The Department for Transport (DfT) has introduced a new national road condition map and traffic light rating system, enabling the public to assess how effectively their local council is addressing Britain’s pothole problem. This initiative comes amid renewed calls for stricter repair standards, as a cross-industry road safety partnership advocates for five-year warranties on non-emergency pothole repairs.
A formal proposal for implementing these warranties has now been submitted to the Government, a new traffic light system now rates all 154 local highway authorities in England as green, amber, or red, based on road conditions, spending on maintenance, and how well they prevent and repair damage. Thirteen councils got red ratings, sixteen earned green, and the majority—125—were rated amber. The ratings are tied to a £7.3 billion highway maintenance fund announced in November’s Budget. To get their full share, councils must publish transparency reports on their road upkeep. Those rated red will get extra help, including a tailored improvement plan and £300,000 for planning and capability support.
Despite the introduction of new measures, the Pothole Partnership – established by the AA, JCB, British Cycling, and the National Motorcyclists Council – has cautioned that temporary “patch and run” repairs continue to leave motorists at a disadvantage. According to new AA data released to coincide with National Pothole Day, patrols responded to 613,638 pothole-related incidents in 2025, averaging 1,681 cases per day.
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