First reported 23 Mar 2017•Latest report 27 Feb 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes highway-authority processes for identifying, measuring, investigating, categorising, prioritising and deciding remedial action for carriageway and pavement defects, including threshold rules and consideration of road-user type or use where these affect safety prioritisation.
Not included
Excludes physical road, pavement, drainage, lighting, signage and barrier defects where no failure in defect investigation, categorisation or prioritisation is identified.
Excludes highway hazard reporting, inspection scheduling and completion of remedial works when the reported deficiency is not the defect-assessment or prioritisation decision itself.
Excludes generic road-design, maintenance or road-user safety concerns without a material highway-defect investigation or prioritisation failure.
Excludes failures confined to a named hazard-specific process, such as flooding, roadside obstacles or road-junction safety, when defect investigation and prioritisation are not the shared unsafe condition.
Reports
5
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
8
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2017–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
13
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Bury Borough Council1
Department for Transport1
East Sussex County Council1
Lancashire County Council1
Newport City Council1
Surrey County Council1
English county council3
English metropolitan district council1
Ministerial department1
Welsh county borough council1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Gwent
Concerns raised2
Failure to properly identify relevant pavement defects
Inadequate methods for assessing and interpreting pavement defect height
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Review the Highway Maintenance Manual to consider whether alterations are necessary in response to the reported concern.
Stated by Newport City CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 9 March 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
No immediate or short-term changes are considered necessary because existing highway inspection, risk-assessment, and defect-recording arrangements address the concern.
Stated by Newport City CouncilExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen
Concerns raised1
Failure of highway operatives to identify defects hazardous to cyclists
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Deliver and disseminate an incident debrief covering lessons learned, operational instructions, defect reporting, surface cracking and hazards to all road users.
Stated by Lancashire County CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
Action
Deliver approved toolbox-talk awareness training to all Highway Operatives, including defect impacts and procedures for reporting defects for assessment.
Stated by Lancashire County CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 23 February 2024.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Highway Operatives are not responsible for identifying defects; Highway Safety Inspectors and Technicians carry out the inspection regime.
Stated by Lancashire County CouncilRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
East Sussex
Concerns raised1
Failure to appropriately categorise pothole risks
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Introduce an enhanced risk-based inspection process allowing defect categories and response times to reflect location, usage and assessed risk.
Stated by East Sussex County CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 16 September 2022.
Action
Continue reviewing the effectiveness of the enhanced risk-based approach, including how it would have affected the incident.
Stated by East Sussex County CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 16 September 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
The enhanced risk-based inspection process makes a specific review of pothole categories unnecessary.
Stated by East Sussex County CouncilExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Manchester (North)
Concerns raised3
Failure to investigate carriageway defects below the 40mm threshold
Inconsistent application of the current highway-management procedure
Failure to repair carriageway defects at or above the 40mm threshold
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
Action
Agree an overarching framework with Greater Manchester highway authorities for consistent risk-based inspection, repair and investigation approaches.
Stated by Bury Borough CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 7 November 2017.
Action
Maintain highway inspection procedures and systems in accordance with best-practice guidance.
Stated by Bury Borough CouncilStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2017.
Action
Provide specific training and competency checks for highway inspectors under the new Code of Practice.
Stated by Bury Borough CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 7 November 2017.
Action
Conduct regular evidence-based reviews and monitoring of the new Code of Practice.
Stated by Bury Borough CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 7 November 2017.
Action
Endorse the UK Roads Liaison Group code of practice for highway maintenance and management.
Stated by Department for TransportStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2017.
Action
Provide nearly £6 billion to local highway authorities in England outside London to improve local road condition.
Stated by Department for TransportStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 7 November 2017.
Action
Provide an additional £250 million specifically to address potholes on local roads.
Stated by Department for TransportStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 7 November 2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Central Government cannot override local highway authorities’ decisions about highway maintenance, repair priorities or applicable standards.
Stated by Department for TransportOutside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Position
Local highway authorities are responsible for deciding highway repairs, maintenance standards and pothole dimensions based on local circumstances.
Stated by Department for TransportRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Failure to account for highway use by cyclists in highway-defect priority categorisations
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Review the highway policy, analyse cyclists’ use of the network, and consider whether inspection, defect assessment, or categorisation should be amended.
Stated by Surrey County CouncilStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 5 April 2017.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Highway inspectors already consider risks to cyclists when assessing defects, and the relevant assessment complied with the highway policy.
Stated by Surrey County CouncilExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
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Includes highway-authority processes for identifying, measuring, investigating, categorising, prioritising and deciding remedial action for carriageway and pavement defects, including threshold rules and consideration of road-user type or use where these affect safety prioritisation.
