French carmaker Citroën has advocated for the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence to address Britain's growing pothole problem, estimating potential savings of at least £5.5 billion.
In its "Better Roads Manifesto," Citroën outlines six recommendations for local highways authorities and councils. Key among these is the deployment of AI-powered technology to enhance road inspections, improve data quality, and enable more targeted repairs. The company also calls for stronger regulatory powers to ensure utility firms properly reinstate roads after excavation work and the introduction of a rolling five-year government funding settlement for local authorities.
A national standard for road repairs is also proposed to ensure consistent quality and provide common benchmarks for authorities. Additional recommendations include greater use of volunteers for defect identification and a more comprehensive road-cleaning strategy.
Citroën estimates that eliminating pothole-related accidents, which contribute to 6% of fatal or serious collisions according to Department for Transport data, could save approximately £3.3 billion annually. The Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation also believes that long-term funding programs could save local highways authorities an additional £2.2 billion.
Citroën is also promoting an AI-powered road monitoring tool called STAN. This smartphone application scans roads during drives, capturing images of defects and problem areas. This data is uploaded to a central database, which local authorities can then access to prioritize maintenance and improve repair efficiency. The company urges motorists to download the STAN app to contribute to a clearer understanding of the scale of the pothole issue.
The manifesto highlights significant inconsistencies in current pothole management. A Freedom of Information request revealed that there is no national definition of a pothole, with some authorities classifying them based on depth (40mm to 80mm) or width (75mm to 300mm). Road cleaning also varies, with only a quarter of authorities sweeping roads at least every three months.
Repair response times also show considerable variation. While some authorities report repairs within hours, others take up to three months, with Stoke-on-Trent City Council noting potential waits of up to 357 days for certain repairs. The use of technology is also inconsistent, with about half of local authorities geo-locating potholes during inspections, but nearly half of those do not share this data directly with repair teams.
Citroën UK Managing Director Greg Taylor stated that the suggestions are practical, cost-effective, and logical steps that can be supported by government, local authorities, and the public to improve road conditions across Britain.