Map lays bare Britain’s pothole hell with dangerous hotspots nation-wide – do you live in a road danger zone?

THE standard of Britain's pothole situation has been revealed by a caller representation of large hotspots.

The past twelvemonth has seen a monolithic leap successful claims for harm related to potholes, each costing drivers hundreds to repair.

New information compiled from 18 section authorities by the RAC amusement immoderate regions experiencing spikes successful claims by up to 366%.

The Club besides compiled a database of worst offenders based connected the fig of claims per mile of roadworthy nether the council's jurisdiction.

By that metric, Surrey came retired worst with 3,418 claims made for conscionable 3,410 miles of roadworthy - a complaint of 1 assertion each mile.

Behind that, Hampshire, Essex and Hertfordshire were each tied connected 2 successful a mediocre outing for the Home Counties.

They were followed by Kent and Lincolnshire connected four, with Gloucestershire rounding retired the apical 5 connected five.

Perhaps adjacent much shocking, though, was the information that galore of the lowest-ranked regions besides approved the lowest proportionality of claims.

Gloucestershire County Council, for instance, rejected a staggering 98% of the 829 claims lodged successful 2023.

Likewise, Essex County Council refused 95% of its 2,560 claims portion Kent Council turned down 92% of its 1,884.

Surrey County Council's rejection complaint was down to 86% but, by virtuousness of receiving the astir claims, they rejected the astir successful earthy figures.

Almost 3,000 applications for compensation were turned down successful the region past year.

Even erstwhile councils did wage out, the mean magnitude was conscionable £260, astir 43% little than the £460 mean repair bill, according to the RAC.

Meanwhile, information from 9 of the councils the Club contacted showed that 74% of the claims they rejected were denied connected Section 58 grounds.

This means that the assertion was refused due to the fact that officials were not alert of the pothole oregon potholes that allegedly caused the damage.

RAC caput of argumentation Simon Williams said: "These findings are a stark reminder that the ongoing mediocre information of galore of the UK’s section roads is burning holes successful the budgets of some section authorities and drivers. 

"Even if a operator successfully pursued compensation, the mean sum paid retired of £260 is often good beneath the outgo to hole a pothole-damaged car, for thing much superior than a punctured tyre.

“When it comes to the existent grade of the problem, we whitethorn lone beryllium seeing the extremity of the iceberg, arsenic astir the aforesaid fig of councils refused to archer america wherefore they threw retired pothole claims compared to those that did.

“We person agelong argued that section authorities request greater certainty of backing truthful they tin tackle to the basal origin of the UK’s pothole plague.

"For this reason, we’re pleased they’ll person £500m soon to commencement the process of improving their roadworthy networks.

"It’s captious that this wealth is utilized by councils not to simply capable potholes, but to transportation retired preventative attraction – done aboveground dressing roads astatine regular intervals to halt roads falling isolated successful the archetypal place. Roads that are beyond tenable repair should beryllium resurfaced."