Hot weather leads to surge in pothole incidents

The AA has raised fresh concerns for the state of the UK’s roads and the impact on road safety as it warns of a shock increase in pothole-related breakdowns in July.

The monthly AA Pothole Index reveals a clear spike in incidents caused by potholes compared to the same period last year. While earlier in the year callouts for pothole damage to members’ cars had reduced, offering hope that the UK was turning a corner, the latest figures signal a reversal.

The rise in incidents is believed to be linked to the hotter summer weather, which may be exacerbating road surface weaknesses and increasing the risk of tyre damage. The AA also warned that increased road trips on unfamiliar rural roads, which often receive lower priority for repairs could be compounding the problem.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “This summer’s heatwave has starkly exposed the fragility of Britain’s roads. While investment and repair campaigns have made a difference, the recent setback illustrates that much more must be done to create a safe and reliable road network for everyone. We urge the government and local authorities to redouble their efforts in tackling the pothole crisis, prioritising rural routes and frequently used cycling and motorcycling corridors.”

The Pothole Partnership, an alliance comprising the AA, JCB, British Cycling and the National Motorcyclists Council plus other supporting organisations, said it was deeply concerned over these developments. The Partnership stressed that the combined impact of extreme weather and neglected infrastructure places all road users at heightened risk – from drivers and cyclists to motorcyclists and pedestrians.

Caroline Julian, brand and engagement director at British Cycling, said: “We strongly advocate cycling as a critical part of the solution to the nation’s economic, social and health inequalities, but the increasingly poor condition of our roads continues to jeopardies this. We echo the call for more to be done to create a safe and reliable road network to protect all road users.”