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StatementsPotholes & roads

RAC reaction to the 2026 AIA ALARM report

Image: Getty (all rights reserved).

Following the publication of the Asphalt Industry Alliance's (AIA) 2026 ALARM report, RAC head of policy Simon Williams said:

“As drivers testify, decades of underinvestment have left many roads in a woeful state of disrepair - something that’s been even more noticeable since the beginning of the year with our teams receiving hundreds of breakdown reports every day mentioning potholes.

"We hope new record levels of funding from central Government and a commitment to longer term investment that allow councils to plan highways maintenance will mean we start to turn a corner - although it will be some time before drivers notice a real difference.

"The path to better roads isn’t complicated: ensure water always drains off the roads, fix potholes as permanently as possible, seal roads against water ingress through preventative maintenance, and resurface those that have gone beyond the point of no return."

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The RAC is an iconic British driving services brand and has been championing drivers since 1897. Today it is one of the UK’s most trusted names, providing complete peace of mind ® to over 15 million drivers across breakdown cover, insurance, and mobile servicing and repairs.

Its nationwide patrol force attends more than two million breakdowns every year, while its position as the UK’s leading independent insurance broker helps motorists find the right cover with confidence. The RAC has also reshaped the service, maintenance and repair market with its Mobile Mechanics, who carry out servicing and repairs at drivers’ homes or workplaces.

Committed to innovation, the RAC is fully electric ready with mobile EV charging technology for stranded drivers, and a suite of digital and data‑led solutions that make motoring easier and more affordable for consumers and fleets. These services come together in myRAC – the all‑in‑one app for vehicle maintenance, cheaper fuel finding and breakdown assistance.

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