What is a pothole?
Devon County Council defines a pothole as “an area of material loss resulting in a vertical edge depression”. In accordance with its published Highway Safety Policy version 6.1 a carriageway pothole is considered a ‘safety defect pothole’ where it is at least 40mm deep on a vertical face and 300mm in any horizontal direction. This is consistent with many local authorities and regularly tested in court.
Response times are determined by a risk assessment undertaken by qualified inspection personnel, considering location, hierarchy, traffic use and likely impact on highway users. Response times are determined as per the authority’s Highway Safety Policy and range from 2 hours, 7 days or 28 days, dependent on the risk score.
Devon’s extensive minor and rural network includes many evolved, historic and structurally fragile roads, which are more vulnerable to water ingress, traffic loading and freeze-thaw cycles that accelerate pothole formation, particularly in the winter months.
What we are doing to tackle potholes
Devon County Council tackles potholes through a combination of preventative maintenance, proactive intervention and risk-based repairs, aligned with national highway maintenance guidance.
During 2025/26, the Council identified and repaired approximately 58,000 potholes that met safety intervention criteria across the highway network. However, the priority is to prevent potholes from forming in the first place wherever possible. This includes investing in preventative carriageway sealing, targeted resilience patching, and coordinated maintenance on heavily used routes where early signs of deterioration are identified. By intervening earlier and using the most appropriate treatment for each location, we can reduce the number of potholes that develop, minimise repeat visits, reduce disruption for road users and communities, and achieve better long-term value from the Council’s maintenance investment.
Where defects are identified, the Council seeks to deliver permanent repairs whenever it is safe and practical to do so. Inspectors and operational teams are trained to select the most appropriate repair method for the condition and cause of the defect, helping to improve durability and reduce repeat visits. However, factors such as traffic management requirements, weather conditions, network safety and available road space can sometimes mean that a temporary repair is required initially before a permanent repair can be completed.
In 2026, the Council expanded its Pothole Repair Trial, enabling contractor teams in selected areas to repair some non-safety potholes while attending identified safety potholes. The trial aims to reduce repeat visits, make better use of resources and improve overall network condition.
The Council also supports local communities through its Road Warden Scheme, providing training and materials to volunteers who repair non-safety potholes on lower category roads, helping communities play an active role in maintaining the local highway network.
How members of public can report potholes and other highway defects
Members of the public can report potholes and other highway defects through a range of channels. The primary reporting tool is the online system available via the DCC corporate website, which allows users to pinpoint locations on an interactive map, upload photographs and provide supporting detail. Reports submitted online are routed through an internal works management system to the relevant team for inspection, investigation and triage. Defects can also be reported via a customer service centre by telephone, email or letter. Public reporting plays a key role in identifying defects between scheduled inspections. Reports can be submitted at Report a problem – Devon County Council.
What happens after a pothole is reported
All reported potholes and highway defects are assessed by a Highway Safety Inspector. Inspection timescales are based on the type and importance of the road, with busier roads inspected more quickly. Defects are assessed against the Council’s Highway Safety Policy to determine whether action is required. Where a safety defect is identified, an appropriate repair response is arranged. Reports that do not meet intervention criteria are recorded and monitored. Information from reported defects, including pothole clusters and recurring issues, is also used to help develop planned maintenance programmes, reducing future disruption and the need for repeated reactive repairs. Customers receive automated updates on the outcome of their report.