Pothole funding still falling short of what’s required, warns taxi insurance expert
Updated: 2 days ago
The Chancellor’s recent pledge of an extra £500 million to address the UK’s pothole crisis has been welcomed, but taxi industry figures suggest it barely dents the overall scale of the problem.
Dave Sweeney, Senior Operations Manager at The Taxi Insurer, highlighted the scale of the funding gap. He pointed out that, despite a £1.6 billion allocation announced in the Autumn Budget, estimates now suggest that £16.8 billion is needed to restore the national road network to a safe and functional state.
The condition of the roads remains a growing concern for professional and private drivers alike. While the additional funding signals intent, experts argue that without further sustained investment, the network will continue to deteriorate.
Sweeney stressed that more focus should be placed on preventative strategies, such as surface dressing and full resurfacing, to reduce the long-term costs of repeated patchwork fixes.
Potholes continue to present a costly hazard for drivers. Hitting one can result in damage to tyres, wheels, suspension and other key vehicle parts, with repairs reaching up to £460. Motorists swerving to avoid potholes risk being fined up to £2,500 for careless driving.
While compensation is available through local councils or insurance, claims must usually involve potholes at least 40mm deep. Even successful claims may come at a cost, with drivers potentially losing no-claims discounts or paying excess fees.
The figures underline the growing disconnect between short-term funding boosts and the long-term infrastructure overhaul required to bring UK roads up to standard.
Dave Sweeney, Senior Operations Manager at The Taxi Insurer, said: “Despite the government’s pledge in the Autumn Budget to invest almost £1.6 billion to tackle the UK’s pothole crisis, a total of £16.8 billion is now estimated to be needed to resolve the problem. While the initial level of public investment is welcome, it represents just a fraction of what will be needed to restore our national road network to its former safe condition.
“In the meantime, preventative measures like surface dressing and resurfacing roads would help to ensure we can get a grip on our pothole issue once and for all.
“Potholes can cause real headaches for all motorists, potentially damaging tyres, wheels, suspensions and exhausts, or causing steering problems. Drivers can expect to pay up to £460 in pothole repairs if they hit one or be fined up to £2,500 if found to be driving recklessly – like swerving to avoid a pothole.
“Drivers can also seek compensation for significant pothole-related accidents by filing a claim with their local council or going through insurance. To claim, a pothole must be 40mm or deeper, but drivers who do claim may lose any no-claims discount or be required to pay an excess.”
