Potholes are a nightmare – they can cause damage to vehicles, pose risks to cyclists, and even lurk on your own driveway. Here, we explain what causes them, how to report them (and claim compensation if your car gets damaged) and how to fix them yourself if one crops up near you.
What are potholes?
A pothole is a large hole or dip on a road's surface, which can pose a risk to vehicles and cyclists on the road. They begin as small cracks which develop and grow over time.
If you hit a deep pothole, you could damage your tyres, wheels and steering alignment. They are a major contributor to vehicle damage.
What causes potholes?
Potholes are usually formed by rainwater getting under the asphalt, and natural wear and tear on the roads with traffic passing over it. When the weather is cold enough, the water in these cracks in the road might freeze, which will cause an increase in surface area and volume. This pushes the crack open, opening the fissure wider.
This means potholes are much more commonly found in the spring months of March and April, when temperatures are fluctuating above and below freezing.
How do you report a pothole to the authorities?
First off, head to gov.uk/report-pothole and enter the details of the postcode you had the issue in. The website will direct you to the authority that looks after that stretch of road.
Can you get your money back for a burst tyre?
Yes, you might be able to claim compensation for pothole damage from the local council – even if you already have breakdown cover. If you can prove that the pothole was responsible for the damage to your car, then you can make a claim.
How do you claim compensation?
First off, you need to find out who is responsible for the piece of road you are travelling on – and contact them. Make a note of the road it happened on, what the damage was, and what time and date the incident occurred.
If you can take photos of the incident, that will help. Make a specific note of exactly where you were on the road, using nearby markers or what3words for a precise location. If you need to show scale of damage, use a familiar object like a coffee cup or shoe next to the car or pothole.
It's also worth taking down the contact details of anyone else impacted by the pothole or who saw the incident take place. Include all these details in your approach to the local authority.
Most normal roads in the UK are owned by the local council in that area. If you are travelling on a motorway, for example, it's worth contacting National Highways first to see if they are responsible for it.
Why are Britain’s potholes so bad?
The UK boasts one of the wettest climates in Europe. Heavy and frequent rainfall nourishes the green and luscious vegetation that’s become synonymous with the UK, but also provides the perfect environment for causing potholes. One million of them, to be precise.
Surface rainwater on our roads can freeze 40-50 times on and off throughout the year, breaking apart any slight cracks and fissures that have begun to form. UK roads have also seen ever-increasing volumes of traffic in recent years, which means higher and more consistent stressors to road surfaces, leading to more frequent potholes forming often at a higher rate than they can be repaired (despite the government assigning £1.6 billion for reparations until the the of 2026.
Where are Britain’s most infamous potholes?
With potholes being regularly repaired and filled, it’s difficult to pinpoint one pothole in particular as being the worst. We can however look to recent pothole index statistics from the RAC on the UK regions and cities with the highest density of potholes.
First place has to go to Derbyshire, which had the highest number of potholes of any UK region, with a huge 90,596 potholes recorded. Second place goes to Lancashire (67,439), followed by Northumberland (51,703).
Out of all the UK cities, Glasgow is said to have the highest number of potholes per resident. This could be due to the high traffic flow and colder temperatures common in the area.
How do you repair a car puncture yourself?
A puncture is the most common type of pothole damage. Most of the time, the tyre will be greatly impacted and will need to be replaced with a new one. In those instance, you'll need to change the tyre – either yourself or with the assistance of a mechanic.
If you have a bulge in your tyre (even if it's small), you need the tyre replaced immediately as well, as it indicates internal damage to the tyre.
How to avoid punctures and potholes
Potholes are often hidden by groundwater, so it's best to avoid driving over puddles wherever possible and safe to do so.
If you're travelling at slower speeds, you're less likely to do significant damage when you do hit a pothole, so always keep to the speed limits.
If you’re travelling along country roads at night, be sure to take your time when driving and keep your eyes peeled for hidden pot holes. Sometimes you can’t really avoid potential potholes if the road’s too narrow and there’s oncoming traffic. Mitigate any potential damage by slowing down and if it’s safe to do so, wait until you can pass the pothole with a wide berth.
How to fix a pothole on your driveway
You might think of potholes on public roads, but they can happen on any road surface made of tarmac or asphalt, so your driveway might also fall victim to one!
First off, clear the area of dirt and debrit, and cut a neat vertical frame around the pothole using a circular saw. Remove any loose tarmac from the hole. Then, you seal the edges using a cold jointing spray.
You'll need to get a pothole filler. A driveway pothole is likely to be a relatively minor size, so a product containing aggregate of between 3-6mm should do the trick. Pour the pothole repair filler into the hole and tamp it down thoroughly.
Once the area has been fully compacted, the pothole should be safe to be driven or walked over immediately.
Top image: A pothole (credit: Getty Images)
