Skip to main content

UK's pothole problem worsening

The UK’s pothole problem is worsening across its road network.
By MJ Woof February 28, 2020 Read time: 1 min
The UK’s pothole problem looks set to worsen – image © courtesy of Mike Woof

An insurance firm has highlighted the serious pothole problem facing the UK’s road network due to underinvestment. Zurich UK predicts that the number of potholes across the UK network could jump from 580,636 to more than 650,000 by 2030. The firm derived this prediction on research focussing on the UK’s road condition and the limited spending on improvements.

Zurich UK utilised data compiled by economics consultancy Cebr as the basis for its report. There is a lack of spending by the UK Government on road repairs and for the capital, London, this could result in the number of potholes topping 23,000.

According to Zurich UK, a better approach to risk management is required to target problem areas. This is in spite of plans by the UK Government to spend up to €10.23 billion on road improvements by 2030.

Related Content

  • 1.51 million trucks a year will pass the Alps by 2030, says Swiss OFT survey
    April 12, 2013
    The number of trucks passing the Alps will rise to 1.51 million a year by 2030, compared to 1.2 million in 2012, according to a survey carried out by the research institute INFRAS on behalf of the Swiss transport office OFT. In 1994 the aim was to reduce the truck passing figure to 650,000 by 2018, but in 2011 this was said to be too ambitious. INFRAS suggests that container traffic over the Alps will grow by 50% to 1.3 million units by 2030. While truck transport will increase, the planned transfer of good
  • Pothole damage to be repaired
    February 21, 2012
    Councils in England will be given more than £100 million (€e117 million) of extra funding to spend on repairing potholes, Transport Secretary Philip Hammond has said.
  • Performance probe for National Highways
    February 21, 2024
    A report published last July concerning England's National Highways agency noted several risk areas where problems could arise and which have now done so, according to UK media reports.
  • Drugged driver risks in the UK
    April 13, 2023
    Drugged drivers pose risks to others in the UK