Nearly one million potholes have been reported in the last 12 months – a five-year high, as extreme weather linked to climate change hits across the UK
New data revealed from a Freedom of Information request found that there are almost four million potholes reported to councils since January 2020
Local authorities received nearly one million (952,064) reports of potholes between January and November 2024 – the equivalent of 3,122 reports each day. The analysis from non-profit Round Our Way highlights that the conditions that lead to potholes – water, traffic and freeze-thaw cycles – can be made worse by extreme weather due to climate change, with fears about the effects on road safety for drivers and cyclists.
A car passing potholes in a road near Peterborough in Cambridgeshire.
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Dr Benyi Cao, lecturer in Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Surrey, said: said: “Climate change is having a significant impact on the state of our roads, with severe weather accelerating damage and increasing the prevalence of potholes.
“In northern parts of the UK, for example, warmer winters driven by climate change are leading to more frequent freeze-thaw cycles. This process, where water enters small cracks, freezes, expands, and then thaws, causes extensive weakening of road surfaces. Combined with heavier rainfall and fluctuating temperatures, these effects are placing unprecedented stress on our road infrastructure.”
The 952,064 reports of potholes between January and November 2024 puts 2024 at the highest number of reported potholes in five years, with only 11 months currently accounted for – with the 2023 figure at 950,213 for a full 12 months, and 2020 seeing 642,137 potholes reported.
The 952,064 reports of potholes between January and November 2024 puts 2024 at the highest number of reported potholes in five years
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Image:
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Latest data from the Met Office UK State of the Climate Report found that 2023 was the seventh wettest year on record since 1836. Further analysis from World Weather Attribution found that Autumn and winter storm rainfall in 2023/24 in the UK and Ireland was made about 20% heavier by human-caused climate change.
Sofie Jenkinson, Co-Director of Round our Way, said: “The scale of the pothole problem on UK roads is becoming critical, meaning that getting from A to B is becoming more difficult for all of us. The impact of extreme weather can only add to concerns that we are not prepared for the impact of climate change on this crucial part of our nation’s infrastructure.
“Not only do we need to see immediate response to the increased amount of potholes on our roads, from continued funding through to improved road surfaces but we need politicians to take the cause of increased extreme weather due to climate change seriously – taking action to reduce emissions and secure clean energy sources for the future to ensure these impacts don’t continue to become more frequent and more damaging.”