Author: Nik Berg
Britain’s roads are going to pot. That’s the universal conclusion of the nation’s drivers, who are overwhelmingly convinced that the condition of the road network is worse than ever.
In a Hagerty survey which saw more than 1,000 drivers put forward their opinions, an extraordinary 98 per cent of respondents agreed that the UK’s roads are in a state of disrepair.
90 per cent of those surveyed said that their local roads are worse than they were 12 months ago and almost three-quarters (73 per cent) of drivers polled said they had experienced damage as a result of hitting a pothole. Just one per cent of drivers thought the roads had actually improved.
More than half of drivers told us they have reported potholes to their local councils, but a paltry seven per cent agreed that their local authority dealt with the issue quickly.
It’s no surprise, then, to hear that the condition of Britain’s roads is causing serious consternation among drivers. More than half (54 per cent) said they were “anxious” and 78 per cent reported being “frustrated”, with 50 per cent also saying that they were “distracted” by poor roads.
The Hagerty Pothole survey also showed that while, in general, the concerns were equally shared by owners of classic cars and non-classics alike, those who drive specialist or older vehicles are especially wary of taking their cars out due to the state of the roads. In fact, some 93 per cent of classic owners acknowledged that they felt “nervous” about driving their cars on the roads in their current condition.
Respondents described the UK’s roads as a “disgrace” and “dangerous”, while driving has become even more tiring as drivers have to “constantly look at the road for potholes.” “I now concentrate more on potholes and therefore less on traffic and pedestrians,” confessed one respondent.
Potholes are worse in winter as water seeps into the tarmac and expands as it freezes, causing further damage. Yet in other countries, with even more harsh weather, the problems are quickly dealt with. “Our roads are generally dreadful. (I) Recently drove to Switzerland and their roads are far, far better even though they have to contend with far more extreme weather conditions,” reported one respondent. “UK roads are the worst in Europe. When you take into consideration Alpine countries that experience extreme temperature conditions, why are their roads better than ours? I spend a lot of time driving to and from Austria all year round. They experience constant extreme temperature conditions all year round, yet their roads are far superior to ours. The UK government have lost the plot,” added another.
“It’s clear that Britain’s drivers are fed up with the condition of our roads. As champions of the classic car hobby it’s even more concerning for us to hear that the state of disrepair is making owners nervous to even take their cars out,” comments Mark Roper, Managing Director of Hagerty UK.
What are your thoughts on the state of the UK’s roads right now? Let us know below.
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I fully agree with this and also find myself looking out for potholes more than I do pedestrians and other road users. It’s especially disgraceful that potholes are left unattended for long periods on fast roads and motorways.
I think part of the problem is that the UK tends to use coarser-grain chippings in the make-up of the road surface than most European countries do, so there’s less ‘glue’ in the mix to hold the surface together. These coarse surfaces also generate a lot of road noise, unpleasant for the car’s occupants but also a contributor to outside environmental noise especially given the modern prevalance of wide tyres on ever-heavier vehicles. Often, also, the potholes happen because the infrastructure is collapsing. Many roads aren’t holed but have become very uneven. Another point is that the non-skid surfaces sometimes applied by junctions or on tricky corners has a short life and breaks up, taking the under-surface with it. This creates a potholed surface which drivers can’t brake on without causing damage, so destroying the point of the the non-skid surface in the first place.
In all of my many years running road repair and surfacing contracts I have never seen such a lack of skill and diligence as the current norm.
We have a near-total lack of ability to diagnose the cause of individual defects and therefore the best, most effective repair process, and to adequately supervise the repairs they commission.
Time is wasted in “repairing” only defects that are sufficiently substandard and Highway Authorities seem happy for work to carry out works in totally unsuitable weather conditions and with a lack of attention to preparation and finish.
UK roads are an abomination..!
Watched a YouTube video recently about 1970s life. Particularly struck by the appearance of the road surfaces which looked so inviting to drive on. Absolutely amazing, EU countries’ have superb road surfaces even places like the Algarve which in the 80s had the worst road surfaces…!
JCB have developed a pothole repair machine – British Company, both innovative and market responsive.. a World leader in mechanical equipment so why aren’t Local Authorities ordering by the thousand…. Nooo, I’m not a representative for JCB.. LoL.
Pothole prevalence has been increased with the wet weather but mainly due to a lack of routine road maintenance by councils. I have lost about 5 low profile tyres to potholes at huge cost. In my area pot holes are filled, eventually, but so badly, that within a month they have reappeared. This is a failure of council contracting and oversight. What is a real annoyance is that the pothole with paint around it, signifying it has been recorded but the new pothole two metres away is untouched.
Seem to spend a lot of journeys avoiding potholes, never used to see them on motorway s, but do now. Very dangerous in my opinion especially at motorway speeds.
It’s getting ridiculous. I live out in the country, and I’ve long had to put up with neglected roads, with not just potholes in the main part of the carriageway, but crumbling and disintegrating margins where everlasting roadworks have diverted heavy traffic down unsuitable diversion routes. Some of the edges of the roads near me have a drop of nearly a foot, particularly dangerous in rainy weather where the deep potholes are hidden by puddles.
But I’ve noticed that the problem is now affecting major roads. I hit a pothole in the middle of the A130 a few evenings ago, which caused such a bang that it triggered the tyre pressure warning sensors.
But the problem is that calling these things potholes is inaccurate. The entire structure of the road is disintegrating, sometimes with linear fractures along poorly repaired areas, and the digging up and sloppy back filling by the utilities companies.
Years of neglect by successive governments have led to lowest bidder contracts being awarded for road repairs, which are little more than just painting tarmac on the surface, with no regard to the substructure.
We keep being told that there isn’t enough budget to do the job properly, but it ends up with us paying for it, with damaged tyres, rims, broken springs, damaged dampers, and sometimes worse.
I do sometimes think that classic cars actually survive pothole impact better than moderns, with fewer fragile parts and more robust design. But we still shouldn’t have to put up with it.
for a classic motorcycle its personal injury rather than damage that is uppermost in mind
I drive a 1933 Singer Sports, 1967 Singer Vogue and a modern day car and no longer enjoy driving as a pleasure. I seem to spend more time looking for and avoiding potholes and in my area of West Cheshire the condition of the roads are significantly worse than 12 months ago, with little or no effective maintenance being evident. What holes are filled are done so to poor standards and a few months later, are as bas as ever.
We have virtually no control on what vehicles use which roads. I live I. A rural area where roads are very old and narrow and frequently we have issues with LGV’s. They simply are too large and heavy and are destroying the road and verges because businesses don’t want to bother using smaller vehicles. It’s time this bad practice stopped we need to ensure small roads have prohibitions and businesses who flaunt this have received major fines.
Can’t help notice the significant increase in very heavy and bulky cars over the five years. Roads may have been specified for an era of minis, hillman imps and the odd jag are now saturated with cars that must be 4 or 5x beyond.
The condition of our roads is a national disgrace. Patching repairs is not the answer and a complete waste of money.
Repair the full surface properly and that repair will last much longer and therefore would represent better value for money.
Whilst the vast majority of road users agree that Britain’s roads are in appalling condition, neither the AA nor RAC not to mention the motor vehicle insurance companies, attempt to join forces in a vigorous lobbying campaign to demand from government that subject requires URGENT action, after all, motorists pay millions in road taxes but do not see any return for their money.
I no longer want to drive my 54 year old classic in the dark, as it’s much harder to see the potholes, of course. At least in daylight I have a better chance of avoiding them. To be honest, I’m not sure that the standard of the tarmac used is of the same quality as in the past, plus the don’t use liquid tar in the repair joints these days – another EU directive so I’ve been told.
Our UK roads are disgusting, pot holes and road surface damage, not very good for general motoring, but even worse for classic car owners, why do we all pay road tax and have MOT’s to check for road worthyness when the roads need an MOT! Some ‘B’ roads are in better condition the motorways and main roads!
The condition of the UK roads are just plain dangerous and are causing accidents. We have to maintain our cars and have an annual MOT to maintain road worthy vehicles BUT the roads are not safe for us to drive our cars on.
As a petrolhead, a classic car enthusiast, I would like to share a brief “comparative” piece of feedback for information.
During a visit to England last autumn, I found myself reflecting on this issue and indeed noticed a certain deterioration in the quality of the road network.
I regularly drive in other European countries such as Luxembourg, Belgium, France, and Germany.
As far as a comparison is possible and entirely objective, my feeling is that the United Kingdom sits somewhere in the middle of the pack, alongside Germany, where the situation does, however, seem to be improving.
The road network in the best condition is in Luxembourg, followed by France. Belgium comes last, having long had a road network in poor condition. Discussions are currently underway in Belgium about introducing a motorway vignette similar to the one used in Switzerland.
Well said! Paul Evans. They are all happy to take our premiums
but do not support us against authorities.
I have needed to replace 2 almost new tyres on my Volvo V70 in recent months due to pot holes. The one that “blew” on the M1 near Sheffield was not a good experience. Thankfully It was the NSR which made it easier to control when getting from the middle lane to the hard shoulder. No comment on the number of drivers who blasted their horns and raised certain fingers as I tried manoeuvring to the hard shoulder.
With regard to the classics that I own – mainly Volvos from the 80’s – I am extremely worried when using them daily or driving to events, they all have full size spare wheels provided as standard, which gives me the ability to continue my journey and hope I don’t incur another incident.
As others have reported I do spend more time looking for and avoiding damaged road areas but the avoidance isn’t always possible. In my view all roads are getting worse but motorists need more support from related industries to get this issue dealt with.
I regularly drive to and through France-Spain-Portugal where it is a pleasure to drive. The condition of ALL their roads, not just major routes puts the UK and our roads to shame. I suffered pothole damage to my car. Council refused to pay and ‘proved’ they weren’t liable as the road ‘has been inspected within the statutory time frame’ ( once per 12 months ). A week after my report….pothole fixed!. Disgusted at state of our roads and hate driving in UK.
It is an outrage that for decades and decades we have all paid our VED/‘Road Tax’ in good faith and yet for decades and decades successive governments of all colours have not invested in a programme of planned road maintenance but they have taken that revenue and used it for ‘other things’ (use your imagination here).
Furthermore the reduction in speed limits by many councils has also enabled them to provide a lower standard of maintenance than the original/higher speed limits warranted, all contributing to the ‘patchwork’ road repair mentality of local authorities that usually breaks up within a few months, leaving even bigger potholes.
Just look at the astronomical figures for VED now levied on new vehicles, not only in the the first year, but for the subsequent four years, and the similar excessive duty on not-so-new vehicles – does anyone have confidence that that revenue will be used for road maintenance in the appropriate manner?
The local “governments” are given funds to repair roads but are under no obligation to use the money on road reps! This cash should be ring fenced for road reps. only. What the hell are they using this money for- lining pockets maybe? Prove me wrong!
As qualified technician(although retired),I can pass on that we have some of the worst climates (in the UK).In Canada,for instance,it freezes in November and thaws in March,in the Uk this can happen twice per day!
I cannot understand why the excuse of “we can’t afford it” prevails. Money is a tool to do things not an excuse not to do them. Priorities are the only thing that should prevail.
The roads are in an appalling condition and should get priority. An appalling road network, not only pothole, costs the economy’s, local and national billions per annum.
Logic, it’s in everyone’s interest to make sure there’s a road infrastructure fit for purpose.
As per usual lack of investment over decades has brought this issue to crisis point and once again the poor old motorist has to pay.
A proper, carefully planned and costed policy would create employment, revenue from incomes taxes to fund this not insurmountable problem
Agreed, there needs to be a campaign to improve our roads, making them safer and giving Motorists value for money.
It is totally unsafe these days, especially at night. Your watching for pedestrians, potholes, random speed limits and of course other vehicles !
In 48 years of driving I don’t recall the roads being let deteriorate to the state as they have been over the last few winters to the point where you can’t literally drive in a straight line on many roads. Where on earth is the money going? Repairs, when they are done, simply don’t last. The whole situation frankly is a complete joke. Questions certainly need to be asked in the Commons to determine what is wrong & where our road tax funds are going because it’s not into the maintenance of the road network.
I accept roads are bad but if different governments had not let cars get away with paying little if no road tax electric vehicles and petrol and diesels I know Classic Cars are not paying road tax but they are not used Dailey and they don’t weigh what electric vehicles weigh there needs to be a better way of paying if you do thousands of miles a year you pay more
Councils outsource highway contracts to companies that make a profit on each pot hole they fill . Look into the cost and profit these cost and make . Every time you see a hole marked it’s by a sub part of a council a layer of management , then goes to the contractor on a five or ten year contract takes them 2 years to settle into the contract and work out how they can profit all while a council says they are working well . They say it can’t go back in house , yet they pay a contractor to profit . Tarmac is taken bake each day not used on the next hole not marked next to the one that is . While all the patching is done there is less money to spend on a proper resurfacing campaign , soon enough it will be just crazy TARMAC
Councils outsource highway contracts to companies that make a profit on each pot hole they fill . Look into the cost and profit these cost and make . Every time you see a hole marked it’s by a sub part of a council a layer of management , then goes to the contractor on a five or ten year contract takes them 2 years to settle into the contract and work out how they can profit all while a council says they are working well . They say it can’t go back in house , yet they pay a contractor to profit . Tarmac is taken back each day not used on the next hole not marked next to the one that is . While all the patching is done there is less money to spend on a proper resurfacing campaign , soon enough it will be just crazy TARMAC
Yes, our roads are in a terrible state. It’s down to the ‘bodge it and its fixed’ attitude. Every fix is a temporary one. Two weeks later, the ‘fixed’ pothole has lost its filling and gets twice as bad over the next few months. The quality of any work done is appalling, if it’s done at all. It’s costing us all millions in damaged suspension, new wheels and tyres, etc. Plus, what was road tax originally for, amd how much of it actually gets spent on riads nowadays – i’d love to know the answer to that? Please, stop spending it on useless speed bumps that don’t slow down vans and the majority of cars that are on the road, nowadays (SUV’s that just fly over them!) and ‘smart!’ motorways that then have to have millions spent converting them back, and high speed rail systems that cost billions that noone will use, and spend it on properly re-surfacing the roads…..so they’re safer for the taxpayer that has to use them!!
I recently spent 90 minutes sitting in my car while driving local roads with a County Councillor (I won’t mention the council).
I drove along a few of our local B and C roads that are completely breaking up, full of potholes, and constantly waterlogged due to a lack of gully cleaning and verge maintenance.
I was regularly forced by oncoming traffic into some seriously bad potholes and road edges that are now non-existent and forming deep ditches, as well as across large areas of loose gravel.
It was clear that the councillor had been told about these issues before.
I am particularly concerned about the gravel areas, which is why I requested the meeting.
As I ride classic motorcycles, I know, as someone has said here before, that it’s not just damage to the bike but also a serious danger to the rider, especially at night.
The councillor is newly elected and is now investigating some of the road repair contracts.
They said the entire system is plagued by corruption, with contractors for roads, lights, verges, and gullies having no responsibility to do a good job, and no repercussions if they fail. In fact, they often get paid more to come back and fix the problems they made!
These contracts all last five or six years, with automatic renewals if certain conditions aren’t met by the council, but strangely not the other way around. The contract terms often make it almost impossible to terminate them. Often there are significant cost increases built into the contract meaning many jobs are now overpriced and poorly done.
Councillors have very little power to change these contracts, and attempts to do so are repeatedly blocked by the “responsible” staff within the council. The councillor I spoke to said they and their colleagues, who now have a slim majority, are constantly “fighting” with council employees over minor adjustments. They described the task as thankless, especially since many of these staff have been in their roles for a long time, on good salaries, final salary pensions, and other dubious “benefits”.
The benefits are not from the council, but from those making profits from the councils largesse.
This councillor has sought legal advice regarding some contracts and even police advice concerning suspected corruption, but those involved are very experienced, making it extremely difficult to reach a threshold for prosecution. However, some issues are now under police investigation.
Unfortunately, this culture of corruption extends deeply and beyond the highway department to almost all areas of local government, as the councillor perceives.
They reported that some groups within the community are receiving substantially more benefits from the council and that many of these groups are responsible for block voting, which has helped install many opposition councillors and staff.
Despite this, the councillor remains determined to continue fighting for change. They called for our local residents to send in photographs with measurements of potholes, not to the highways department but to them directly, as it is apparently a legal obligation for the council to investigate and act if they’re informed about a pothole with photographic evidence and clear measurements.
The councillor did not trust the highways department not to “lose” that information.
Regular reporting could apparently help make it difficult for the council Highways department to deny responsibility for damages or injuries.
From our discussion, I believe the core issue isn’t about the type of tarmac, machinery, or even how much the council prioritises spending on road repairs. It’s about the almost complete failure of local government and the number of corrupt or incompetent staff.
I am sure there are good staff too, but this councillor suggested that they are sadly in the minority.