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Almost every driver knows the unsettling sound when a car strikes a pothole. The sudden jolt is often followed by an anxious inspection to see if any damage has occurred. For John Smyth, the consequences have been especially costly. In December, two of his tyres were ruined after hitting one pothole. After replacing them, only a week passed before another pothole led to the destruction of a third tyre.
This ongoing ordeal has left Smyth both frustrated and uneasy about driving. He expressed his concerns plainly: “I would not feel safe on the roads at this moment in time, it’s very frustrating. When you hit them, the impact is quite severe.” Unfortunately, Smyth’s experience is not an isolated one. Many drivers share tales of vehicle damage or near accidents caused by the numerous potholes scattered across the roads.
The extent of the problem in Northern Ireland is significant. Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins revealed that nearly 49,000 road defects have been identified in the past three months alone. In response, her department, which is responsible for road upkeep, recently allocated close to £8 million to tackle this issue. Kimmins also emphasized efforts to boost workforce capacity to accelerate repairs. However, Smyth remains critical of the current approach, describing the repairs as mere “patch-up job[s]” that fail to address the underlying problem adequately. “It’s not done properly. It’s just something thrown in the hole and just covered up. A few months later, back to square one again,” he said. As someone who pays road tax, Smyth voiced his dissatisfaction: “I’m very angry at the system.”
The situation extends beyond the well-known tourist routes around the Mourne Mountains. Ballyclare resident Wilson Beggs pointed to the Ballycorr Road, which he feels is becoming increasingly hazardous. His description captures the road’s deteriorating condition: “The road wasn’t great whenever I moved here. It’s terrible now.” Beggs highlighted that many potholes have reappeared after temporary fixes and noted drainage problems that worsen flooding during heavy rain. “The gullies at the side of that road are now sitting above the level of the road, so when we get heavy rain… those gullies do not take the water,” he pointed out, adding that his reports to the authorities have received no action. “Residents here are fed up with it. We’re just being ignored.”
On a broader scale, the pothole predicament is not confined to Northern Ireland. According to the RAC, over a million potholes exist throughout the UK. Local data from 2024 indicate that Northern Ireland alone recorded around 120,000 road defects and potholes between January and November. The AA advises motorists and cyclists to avoid potholes when it is safe to do so. When avoiding them is impossible, reducing speed, maintaining a greater distance from other vehicles, and keeping both hands on the wheel for greater control are recommended safety measures
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