The British Road Maintenance Index 2025: How Local Authorities Compare

Date icon 19/06/2025 Read time icon 1 minutes read

The State of British Roads – and What It Means for Your Fleet

For businesses across the UK that rely on vans and commercial fleets, road conditions aren’t just a public concern – they’re a bottom-line issue. Poor infrastructure increases vehicle wear, causes more breakdowns, and extends unplanned downtime. In short, it costs money.

That’s why Northgate Vehicle Hire has launched The British Road Maintenance Index 2025: a nationwide ranking of local authorities based on how well they maintain the roads that businesses depend on every day.

What the Index Measures

We’ve drawn on the latest publicly available data to benchmark each local authority across three key indicators:

% of roads in poor condition – includes both classified and unclassified routes

Number of potholes reported annually

Maintenance investment relative to road network length

These data points are combined to produce a single British Road Maintenance Index score, enabling direct comparison between regions and surfacing key risk areas for fleet planning.

Key Findings: Who Ranks Where?

We analysed hundreds of data points to determine which local authorities are falling short – and which are leading the way.

Among the worst performers:

Derbyshire ranks highest for poor road conditions (66% of classified roads are in poor condition) and recorded over 90,000 potholes in a single year.

Nottingham shows high road degradation, and a low maintenance spend relative to need.

Merton, Brighton & Hove, and Havering also rank poorly across multiple metrics.

In contrast, top performing areas with lower rates of poor road condition and higher maintenance investment include:

Reading, Luton and Rutland which report high maintenance spend per road length and fewer pothole incidents.

Sandwell leads in maintenance coverage, investing in over 21% of its road network last year.

The 10 Worst Performing Authorities

At the bottom of the national ranking are local authorities where road conditions are significantly deteriorated, but investment and upkeep have not kept pace.

These areas present high risks for fleet operators, particularly in terms of downtime, tyre damage, and route efficiency.

The 10 Best Performing Authorities

Conversely, the top 10 authorities combine low rates of poor road condition with proactive, high-value maintenance programmes.

These areas are setting the standard for preventive road upkeep, helping local businesses move more safely and efficiently.

Pothole Count = Number of potholes Maintenance % = The percentage of roads receiving maintenance
Condition Score = Surface condition of the roads (the higher the worse). This number is the accumulation of classified and unclassified roads in poor condition.

Whether you’re optimising last-mile logistics or planning new service coverage, this index can help de-risk your routes.

Why This Matters: Poor Roads = More Downtime

Vehicle breakdowns due to poor road conditions are a major contributor to fleet downtime. For businesses that rely on their fleet for daily operations, this downtime can lead to significant financial losses and operational disruptions.

“Downtime can have far-reaching consequences for businesses—not just in terms of lost productivity, but also in how it affects customer service and brand perception. One way companies are managing these challenges is by having more flexible options within their fleet –such as hiring - which can help reduce the financial and logistical strain of maintaining a large, permanent fleet," Spencer Davi – Sales & Marketing Director, Northgate.

By understanding where the risks are highest, fleet managers can act before issues escalate.

Common impacts of road neglect:

Tyre and suspension damage from potholes

Delayed deliveries and failed Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Increased fuel costs from inefficient routes

Safety risks for drivers and cargo

Reduce Downtime with Smarter Fleet Management

One of the best ways to protect your fleet from infrastructure risks is to opt for long-term van hire over vehicle ownership. With Northgate’s long-term vehicle hire solutions, you get: