Are Potholes Inevitable, or Can We Prevent Them?

Written by: Isabelle Miller

Potholes are more than an everyday driving annoyance — they’re a recurring consequence of ageing infrastructure, weather cycles, and heavy traffic. But as they continue to dominate road maintenance budgets (and driver complaints), the big question remains: are potholes just part of life on UK roads, or can we actually prevent them?

What Actually Causes a Pothole?

A pothole forms when water penetrates cracks in the road surface. As temperatures drop, the water freezes and expands, widening the cracks. When traffic passes over the weakened surface, the top layer breaks apart — eventually creating the cavity we know as a pothole.

So while potholes might appear suddenly, they typically begin as small structural failures that go unnoticed until the damage becomes visible.

Can Potholes Be Prevented?

To an extent — yes.

Completely — not yet.

Prevention relies on early intervention:

• Surface cracks must be filled quickly

• Road drainage must be maintained

• Surfaces must be resurfaced before structural failure sets in

But most councils operate reactively, not proactively — mainly due to limited budgets and inspection capacity. That’s why potholes often feel “inevitable”: by the time they’re spotted, the damage has already progressed.

Where Technology Changes the Equation

Modern 3D road measurement tools are helping local authorities detect early-stage defects before they become costly potholes. Instead of waiting for visible collapse, technology spots depth, deformation and early cracking as part of routine digital inspections.

With solutions like GPC’s Highway Measure Software, teams gain:

✅ Precise width, depth and volume data

✅ Condition-based prioritisation

✅ Evidence for funding and repair scheduling

✅ Safer, faster road surveys

Early data = earlier repairs = fewer potholes.

Repairing Potholes: Materials Also Matter

Once a pothole is identified and measured, repair materials determine how long the fix will last.

Type	Use Case	Lifespan
Cold lay (e.g. Bitu-Mend)	Temporary or rapid response repairs	Short-term
Hot asphalt / tarmac	Permanent repair	Long-term
Enhanced composites	High-wear or critical roads	High durability

3D measurement ensures the correct fill volume and method — reducing repeat visits and wasted material.

The Bottom Line

Yes — potholes happen.But they don’t have to keep happening in the same place again and again.

Prevention isn’t about eliminating potholes entirely — it’s about eliminating surprise, waste and repeat repairs. With better measurement and smarter maintenance planning, road networks can move from firefighting to foresight.

✅ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Are potholes actually preventable?

Not completely, but their frequency and severity can be reduced through early defect detection and proactive maintenance.

2. Why do potholes keep coming back after repairs?

Often because the underlying defect wasn’t properly assessed — the repair treats the surface, not the structural issue beneath.

3. How are modern potholes measured?

Using 3D scanning technology that captures depth, width, and volume automatically, rather than manual inspection.

4. Who decides when a pothole should be repaired?

Local highway authorities prioritise repairs based on severity, location and safety risk — often using measured data as evidence.

5. Does technology make repairs faster or just more accurate?

Both. It speeds up inspections, improves prioritisation, and ensures the correct repair method is used — reducing return visits.