A coalition of motoring and road user groups is calling for five-year warranties on pothole repairs, arguing that too many UK roads are stuck in a costly cycle of short-term fixes.
The Pothole Partnership says non-emergency pothole repairs should come with a minimum five-year guarantee, meaning any defect that reappears during that time would be fixed again at no extra cost.
The proposal follows new figures from the AA, which attended more than 613,000 pothole-related breakdowns in 2025 alone. The partnership warns that repeated failures not only damage vehicles but create serious safety risks, particularly for riders.
FOI responses from councils highlight how common repeat repairs have become. One authority admitted that over 2,200 potholes needed fixing more than once in a single year, with current contractor guarantees lasting just 12 months, after which costs fall back on local ratepayers.
Although the partnership has welcomed the Government’s new council performance ratings, it believes real progress will only come when those carrying out repairs are held accountable for how long they last. The proposals have been formally submitted to the Department for Transport.
For driver trainers, potholes are no longer an occasional nuisance but a regular training challenge. Poor surfaces affect braking, steering, positioning and vehicle wear, all areas learners need structured guidance on. Teaching pupils to read the road ahead and adapt early is becoming just as important as mastering manoeuvres.
The partnership is also calling for clearer national standards, after earlier research showed councils using dozens of different methods to judge repair success. Some authorities do not measure repair longevity at all, underlining the inconsistency drivers face from one area to the next.
The campaign is backed by organisations including the National Motorcyclists Council, British Cycling and JCB, and aims to push road maintenance away from ‘patch and run’ fixes towards longer-lasting solutions. Further details are available via the Pothole Partnership’s published briefing.
