As we reflect on the first month of the new year, there are many significant events to look back on from 2023. It has been a busy year for us and our industry, marked by key changes such as the extension of the deadline for banning the sale of new petrol and diesel cars to 2035, the ongoing driving test backlog, and the welcome announcement that no new ‘smart motorways’ without hard shoulders will be built.
For many, especially those who spend countless hours navigating the UK’s roads, 2023 will be remembered as the year of the pothole. The state of our roads has dominated headlines, prompting us and journalists to campaign for increased funding to improve road surfaces.
Our data showed that October 2023 was the worst month on record for pothole-related breakdowns. Our patrols responded to a staggering 52,541 pothole call-outs in that one month, a 12% increase compared to October 2022. The cumulative total for 2023 stood at over half a million in October (510,932), averaging 1,591 a day.
Potholes pose a significant problem for drivers, causing damage to cars and potentially leading to crashes. Our AA/Yonder survey revealed that 96% of drivers support increased investment in road repairs, underscoring the urgent need for government and local councils to address the state of Britain’s roads.
For your learners, the state of our roads adds an additional challenge to their driving test preparations. Avoiding puddles becomes crucial in case a pothole is lurking beneath them, adding to the myriad of skills required to pass their driving test.
The AA will continue to advocate for greater ring-fenced funding and better permanent repairs for road improvements in 2024. We hope that a concerted effort from our industry will lead to increased funding and meaningful improvements in the coming year.
Despite the pothole challenges, we hope you were able to enjoy some time off towards the end of 2023, and we wish you a prosperous and pothole-free 2024.