Only 9% of drivers know what qualifies as a pothole in their local area

Allianz UK has discovered inconsistent definitions across England of what counts as a pothole are leaving drivers confused. The findings coincide with National Pothole Day, which falls later this week on Thursday 15 January.

While some councils qualify a defect 20mm deep to be a pothole, others require it to be at least 50mm deep before it’s considered. Similarly, some councils require a 300mm minimum width to qualify a pothole, compared to 150mm in other regions.

These disparities in requirements have led to confusion around what actually constitutes a pothole, with less than 1 in 10 (9%)1 drivers knowing what size a pothole is defined as in their local area. Over 9 in 10 (92%) also say they’re impacted by potholes daily, and over half (57%) admit not knowing what qualifies puts them off reporting.

The topic on potholes follows new data from Allianz, which shows pothole claims are costing 55%2 more than five years ago, at around £4,000 per claim, with inflation and advances in vehicle technology also contributing to more expensive repairs.

Despite the Government’s biggest ever investment in local roads, many feel that potholes remain a current problem, with 79% reporting they’ve had their car damaged by a pothole in the last 5 years and 43% saying their vehicle has been impacted recently.

In addition, Allianz warns that pothole related accidents tend to increase at this time of year. Data from the insurer shows a 33% increase in pothole-related claims between November and December across the last five years, with another spike of 79% between December and January.

Matt Cox, Chief Claims Officer at Allianz UK says: “We welcome the Government’s recent initiative to publish clear pothole and maintenance data, to help follow best practice, as well as the biggest ever investment in local roads and the ongoing work local authorities are doing to help fix potholes.

“However, it’s confusing that pothole definitions differ across England, rather than there being a national standardisation of what constitutes a pothole, which could help to make it clearer and easier for road users when reporting them to be fixed.

“Of course, a claim for accidental damage to a vehicle isn’t dependent on definitions of what is or isn’t a pothole.”

Allianz also shares its top tips for helping road users tackle the pothole problem. Matt from Allianz UK advises:

Stay on top of your tyres
Under-inflated or over-inflated tyres are more easily damaged by potholes, if your tyres are inflated correctly they’ll absorb impact better. Check your pressure regularly and act quickly if adjustments are needed.

Watch out for water
Avoid driving through puddles wherever possible, these can often hide large potholes that could cause some serious damage to your car.
Take it slow
The faster you hit a pothole, the more damage you’ll do. Reduce your speed on pothole heavy roads to stay safe.
Drive with caution at night
Potholes are much more difficult to spot in the dark, so drive slowly and light up the road ahead as much as possible.
See it, report it
If you get caught out by a pothole, report it to your council. Head to your council’s website to report damaged roads and find out what constitutes a pothole in your area.