with 168 and 166 amber and red ratings respectively."

The cost of potholes:

“If left untreated, potholes can not only significantly increase the cost of long-term road maintenance, but also pose a serious risk to road users and their vehicles.

"Indeed, the RAC reported that it attended 9,439 pothole-related breakdowns in the first three months of 2025; more than double the number of call-outs between October and December.

"Meanwhile, the number of incidents attended for damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs or distorted wheels - the breakdowns most likely to be caused by wear and tear from poor road surfaces - rose by 19% compared with the same period in January and March of last year.

"The RAC also reported that drivers whose cars have suffered damage as a result of poor roads should now expect to pay an average of £460 for anything more serious than a puncture.

“On top of this, figures from the Department for Transport and the Asphalt Industry Alliance show that between 2022/23, local authorities in England and Wales paid out £22.7 million in compensation claims to drivers whose vehicles were damaged by potholes – money that could’ve been spent on filling more in.

“Insurance providers have also seen an increase in the average cost of pothole damage, with Admiral Motor Insurance citing a 20% rise in 2024 compared with the previous year.

"Additionally, the same company reported that potholes claims have skyrocketed by 175% since 2016, symbolising the surge in potholes during this time."