The Royal Automobile Club (RAC) has announced that surface dressing work on Britain’s local roads to prevent potholes forming increased by 15% this year.
Figures from the Road Emulsion Association (REA) also show around 44.4 million m² of surface dressing was applied over the April-to-September preventative maintenance season in 2025, compared to 38.5m in 2024.
This year’s manufacturing, sale, and use of bitumen emulsions for surface dressing were also up 25% on 2023 (35.3 million m²), the year that saw the lowest reported volume since records began in 1978.
However, this is still 32% below the amount applied in 2012 (64.4 million m²).
In addition to publishing the data, the RAC stated that it was aware of the government proactively encouraging councils to carry out more surface dressing and preventative treatments on their roads.
This includes requiring local authorities to report how much of this work they have done in previous years and how much they plan to do.Â
RAC head of policy Simon Williams said: “These new figures are a step in the right direction for drivers who are plagued by potholes on Britain’s roads every time they get behind the wheel.
“We hope even more surface dressing will be carried out going forwards as the government is on board with the preventative maintenance message that the RAC, REA and the Road Surface Treatments Association have been advocating.
“We’re also very pleased to see the government asking councils to show how much preventative maintenance work they’ve carried out over the last five years and how much they plan to do in this financial year.”
Achievements and innovations in road maintenance will be recognised and celebrated at the fourth annual CiTTi Awards on 25 November 2025 at De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London. Visit www.cittiawards.co.uk to learn more about this unmissable event for the UK’s transportation sector!
