Holes in the road

DRIVERS across the UK are being hit harder than ever by the cost of pothole damage.
New figures released to coincide with National Pothole Day on January 15 revealed that the total financial impact of potholes on vehicles rose to an estimated £589m in 2025. This was up from £579m in 2024 and £474m in 2023.
The analysis is based on the latest AA Pothole Index, which shows the AA attended 613,638 pothole-related breakdowns in 2025 — an average of 1,681 every day — involving damage to tyres, wheels, steering and suspension.
UK road safety charity TyreSafe, a member of the Pothole Partnership, said the figures underline the growing economic and safety burden of deteriorating road surfaces and reinforce the urgent need for a long-term, permanent repair strategy.
But, said Tyresafe, this is only part of the problem. Many pothole impacts do not result in immediate breakdowns but instead cause hidden tyre or wheel damage that later leads to premature tyre failure, MOT failures, increased running costs and avoidable safety risks.
Even low-speed strikes can compromise a tyre’s internal structure, leaving road users unaware of the danger until a failure occurs.
The Pothole Partnership — founded by the AA, JCB, British Cycling and the National Motorcyclists Council, and supported by TyreSafe, IAM RoadSmart and the British Motorcyclists Federation — is calling for a step change in road maintenance standards.
The partnership is urging local authorities and contractors to move away from short-term “patch and run” repairs and instead adopt permanent solutions, including five-year warranties on all non-emergency pothole repairs, to ensure defects stay fixed and public money is spent more effectively.
For more information on tyre safety advice and resources, visit www.tyresafe.org.