Drivers in the United Kingdom have been cautioned about a likely rise in potholes following an exceptionally hot summer that subjected roads to intense heat and ultraviolet exposure. The RAC attributed the increased risk to the way prolonged sunlight ages and degrades road materials, causing surfaces to become brittle and crack.
The 2026 summer was provisionally recorded as the hottest on record, with temperatures reaching up to 38.1 degrees Celsius in Kew Gardens, south-west London, and the country experiencing five separate heatwaves. Such conditions, combined with the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, accelerate the oxidation of bitumen—a key binding agent in asphalt—resulting in weakened road surfaces. As cracks form, traffic and rainfall can rapidly exacerbate damage, turning minor fissures into more significant potholes.
Simon Williams, RAC’s head of policy, highlighted that while potholes are traditionally linked to cold or wet winters, sustained periods of high temperatures also contribute significantly to road wear. He noted that nearly half of British motorists rank road conditions as their primary concern related to driving. Data from the RAC’s 2026 Report on Motoring revealed that 83 percent of drivers encounter potholes on most journeys, with 54 percent coming across them on every trip.
Williams pointed to long-standing underinvestment in road infrastructure by local authorities as a fundamental cause of deteriorating road quality. He also emphasized the influence of extreme weather—namely a particularly wet winter and now an intense summer—on road damage. However, the government has recently increased funding to tackle these issues. England’s council highway budgets for 2025-26 were raised to a record £1.6 billion, and a £7.3 billion allocation for road improvement over the remainder of the decade was announced in the November budget. These funds aim to support councils in making long-term maintenance plans rather than relying on short-term repairs.
Industry experts echoed concerns about weather-related road degradation. Mike Hansford of the Road Surface Treatments Association explained that the combination of greater summer UV exposure and harsher winter conditions accelerates pavement deterioration. He advocated for enhanced use of early preventive treatments to build road resilience against climate variability.
In response to these challenges, the Department for Transport introduced new reporting requirements for English councils in June. The measures compel local authorities to demonstrate increased efforts to repair potholes and implement future-proofing strategies for road surfaces. Councils that fail to meet these standards face the risk of forfeiting up to one-third of their road maintenance funding.
These coordinated efforts reflect growing recognition of the need for sustainable road infrastructure management amidst changing climate patterns and increasing demands on transport networks.