Government introduces RAG rating to hold local authorities to account.

Driving instructors across England could soon see a shift in how local roads are maintained, as the government introduces new rules aimed at ranking councils on their pothole-fixing performance.

Under plans unveiled by the Department for Transport (DfT), local authorities in England will be required to publish annual reports detailing how they are tackling potholes. Those who fail to comply will lose up to 25% of a £500 million boost to their road maintenance budgets due from mid-April.

The prime minister, Sir Keir Starmer, told the BBC that a new red-amber-green (RAG) rating system will be introduced to shine a spotlight on which councils are performing well and which are falling behind. “Until now, nobody has known how many potholes are being filled and where,” he said. “This system will bring clarity—and end the postcode lottery.”

Funding With Conditions

All English councils will receive 75% of their share of the funding automatically. The remaining 25% will be conditional on publishing a report by the end of June detailing pothole repairs, spend levels, and long-term maintenance plans. Councils will also be required to consult with local communities on prioritising road repairs by October.

Those failing to meet these requirements will forfeit the remaining funding, which will instead be redistributed to local authorities the DfT deems to be making ‘proven progress’.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander acknowledged that the funding wouldn’t fill every pothole but stressed the importance of transparency. “We want councils to be open and honest about how they are using that money so the public can see what action is being taken.”

A Worn-Out Network

The move comes amid growing concern about the deteriorating state of the road network. The Asphalt Industry Alliance estimates it would cost nearly £17 billion and take over a decade to clear the UK’s backlog of road repairs.

RAC data shows there are currently six potholes for every mile of road in England and Wales. For driving instructors—many of whom rely on consistent and safe road surfaces—this situation presents a daily challenge, from vehicle damage to compromised lesson quality and learner safety.

The Local Government Association (LGA), while welcoming any funding boost, warned that the approach remains overly reactive. “Our roads are like a worn-out pair of trousers—you can keep fixing the holes, but what you actually need is a new pair,” said Lucy Nethsingha, leader of Cambridgeshire County Council. “Proper resurfacing and preventative maintenance are what’s needed.”

Nethsingha also expressed scepticism about the actual scale of ‘new’ money being provided, calling the announcement a repeat of previously publicised commitments. Cambridgeshire alone has a £410 million shortfall in road repair funding, she noted, while the government’s latest cash pot is £500 million for the whole of England.

What This Means for Instructors

For ADIs, particularly those working in areas plagued by poor road conditions, the government’s initiative could offer some long-term benefits. A more accountable and transparent process may pressure underperforming councils to prioritise road repairs and engage more with residents and road users.

However, with tight deadlines for reporting and the risk of funding being withheld, some fear it could also lead to rushed, short-term fixes rather than long-term infrastructure improvements.

Shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon dismissed the plans as a “pothole sticking plaster,” while the Liberal Democrats called for a more “sustainable approach” to investment in road infrastructure.

As the first reports are due by June and community consultation must be demonstrated by October, the coming months will be critical in determining whether this approach delivers lasting improvements—or just another round of temporary patchwork.