Why more drivers are hitting ‘hidden’ potholes on UK roads

Motorists faced a rise in pothole-related incidents earlier this year as heavy rains concealed road damage under stagnant water, new data shows.

Motoring organization the RAC has reported a significant increase in the average daily number of pothole reports from broken down motorists in February, with the number for the corresponding month last year rising to three-and-a-half times the figure.

This sharp increase was attributed to the “incredible amount of standing water” on the roads, “effectively hiding potholes”.

Provisional Met Office statistics have revealed that the UK received 42 per cent more rainfall than average between December and February.

This was because in the UK a series of low pressure systems from the Atlantic brought persistent wet and windy weather.

The heaviest showers were particularly concentrated in southern and central England.

The RAC said 6,290 of its members mentioned potholes when recording faults last month, compared to 1,842 in February 2025.

In January, there were 5,106 mentions for a daily average of 165, up from 63 in the same month last year.

Common vehicle problems caused by potholes include damaged shock absorbers, broken suspension springs, and warped wheels.

RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “There was an incredible amount of standing water and puddles on our roads in February, many of which were unfortunately hiding potholes where too many drivers were falling foul of.

“While such rain-saturated soils can be difficult to deal with, the RAC suspects poor drainage may also be a factor, possibly as a result of councils not carrying out these works as much as they have done in the past.”

Mr Williams described water as the “enemy of the roads”, as it gets into cracks and freezes and expands when temperatures drop below 0C, causing potholes.

He continued: “Preventing water from pooling on our local roads is crucial to long-term health, so it is vital that further work is carried out to improve drainage.

“Without this, drivers will be forced to spend their hard-earned money fixing their cars.”

RAC figures show the repair bill for a car with more serious damage than pothole damage could reach £590.

Tom Hunt, who chairs the Local Government Association’s inclusive growth committee, said: “Councils are acutely aware of the recent and persistent rainfall and its impact on local highways.

“Local crews are working hard to fix the potholes quickly.

“But many factors affect how quickly roads can be repaired, including weather, safety risks, road type and traffic levels, and budget pressures.

“We urge the public to continue reporting potholes and other road damage.”

A Department for Transport spokesman said: “We are providing councils with a record £7.3bn over the next four years to help them tackle potholes and it is now up to them to maintain and improve roads.

“Our new council rating system shows how well they provide services for local people, including long-term fixes rather than just covering potholes.”