Pothole compensation claims have cost councils £300M over the last decade – enough to fill 5 million craters – as figures show that since 2013 more than 2,000 people have been seriously injured and 94 killed in accidents on Great Britain’s creaky roads -Britain
Councils have spent nearly £300 million on pothole damage claims over the past decade – enough to plug five million potholes.
New figures show that last year £11.6 million was paid out to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians for damages and injuries, with a further £11.1 million spent on claims settlement.
Still, the same amount of money could have filled another 340,000 potholes, potentially preventing future accidents, according to research from Citroen UK.
It comes after the Daily Mail revealed how highway authorities rejected millions of pounds worth of pothole claims each year, with less than one in four resulting in a payout.
Many are dismissed on the basis of a loophole in the Highways Act 1980, which states that councils and other road authorities are only liable for claims if they have failed to inspect roads frequently or make timely repairs.
New figures show £11.6m paid out to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians for damages and injuries last year (file image)
Data from the Department for Transport (DfT) shows that since 2013 more than 2,000 people have been seriously injured – including 94 dead – in accidents on Britain’s poorly maintained roads (file image)
And municipalities can also plead ignorance if a hole has not been reported. Yet a separate analysis of figures from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) shows that councils in England and Wales have paid nearly £290.8 million in claims since 2013 – enough to cover the cost of repairing 5.1 million potholes at an average cost of £57 per repair.
Meanwhile, data from the Department for Transport (DfT) shows that since 2013 more than 2,000 people have been seriously injured – including 94 dead – in accidents on Britain’s poorly maintained roads.
RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: ‘It is clear what a predicament the country is in when you look at the amounts paid by councils in compensation to drivers who, through no fault of their own, suffer the ill effects of hitting a car . .
“If more of the taxes drivers pay were spent on maintenance and improvement, we wouldn’t be in this position.”
Mr Dennis added: ‘We will not rest until the government rethinks funding for local roads and ends the hand-to-mouth approach of plugging potholes rather than properly refurbishing them.’
The Daily Mail is campaigning to end Britain’s pothole plague, which is costing motorists millions in repair costs and endangering cyclists.
According to the AIA’s latest ALARM study, it would currently take 11 years to clear the road works backlog in England and Wales.
Greg Taylor, general manager of Citroen UK, said: ‘The 2023 ALARM report shows the UK facing an 11-year backlog and £14.2bn in road repairs.
“With that in mind, it’s no wonder millions are spent each year on motorist compensation.”
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: ‘Any claim for damages sent to a council is firmly assessed on its own merits and in accordance with the law. “Instead of paying expensive claims, municipalities prefer to use their budget to keep our roads in good condition, reducing the risk of vehicle damage and personal injury.”
A DfT spokesman said: ‘We are investing over £5bn from 2020 to 2025 to maintain local roads, with an additional £200m announced in the budget, which will help repair millions of potholes a year and raise and lower roads. to recover. the country, making travel smoother and safer for everyone.’