Councils paying more than £22m to drivers in pothole compensation

David Ross, Editor
Wed, 17 May 2023

The compensation paid by local authorities to drivers affected by poor road surfaces could have been used to fill an additional 340,000 potholes, according to research by Citroën UK.

Citroën found that local authorities in England and wales spent £93.7 million in the last year to fix over 1.4 million potholes, averaging £66.93 per repair.

However, during the same period, £22.7 million was paid out in compensation claims, consisting of £11.6 million in actual payouts and £11.1 million in staffing costs related to handling claims. This money could have been utilized to fill the additional potholes.

The figures came from data from the Department for Transport and the Asphalt Industry Alliance.

The research also highlighted the deteriorating state of Britain's roads. On average, roads are now resurfaced every 116 years, a significant increase from the estimated lifespan of 70 years in 2022.

The cost of filling a pothole rose to £66.93, up from £63.18 the previous year and there were 300,000 fewer potholes filled compared to the previous year.

The one-time catch-up cost, which refers to the total expense of repairing roads to a condition where they can be managed cost-effectively, now stands at £14.2 billion, up from £12.64 billion in 2022.

In 2017, the one-time catch-up cost was £12.6 billion but dropped to £9.3 billion in 2018 before gradually rising in subsequent years.

In response to these concerns and as part of its commitment to driver safety and comfort, Citroën is offering a Free Pothole Damage Inspection for its owners. The inspection includes checks for damage to wheels, suspension, and tires and is available at participating retailers until June 30.

The Free Pothole Damage Inspection specifically focuses on areas that are most commonly affected by poor road surfaces.

It involves checking tires for damage, bulges, cuts, and tread depth, as well as inspecting wheels for cracks and damage. Key suspension components, including coil springs and ball joints, are also examined. Additionally, dealers will adjust tyre pressures to the recommended levels and offer wheel alignment if possible, at an additional cost.

Ask HJ

Why don't motorways get potholes?

Our weather is frequently blamed for causing many of the potholes we're currently subjected to. If that is the case, why do motorways not suffer similarly especially with the high volume of traffic?

If you haven't experienced a pothole on a motorway then count yourself lucky, but local roads suffer more from potholes because they are built to a lower standard than motorways. Urban roads aren't generally built to cope with high volumes of traffic and heavy goods vehicles, whereas motorways have to be able to handle 44 tonnes of HGVs day and night. It's also worth mentioning that local roads are the responsibility of local councils, whereas motorways are looked after by Highways England, who likely have access to a bigger budget.

Answered by David Ross

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