Worst Cities & Areas for Potholes in the UK

Potholes are prevalent across the UK, and the problem appears to be getting worse.

The AA responded to 631, 852 pothole related incidents in 2023, at an estimated cost of £474 million. Kwik Fit’s figures suggest that the repair bill’s significantly higher, at around £1.48 billion.

But have you ever wondered which cities and areas in the UK have the worst pothole problems?

In this post we’ll explore the worst cities and areas for potholes in the UK, so you can see how your area compares.

If you are a fleet manager, our friendly commercial motor experts are always on hand to discuss your risk management and insurance requirements. Get in touch on 020 8290 9099, or email commercial.motor@anthonyjones.com.

Worst Cities and Areas for Potholes in the UK

A few years ago, The AA sent Freedom of Information requests to councils across the UK, to find out which areas have the most potholes reported on their roads.

Here are the top 10 worst cities and areas for potholes in the UK, in terms of total potholes reported over a three year period:

1. Northumberland (180,993)
2. Cornwall (88,129)
3. Kirklees (77,552)
4. Newry, Mourne, and Down (62,820)
5. Fife (57,051)
6. Armagh City, Banbridge, and Craigavon (54,320)
7. Newcastle upon Tune (53,767)
8. Liverpool (45,224)
9. Suffolk (42,174)
10. Glasgow (38,100)

The Worst Areas For Fixing Potholes in the UK

Some areas have more potholes than others. But at the same time, some areas are better at fixing potholes than others. In the timeframe referenced above, there were 180,993 potholes reported in Northumberland. Yet in the same timeframe, Northumberland councils repaired 175,357 potholes. This still leaves a lot of potholes, of course, but that is an impressive number of repairs.

Some areas of the UK have fewer potholes overall, yet councils take significantly longer to repair potholes once they’re reported.

In 2023, a Freedom of Information request from the Liberal Democrats revealed the 10 UK areas with the longest waits to fix potholes:

1. Stoke on Trent (4,111 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 567 days).
2. Westminster (785 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 556 days).
3. Norfolk (8,085 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 482 days).
4. East Sussex (13,081 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 463 days).
5. Wiltshire (5,565 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 453 days).
6. Warwickshire (2,560 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 304 days).
7. Lambeth (462 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 300 days).
8. Suffolk (7,416 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 296 days).
9. Shropshire (6,173 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 285 days).
10. West Sussex (21,785 potholes reported. Longest fix time was 273 days).

Please note that the pothole situation might have changed in the months and years following the two reports we referenced above. Though if it has, it’s unlikely to have changed for the better.

How to Protect a Fleet From Pothole Damage

Is there anything you can do to protect your fleet against pothole damage?

• Educate your drivers on the on-going costs and repair bills related to pothole damage in the UK and in your fleet in particular.
• Instruct your drivers to drive slowly and steadily on any road that appears afflicted by pothole damage. Especially if you have drivers in the areas listed above as the most affected.
• Instruct drivers to take action should they ever hit a pothole: Pull over as soon as it’s safe to do so, and check for any signs of damage. This could help prevent small issues from escalating into more expensive problems.
• Familiarise yourself with making pothole-related claims: if you’re worried about the cost of repairs, you may be able to make a claim for pothole damage. Read our full guide to making a claim for pothole damage.

But potholes are everywhere, and it’s all too easy to get caught unawares. Also, some roads may be so riddled with potholes that motorists have no choice but to drive over them.

So pothole damage may be an inevitable fact of life for drivers and fleet managers across the UK.

If you are a fleet manager, our friendly commercial motor experts are always on hand to discuss your risk management and insurance requirements. Get in touch on 020 8290 9099, or email commercial.motor@anthonyjones.com.