Drivers are being warned of a potential increase in potholes.
The RAC has issued the alert following 2026 being provisionally declared the hottest summer on record, warning that prolonged heatwaves can damage road surfaces and lead to increased cracking and pothole formation.
Simon Williams, head of policy at the RAC, said: "Potholes are often associated with cold or wet winters, but prolonged periods of hot, sunny weather also takes its toll on the roads.
"Intense UV exposure and heat gradually oxidise the bitumen that binds asphalt together, making surfaces more brittle and prone to cracking.
"Once cracks develop, traffic and later rainfall can quickly turn them into serious defects."
The warning follows a summer marked by five heatwaves and record temperatures, with a high of 38.1C recorded at Kew Gardens in south-west London.
According to the RAC’s 2026 Report on Motoring, 51 per cent of drivers said the condition of the UK’s roads was their biggest motoring concern.
Eighty-three per cent said they encounter potholes on most journeys, and more than half – 54 per cent – said they come across them every time they drive.
Mr Williams said: "Drivers’ strong feelings about the poor quality of the UK’s roads are a reflection both of a long-term lack of investment in road maintenance and repair by local authorities, and of the road surface issues exacerbated by a particularly wet winter, and now an extremely hot summer.
"Fortunately, the Government has increased its efforts to address the problem.
"Council highway budgets in England have been increased to a record £1.6 billion for 2025-26 and in November’s budget, £7.3 billion was allocated for road improvement works between now and the end of the decade which will allow councils to make long-term maintenance plans."
Mike Hansford, chief executive of the Road Surface Treatments Association, said: "Extremes in the UK’s weather, including increased summer UV radiation, combined with colder, wetter winter conditions, can accelerate deterioration.
"So, it’s more important than ever to ensure our roads are made more resilient for the future through application of early life, preventative treatments."
The Department for Transport introduced new reporting requirements for English councils in June, requiring them to show they are actively fixing potholes and making roads more resilient.
The scheme encourages full resurfacing over temporary repairs.
Councils that fail to demonstrate effective road maintenance could lose up to a third of their funding.
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