“By frontloading we could do the job now and demonstrate in those early years that this is having a positive effect. That’s more likely to encourage [the] Government and authorities to provide that investment in the long-term and better quantify their needs,” says Simms.

Admittedly, some of this money appears to already be trickling through and generating some positive effects. The ALARM survey highlights how council highway maintenance funding has risen by 17 per cent year-on-year to an average of £30.5 million. Furthermore, with 1.9 million potholes filled throughout the course of 2025, the number of roads rated ‘green’ – in a good state of repair – has also increased by three per cent, meaning that 51 per cent of local roads are in an acceptable condition. 

It’s worth pointing out, though, that the proportion of ‘classified’ roads (those with a number, such as A140) rated green vastly outweighs those that are ‘unclassified’ (either minor rural roads, or residential streets). With local authorities directing cash to roads with the highest traffic, Simms pointed out that “while you’ll get roads that are resurfaced every 25 years, there are those unclassified and rural roads that aren’t done at all in our lifetimes”.

With 2026 being the first full year that councils have access to the additional funding, it’s hoped that drivers should start to begin to see some tangible improvement in road surface quality over the next couple of years. This is a good thing, given the RAC recently reported that the number of pothole-related breakdowns in February trebled year-on-year after a rainy start to 2026.

Unfortunately, for now we’re unlikely to see any major advances in terms of pothole-prevention technology. Simms admitted that ”while the industry continues to innovate, there just isn’t the money available for advanced R&D and innovation.” 

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