Deteriorating roads cost councils £43m in compensation claims

The cost of crumbling roads has hit local councils heavily, with over £43 million paid out in compensation claims to motorists and cyclists over the last five years. That figure, obtained by cycling campaign group Cycling UK, was gathered from Freedom of Information requests to 156 highway authorities.

It found that the average figure paid out in compensation to motorists was £841. The figure for cyclists was much higher though – an average of £10,963. Cycling UK suggests that the higher level of compensation paid out to cyclists is more likely to include personal injury claims rather than simply property damage.