Potholes: Beyond the Bullsh*t – National Pothole Day

National Pothole Day is back and is once again aiming to highlight the dangers and costs potholes pose to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians across the UK. It also draws attention to the long-term impact of temporary repairs and the need for more permanent, effective approaches to road maintenance.

Despite the awareness, potholes continue to reappear on UK roads. This is often driven by common misconceptions around how potholes should be repaired. Misconceptions that can lead to short term fixes, not lasting repairs.

Below, we challenge some of the most common pothole repair myths and explain how addressing the underlying issues directly can deliver safer roads and better long term outcomes.

Myth 1: “The more potholes we fill, the better!”

While increasing the number of pothole repairs may look positive on paper, short-term ‘fill and go’ solutions often prioritise quantity over longevity. Whilst pothole repair is important, it is essential repairs are carried out permanently at the first time of asking. If potholes are only ‘filled’ temporarily, the clue is in the name – they often won’t last very long. This means more cost and disruption for residents as the road continues to deteriorate. 

The Multevo Way

At Multevo, we take a different approach by focusing on permanent, fix-first-time repairs. Our repairs are designed to address the full extent of the defect, not just the visible hole, which reduces the chances of repeat failures and ongoing deterioration. This in turn leads to longer lasting roads, fewer repeat interventions and better long term value for local authorities.

Myth 2: “Fix them quickly to avoid risk”

Many local authorities have timebound targets to fix potholes according to their perceived risk to the public. They are usually determined by a highways inspection / safety policy and class of road. However, this timebound pressure can force councils to focus on quicker temporary repair solutions rather than quality permanent repairs which creates a vicious cycle.

The Multevo Way

Rather than prioritising speed alone, our repairs are made by understanding the asset. To ensure an effective, first time repair, pre site surveys are carried out using the latest technology such as LiDAR & LASER scanning. This allows us to assess the defect dimensions and asset conditions to identify the right treatment at the right time.

Myth 3: Focus on fixing the pothole

Whilst repairing potholes is key to improving road network condition for road users, it is essential to consider applying the right treatment at the right time. When fixing a pothole, several considerations should be given to determine the right level of intervention. If the surrounding area is also defective, unless this is addressed at the same time then this will become a pothole soon enough.

The Multevo Way

Carrying out a suite of different repair interventions with scope to address ‘future deterioration’ surrounding the immediate pothole is the only way to permanently fix and proactively prevent future potholes forming. Our suite of efficient and effective turnkey treatments allows us to approach the full defect correctly, at the first time of asking. We believe if you’re going to do something, do it once and get it right.

Myth 4: Road Maintenance is only about filling potholes

Although repair is essential, it is as important to identify more efficient ways to improve a road without carrying out full scale costly surfacing when a road is beyond repair. Carrying out proactive permanent patch repairs helps improve network condition whilst making tight council budgets go further to bring a road back to a stable condition. When a road is stable, asset management can focus on a wider range of preventative treatments, such as surface dressing or drainage management to restore a road.

The Multevo Way

At Multevo, road maintenance is about more than repeatedly filling potholes. We carry out permanent patch repairs that target failing areas of the carriageway without the need for full resurfacing. This allows us to improve road condition quickly and cost-effectively, helping councils stretch limited budgets further. By stabilising the road through durable repairs, we reduce repeat defects and create a better foundation for preventative treatments, such as surface dressing or drainage improvements, to be applied at the right time.

Myth 5: More money on potholes will solve the problem

Councils are normally limited by how much money they can spend on reactive / revenue repairs which more urgent pothole repairs usually fall under. This can mean there isn’t enough funding to carry out more permanent and preventative treatments as part of a fix first time policy. As such, capital spending on larger surfacing can burn through budgets more quickly without addressing the wider network or applying a more permanent repair at the first time of asking allowing for more preventative less costly treatments later down the line. 

The Multevo Way

At Multevo, we help councils get more value from the budgets they already have by reducing reliance on repeat reactive repairs. By delivering permanent, fix-first-time pothole and patch repairs, we cut down the need to return to the same locations and reduce ongoing revenue spend. This approach allows funding to be used more efficiently across the wider network and creates greater scope for planned and preventative maintenance, rather than consuming budgets through repeated temporary fixes.

Setting best practice with unprecedented Local Authority successes

Shropshire Council were early adopters of Multevo’s turnkey solution and recently won two awards based on these measures:

• 75% reduction in cost of repairs

• Saved £1.4M per annum

• From 90% temporary to 90% fix-first-time

• Potholes numbers remain around 2k

•  NHT Public Satisfaction increased by 25%

• DfT Special Recognition Award Winners & Highways Team of the Year

More recently, Multevo and Lancashire Country Council established a partnership in June 2025 and within the first 6 months have already reported a 42% reduction in the number of potholes whilst reducing the cost of repair by more than 50%.

The Multevo Difference

National Pothole Day highlights the need to move away from temporary repairs and towards more sustainable solutions. Through permanent repairs, proactive maintenance and a fully integrated service, Multevo supports councils in improving local road networks without defaulting to repeat fixes or costly resurfacing.

By focusing on long-term performance rather than short-term numbers, we help deliver safer roads, fewer defects and better value for communities. Our suite of Turnkey Treatments ensures we deploy the right intervention at the right time based on detailed surveys. Learn more about our solutions here.