The number of motorists and cyclists receiving compensation for injuries and damage caused by potholes on London’s main roads has quadrupled in a year.
A total of 281 claims — 244 from drivers and 37 from cyclists — were accepted by Transport for London last year. Almost £350,000 was paid to cyclists alone in 2018 — taking the total over the past five years paid to cyclists to £1.7 million.
The increase in claims follows a controversial decision by TfL commissioner Mike Brown to “pause” non-safety-critical road repairs on TfL’s “red route” network for two years to ease a cash crisis.
The number of successful claims last year was more than four times the 68 on which TfL paid out in 2017, according to figures obtained by the London Assembly.
A total of 571 claims were made last year, up from 342 the previous year, just under half of which were successful. TfL was unable to provide a figure for the amount paid to motorists.
TfL chiefs said the “Beast from the East” weather storms in February and March last year were to blame for the increase in claims. There were 29 collisions between January and July last year in which poor road surface was a factor, about double the rate of previous years. These included nine incidents in which a cyclist, pedestrian or motorcyclist was seriously injured.
Key routes where “major refurbishment” has been delayed include the Blackwall tunnel, Brent Cross and Lambeth bridge. TfL insists it has a “robust” understanding of the state of its roads and bridges and continues to carry out “safety critical work” on a daily basis.
TfL’s finances have been badly hit by the loss of a £700 million government annual subsidy and the two-year delay in opening Crossrail. As a result, it is not due to break even until 2022-23.
However, figures show it expects to generate £60 million more than budgeted from fares.
