Britain’s pothole misery - How UK roads are getting worse

Potholes.

It is one of the most discussed issues in the UK right now. Response to potholes is often included in a political party’s manifesto ahead of elections, and for a good reason, too. The damage they can inflict on cars ranges from a mildly annoying scratch to an infuriatingly catastrophic write-off.

The scale of the pothole problem in your local area depends on where you’re located, but every road user in the UK can surely agree that it is a national problem that needs fixing and fixing soon. Whether it will ever be addressed to everyone’s satisfaction is another matter entirely.

Hagerty survey exposes pothole anger

Such is the level of pothole discourse in the UK, Hagerty has taken it upon itself to survey over 1,200 UK drivers in its database to ask their opinion on the state of British roads. Unsurprisingly, the response was overwhelmingly negative.

So let’s go through some of the figures…

Perhaps the most overwhelming response of all was that 98% of those surveyed believed that the UK’s roads are now in a state of disrepair.

On top of that, 90% of respondents believe that their local roads are now worse than they were 12 months ago, with 73% of people saying they’d experienced damage to their cars from hitting a pothole.

Over half of the drivers who responded said they had reported potholes to their local council, while only 7% believed that their local authority had dealt with the issue adequately, or even at all.

Not only are potholes causing damage to cars, but those surveyed spoke about how they are causing them serious stress while driving. Over half said how the state of UK roads made them “anxious”, “frustrated” and “distracted”, with apps like Waze being a popular choice to warn them of potholes ahead.

Some even went as far as describing the UK’s roads as a “disgrace” and “dangerous”, saying they are spending more time having to “constantly look at the road for potholes” than “concentrating on the road in the near distance”.

Classic car drivers feel “nervous”

While those who drive modern cars are feeling stressed by the state of UK roads, those who own older vehicles are now reluctant to even take them out of their garages. The Hagerty survey showed that 93% of classic car owners acknowledged that they felt “nervous” about driving their cars on the roads in their current condition.

Britain must move away from a ‘fix it when it fails’ mindset.

Dale Keller, CEO of the Historic & Classic Vehicles Alliance, summed up his feelings on the issue, saying: “Road safety matters to us all, yet Britain’s deteriorating road network suggests it is slipping down the list of safety priorities. The Department for Transport has a Road Maintenance Ratings map intended to name and shame local authorities into improving road maintenance; however, this reactive approach misses the bigger picture. Britain must move away from a ‘fix it when it fails’ mindset. Preventative maintenance is not only safer and more cost-effective, but it also keeps Britain moving safely and efficiently and protects taxpayer investment in the road network. “

Will the UK government finally take action?

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Hagerty International