London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – The latest data reveals that Transport for London has paid over £2 million in pothole compensation claims over the past three years.
In 2022-23, TfL allocated £1.7m for just 12 pothole complaints, a sharp rise from £310,000 paid out the year before. However, the payout data dropped significantly to £85,000 in 2024.
As reported by the BBC, the TfL saw a rise in pothole numbers from 804 in 2021-22 to 945 in 2022-23, but it could not provide data for 2023-24 because of a digital attack.
The safety spokesman for the RAC motoring group, Rod Dennis, stated, “With pothole compensation claims up 42% year-on-year, these figures are a stark reminder that poor local road conditions continue to burn a hole in the budgets of local authorities and drivers.”
The latest data, which was published following a Freedom of Information appeal, revealed that Transport for London handled 229 pothole requests in 2024.
Last year, TfL got £967,000 from a fund for road maintenance announced in the budget.
Roads in England and Wales were in a critical state in 2024, according to a document revealed by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA).
While TfL is responsible for only 5% of London’s roads, local authorities are managing the rest.
The government will allocate the highest funds to Bromley (£1.5m), Barnet, and Croydon (£1.2m each), with the City of London receiving only £70,000.
A representative from the TfL said, “TfL has a very strong safety record for injuries caused by poor road surfaces.”
He added, “Our rigorous inspection and repair programme prevents thousands of injuries each year and any pothole reported that could cause injury is made safe within one, four or 24 hours of it being reported depending on its risk.”
The transport authority representative also stressed that they would try to stop potholes from occurring by renewing the roads.
RAC: Potholes are drivers’ biggest bugbear
Last August, a motoring poll revealed that pothole numbers have emerged as the top frustration for drivers in the UK.
RAC research suggests that the state of Britain’s roads is now the primary concern for nearly six in 10 individuals, exceeding insurance costs and fuel charges for the first time.
According to an RAC survey, pothole-related damage costs drivers an average of £460. The most common issues reported in the last 12 months were flat tyres, damaged rims, and broken suspension springs.
Speaking to BBC, Louise Thomas, an insurance specialist at Consfued.com, stated that most drivers decide to pay for repairs themselves because it’s quicker and easier, warning that insurance complaints could lead to higher future premiums.
The past Tory government has pledged to allocate an additional £8.3bn for road repairs in England over the next ten years.
Both the RAC and the Local Government Association (LGA) urged the Labour government to follow through with the current spending plans.
According to the Department for Transport, it is helping local councils in their efforts to revamp a significant number of potholes every year.