Government cracks down on companies for creating 'plague of potholes'
Utility companies will face financial penalties for damaging roads and leaving potholes
Last updated 29th May 2022
The government are introducing new measures to penalise companies responsible for leaving potholes on the country’s roads after carrying out street works.
The Department for Transport says they're going to crack down on the “plague of potholes” across local councils.
The new law will result in utility companies facing financial penalties more easily for poor quality road works and leaving behind potholes, those who dig up roads and leave them damaged.
It’s set to help drivers save money on tyre and car damages caused by uneven road surfaces, but also has measures aimed at speeding up broadband rollout nationwide and easing congestion.
What’s expected from the new law on potholes?
Government say that motorists will benefit from smoother journeys, better connected communities, and reduced congestion.
Our Westminster correspondent Georgina Prodromou spoke to Baroness Vere, who told her how the new law is going to work.
The Government add that the new law change could prevent thousands of potholes being left behind nationwide, and will ensure more roads are resurfaced to a high standard, sparing motorists from damage to car tyres or suspensions caused by driving over potholes and helping them save money on expensive repairs.
A new performance-based inspections regime will be introduced, where the worst performing utility companies whose road works fail to meet strict standards will face financial penalties.
These companies will go on to be inspected more regularly by local authorities to ensure their work meets rigorous criteria and they leave roads in a good condition.
‘Utility companies failing inspections’
While the majority of companies carry out street works to a high standard and pass inspections, utility companies are on average failing 9% of the inspections that are carried out, and the worst performing utility company is failing a significant 63% of its inspections.
The new regime supports the Government’s commitment to improving transport and infrastructure at a local level, ensuring people across the country can more easily access local work, education and opportunities while reducing car maintenance costs.
Plans unveiled today will also help telecoms operators rollout broadband nationwide, and ease congestion by mandating live updates on roadworks are improved.
“The plague of potholes”
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “The plague of potholes is the menace of our roads. That’s why I’m ensuring companies who create them and leave roads in a poor state can be held to account more easily – protecting drivers from unfair repair costs.
“We’ve already invested billions of pounds into roads maintenance, helping local authorities keep their highways well maintained, and I’ll continue working to make sure all road-users around the country can enjoy the safe, world-class infrastructure they deserve.”
Roads Minister Baroness Vere adds: “I’m sure all drivers have felt frustrated by the potholes we see on some of our roads, which can damage our vehicles and make journeys a misery.
“That’s why we’re changing the law to ensure companies won’t be able to get away with poor quality road works for much longer.
“The changes we’re bringing in will also help to keep motorists updated with live traffic updates – easing congestion. This is a clear victory for motorists and all road users who will be able to enjoy smoother, safer journeys.”
Investment into highways maintenance
The move follows the Government investing more than £5 billion over 2020-2025 into highways maintenance, including the Potholes Fund announced at Budget 2020.
This funding settlement aims to help local authorities to plan effectively for managing their roads and is enough to fill millions of potholes a year, repair dozens of bridges, and resurface roads up and down the country.
The measures are set to help ease congestion on roads up and down the country, companies will now be required to provide local authorities and the Department for Transport’s street manager service with more up to date and accurate data on live road works.
Start and stop information on roadworks
Companies will be asked to provide information about when works start and stop at weekends and all local authorities must send start/stop information about their works.
This will update sat navs and other apps so motorists are aware of where road works are happening and can avoid those areas – preventing traffic from building up.
Plans will also help speed up broadband rollout across the country, through exemptions to restrictions on works for new customer connections. One third of all road works are carried out by telecoms operators.
The Government will allow exemptions to restrictions which prevent or slow down these companies applying to carry out necessary works.