Drivers told record breaking summer could mean a rise in potholes
The RAC is making the warning to drivers as temperatures drop.
Drivers have been warned of a possible rise in potholes following our record-breaking summer of heatwaves baking the UK's roads.
The RAC said the sun’s intense ultraviolet radiation ages road materials and that this combined with the absorption of greater heat from the sun can cause surfaces to become brittle and crack as they cool.
The motoring services company compared the it to how sunlight dries and cracks old paint or rubber.
The alert comes after 2026 was provisionally declared the hottest summer on record. The country sweltered under five heatwaves with temperatures peaking at 38.1C in Kew Gardens, south-west London.
It's not just winter weather that affects our roads
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “Potholes are often associated with cold or wet winters, but prolonged periods of hot, sunny weather also takes its toll on the roads.
“Intense UV exposure and heat gradually oxidise the bitumen that binds asphalt together, making surfaces more brittle and prone to cracking.
“Once cracks develop, traffic and later rainfall can quickly turn them into serious defects.”
According to the 2026 RAC Report on Motoring, 51% of motorists said the state of the country’s roads was their biggest worry relating to driving.
Meanwhile, 83% of drivers said they encounter potholes on most trips they make by car and more than half (54%) said they come across potholes on every trip, the report states.
Mr Williams said: “Drivers’ strong feelings about the poor quality of the UK’s roads are a reflection both of a long-term lack of investment in road maintenance and repair by local authorities, and of the road surface issues exacerbated by a particularly wet winter, and now an extremely hot summer.
“Fortunately, the Government has increased its efforts to address the problem.
“Council highway budgets in England have been increased to a record £1.6 billion for 2025-26 and in November’s budget, £7.3 billion was allocated for road improvement works between now and the end of the decade which will allow councils to make long-term maintenance plans.”
Mike Hansford, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association, said: “Extremes in the UK’s weather, including increased summer UV radiation, combined with colder, wetter winter conditions, can accelerate deterioration.
“So, it’s more important than ever to ensure our roads are made more resilient for the future through application of early life, preventative treatments.”
He added: “The industry has responded to these extremes in our weather, through further modification of the binders used in these treatments, which makes them more resistant to both summer and winter extreme temperatures.”
The Department for Transport issued new reporting requirements for English councils in June which require them to prove they are doing more to fix potholes and future-proof roads.
This is aimed at encouraging full resurfacing of roads rather than short-term fixes.
Local authorities risk losing up to a third of their funding for roads maintenance if they fail to demonstrate they are working effectively.