Drivers face £460 charge over ‘epidemic’ which swept across UK in July
G overnment investing GBP24billion for motorways and local roads across England over the next five years.
11:28, 23 Aug 2025
Drivers face GBP460 charge over 'epidemic' which swept across UK in July
The UK pothole epidemic has been made worse by the four heatwaves the UK has experienced this summer. The Labour Party government[1] is investing GBP24billion for motorways and local roads across England over the next five years.
But Britain's roads have suffered a setback ahead of the cash injection. The AA reported 50,091 breakdown calls across the UK during July linked to poor road conditions, marking a 2.1 per cent increase from the previous year.
Drivers face substantial financial consequences when their vehicles strike damaged surfaces, as RAC data suggests that repairs for issues beyond simple punctures typically cost GBP460.
Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged the severity of the issue, stating that damaged roads "can risk lives and cost families hundreds if not thousands of pounds on repairs".
Starmer has urged local authorities to "get on with the job" of addressing the deterioration. Edmund King, the AA's president, warned that "this summer's heatwave has starkly exposed the fragility of Britain's roads".
The AA executive called on the Government and councils to "redouble their efforts in tackling the pothole crisis"/
Ben Rawding from JCB, which partners with the AA in the Pothole Partnership campaign, described the breakdown statistics as evidence that the road network remains "vulnerable".
"It's innovation that enables us to do more with the resources already available", he said.
Rawding argued that abandoning "short-term fixes" would be crucial for achieving "meaningful and lasting progress".
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We are committed to tackling the poor state of our roads, which is why the Government is investing GBP24billion for motorways and local roads across England - delivering faster, safer and more reliable journeys."
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association added: "As changing weather patterns impact roads, local government seeks to innovate and find new ways to respond to the issue.
"Greater long-term funding certainty, with local roads receiving a fairer share of the GBP24billion roads fund over the next five years, will enable councils to invest in more preventative treatments."
References