Parliamentary Search

Written question asked by Lord Birt (Crossbench) on Monday, 1 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Monday, 15 June 2026. It was answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill (Labour) on Monday, 15 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to identify and speedily remedy potholes the depth of which is most likely to cause serious damage to vehicles on national highways.

Answer

For potholes on the English Strategic Road Network which are most likely to cause damage to vehicles, National Highways identifies defects via routine condition surveys, asset inspections, and reports from operational teams and stakeholders using the network. Identified defects are then assessed and categorised using a risk-based approach (assessing likelihood and consequence) to determine the appropriate speed of response.

Potholes most likely to cause serious damage to vehicles are classified into two categories: “Immediate/Go-Now”, requiring attention within two hours for the most severe defects; or “Safety Defect”, typically requiring action within 24 hours.

Alongside reactive repairs, National Highways takes a proactive approach to network renewals, such as resurfacing or reconstruction, to help maintain the resilience and safety of the network.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL426
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Roads Repairs and maintenance
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk