The RAC and the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA) are calling on ministers to make training on preventative road maintenance compulsory for local authorities, in a bid to address the UK’s worsening pothole problem. They argue that councils are too often relying on expensive resurfacing projects rather than applying low-cost treatments that could prolong the life of roads.

The RSTA says sealing road surfaces at an early stage can stop water damage and extend durability, yet many councils wait until potholes appear before replacing entire layers of asphalt – often more than a decade after a road was first laid. The RAC’s analysis shows preventative maintenance is in sharp decline: in 2023/24, half of England’s highway authorities carried out none on A roads, and more than a third failed to use it on smaller roads.

RSTA chief executive Mike Hansford said a shortage of knowledge within councils was partly to blame, citing retiring engineers and gaps in training courses. He described a “knowledge gap” that has led to misconceptions and reluctance to adopt long-term solutions. “We need government to require training for those authorities still ignoring preventative maintenance,” he said.

Simon Williams, RAC’s head of policy, added that mandatory training would ensure the government’s £6.4bn road investment delivers value. By moving away from reactive patch-ups and resurfacing only when roads reach the end of their lifespan, he argued, councils could deliver safer, smoother and longer-lasting roads for drivers.