TfL pays out £2m in pothole compensation claims

Potholes are drivers' biggest bugbear, surveys show

More than £2m has been paid out in pothole compensation claims by Transport for London (TfL) in the last three years, fresh data shows.

The transport body awarded £1.7m in 2022-23 for 12 claims, a huge increase on the £310,000 paid in compensation the previous year. Just £85,000 was allocated last year.

TfL reported a rise in potholes from 804 in 2021-22 to 945 in 2022-23 but was unable to record figures for 2023-24 due to a cyber-attack.

Rod Dennis, the RAC motoring group's safety spokesman, said: "With pothole compensation claims up 42% year-on-year, these figures are a stark reminder that poor local road conditions continue to burn a hole in the budgets of local authorities and drivers."

The new data, released in response to a Freedom of Information request, also showed that the number of pothole claims received by TfL last year reached 229.

In 2021-22, it was 166, falling slightly to 161 in 2022-23.

Last year, roads in England and Wales were described as at "breaking point" by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA).

Last year, TfL was awarded £967,000 from a local highways maintenance fund announced in the budget.

Just 5% of London's roads are TfL's responsibility with the rest being managed by local councils.

The London boroughs of Bromley (£1.5m), Barnet and Croydon (both £1.2m) will receive the highest amounts across the capital from the government. The City of London gets just £70,000.

A TfL spokesperson said: "TfL has a very strong safety record for injuries caused by poor road surfaces.

"Our rigorous inspection and repair programme prevents thousands of injuries each year and any pothole reported that could cause injury is made safe within one, four or 24 hours of it being reported depending on its risk.

"We also make every effort to avoid potholes from occurring in the first place with our carriageway renewal."