The use of artificial intelligence to detect potholes and other road defects is an exciting development, particularly for vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists, who face serious risks from poorly maintained roads. Surrey County Council has announced its plan to fit computer vision cameras onto highways vehicles, which will automatically identify potholes and record them for repair. This initiative could potentially improve road safety and streamline the repair process—but only if reports translate into real action.
At Cycle SOS, we fully support advancements in technology that improve road safety. An automated mechanism for reporting potholes and road defects to local authorities could be a game-changer. However, as legal experts who handle claims on behalf of injured cyclists and motorcyclists, we know all too well that reporting alone is not enough. Time and time again, we see cases where potholes have been reported but left unfixed, leading to serious injuries for those on two wheels.
The real test of this AI-powered system will be whether it leads to more timely and effective repairs. With almost £300m allocated to road improvements in Surrey until 2028, there is hope that this initiative will make a real difference. However, monitoring must go beyond just tracking potholes—it should also ensure they are actually repaired in a timely manner. Without a robust system for follow-through, AI detection could simply add to an ever-growing backlog of unrepaired road defects.
Ultimately, the key outcome of any road safety initiative should be the actual repair of hazardous defects. For vulnerable road users, a pothole can be more than just an inconvenience—it can cause life-changing injuries. At Cycle SOS, we will be watching closely to see whether AI detection leads to meaningful improvements in road conditions, and we urge councils across the UK to ensure that identifying potholes is just the first step in a much-needed commitment to fixing them.
