Councils failing to prevent potholes by neglecting road maintenance should undergo mandatory training, a leading motoring organisation has claimed.
The RAC has urged the government to implement the measure, arguing that many local authorities' “reactive-only” approach has “clearly contributed” to the “poor condition” of many roads.
In a joint effort with the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA), the RAC has written to Future of Roads minister Lilian Greenwood.
Their letter said there are critical benefits of sealing road surfaces to prevent water ingress, which can freeze and exacerbate cracks into potholes.
The estimated cost to bring England and Wales's pothole-ridden local roads up to standard has reached a record £16.8 billion.
The RSTA says many councils are ignoring preventative treatments which could be applied from five years after a road surface is laid, to keep it in good condition for longer.
Many incur a larger cost by leaving surfaces untreated and allowing potholes to form, before eventually needing to replace the top layer of asphalt, often after as little as 10 years, it added.
Government road condition data analysed by the RAC shows half of local highway authorities in England did not use any form of preventative maintenance on their A roads in the 2023/24 financial year.
For B, C and unclassified roads, 36 per cent of authorities failed to carry out any of this work.
“The reactive-only maintenance approach which so many local authorities rely on is particularly expensive, as it means only a small proportion of the road network is actually being treated,” RAC head of policy Simon Williams said.
“This has very clearly contributed to the situation we are in today with large volumes of potholes and roads in poor condition.”
RSTA chief executive Mike Hansford said: “Our joint plea is for the government to mandate training for those local authorities not carrying out any preventative road maintenance.
“The need for comprehensive training is highlighted by the fact so many skilled and experienced engineers are retiring or leaving the sector, which means the industry is losing vital knowledge.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “With the average driver forking out nearly £500 to repair serious pothole damage, we know fixing cratered roads is not just about pride in our communities, but the pound in people’s pockets.
“That’s why we are ending the pothole plague on Britain’s roads, investing £24 billion to maintain and improve motorways and local roads across the country over the next five years.
“Preventative maintenance is key to tackling potholes and keeping roads in good condition, which is why councils must show their progress in carrying out this work or risk losing a quarter of this year’s record funding boost.”
A Local Government Association spokesperson said: “Local authorities work hard to prevent potholes and fix them when they develop, taking their responsibilities to maintain and upkeep roads seriously.
“Greater long-term funding certainty, with local roads receiving a fairer share of the £24 billion roads fund over the next five years, will enable councils to invest in more preventative treatments.”
