RAC warns of more potholes on UK roads
Record temperatures during the summer are likely to increase the number of potholes on UK roads, according to the RAC.
It said that UV radiation from the sun breaks down the chemics used to bind road surfaces, increasing the likelihood of asphalt becoming brittle and cracking as it cools.
This comes as the RAC Report on Motoring 2026 found that 51% of drivers said potholes were their biggest worry, up from 47% in 2025, with 66% saying the condition of roads has deteriorated in the last 12 months. Now, 83% of drivers say they encounter potholes on most trips they make by car, and 54% come across potholes on every trip.
More than a third (34%) said they had experienced vehicle damage caused by poor road surfaces, up from 29% in 2025, with average repair costs up to £590.
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Potholes are often associated with cold or wet winters, but prolonged periods of hot, sunny weather also takes its toll on the roads. Intense UV exposure and heat gradually oxidise the bitumen that binds asphalt together, making surfaces more brittle and prone to cracking. Once cracks develop, traffic and later rainfall can quickly turn them into serious defects.
“There’s nothing that irritates drivers more than potholes. Drivers’ strong feelings about the poor quality of the UK’s roads are a reflection both of a long-term lack of investment in road maintenance and repair by local authorities, and of the road surface issues exacerbated by a particularly wet winter, and now an extremely hot summer.
“Hopefully, more vital preventative maintenance work will have been carried out from April to September as it’s badly needed to improve our roads for the long term.”
