Expect even more potholes on UK roads after summer heatwaves, says RAC
Extreme weather has made brittle road surfaces more likely to crack, increasing strain on infrastructure The UK’s dilapidated roads are expected to get even worse, with motorists warned to expect a jump in the number of potholes as result of the country’s hottest summer on record . Potholes are commonly assumed to be caused by cold or wet weather, but long periods of heat can also create…
The RAC has warned that the UK's roads will face a surge in potholes due to the country's hottest summer on record. Extreme heat can create long-lasting damage to roads by gradually oxidizing the bitumen that binds asphalt together, making surfaces more brittle and prone to cracking, according to Simon Williams, the RAC's head of policy.
The roads were already in poor condition after last winter, with only half the network in England and Wales in good condition after months of rain. Heatwaves in the summer have further exacerbated the situation, with temperatures exceeding 38C in some areas. Mike Hansford, CEO of the Road Surface Treatments Association, stated that extreme weather, including increased summer UV radiation, combined with colder, wetter winter conditions, can accelerate road deterioration.
The Met Office found that the high temperatures experienced in the UK were 130 times more likely due to human-induced climate change. Climate chaos, such as heightened summer UV radiation, is putting UK infrastructure under strain in various ways, including railway embankments shrinking in hot, dry weather and risking rail buckling.
Insurance companies have reported a rise in subsidence claims due to the unusually hot weather, with Hastings Direct expecting claim volumes to remain higher than normal through October. A recent RAC report found that 51% of motorists consider the state of Britain's roads their biggest driving anxiety, with 83% encountering potholes on most car trips.
The government has responded to the pothole issue by increasing council highway budgets to £1.6bn for 2025-26 and allocating £7.3bn for road improvement works over the next decade to enable councils to implement long-term maintenance plans. The Department for Transport has also introduced new requirements for English councils to demonstrate they are working towards long-term solutions to fix potholes and roads.
Failure to meet these requirements could result in up to a third of their road maintenance funding being cut.
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