Injured by a pothole or road defect? Learn who is responsible for your road and how to make a compensation claim in the UK.
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Who Is The Highway Authority For My Road?
Not every road in the UK is maintained by the local council. Depending on the type of road and its location, various other parties may be responsible for keeping it safe, including National Highways, Transport for London (TfL) or even a private landowner.
If you were injured by a pothole, uneven pavement, or another hazard, it is essential to know who is responsible for the route where the accident occurred. This will help you report the hazard, make a claim for compensation and access inspection records to strengthen your claim.
This guide explains the different highway authorities, how to find out who maintains your road, practical steps for reporting defects and how to start a compensation claim.
Who is responsible for my road?
- Motorways and major A roads (England)
These are usually maintained by National Highways. - Local roads and residential streets
Maintained by your local council or county authority. - London red routes
Managed by Transport for London (TfL). - Unadopted or private roads
Responsibility typically falls to landowners, developers or residents. - Not sure who is responsible?
Check your council website, use official maps or tools like FindMyStreet to identify the authority.
Table of Contents
What is a highway authority?
A highway authority is an organisation that is legally responsible for the management and maintenance of a public road. The duties of highway authorities under the Highways Act 1980 include:
- Regularly inspect highways to identify defects.
- Take appropriate action within a reasonable time to address hazards such as potholes, snow or debris.
- Respond to reports of accidents or hazards.
- Ensure roads and footways are reasonably safe for public use.
- Maintain street lighting and traffic signs.
In the UK, the main highway authorities are local or county councils, National Highways and Transport for London.
Who is responsible for maintaining different types of roads?
UK roads are mainly managed by local authorities and national agencies such as Transport for London, National Highways and specific networks of devolved administrations.
If you have been injured by a road defect and want to make a claim for compensation, knowing who is responsible for that particular highway is essential.
This could be:
| Road type | Responsible authority |
|---|---|
| Motorways and major A roads (England) | National Highways |
| Local roads, regional connectors, residential streets | The relevant local authority |
| Major roads in London (red routes) | Transport for London |
| Motorways and A roads in Scotland | Transport Scotland |
| Major A roads and motorways in Wales | The Welsh Government |
| All public roads in Northern Ireland | DfI Roads |
Knowing the type of road is the first step towards understanding where to report a hazard and who could be liable for your injury.
What about unadopted roads?
Unadopted roads are private roads that are not maintained at public expense by the local highway authority. These are often found in new housing estates or private communities. Responsibility for their safety and maintenance usually rests with residents, property owners or private landowners.
It is important to understand that even if a road seems public, it may be unadopted. In that case, the council has no legal duty to inspect or maintain it. This is a common issue with newly built estates, where roads may remain unadopted for years after construction.
To confirm the status of a road, you can:
- Ask your local council whether the road has been adopted.
- Check the GOV.UK Land Registry to verify if the road is privately owned.
- Check property deeds, management company records, or contact the developer.
If you were injured on a privately maintained road, you can still make a claim for occupier’s liability.
Roads maintained by Transport for London (TfL)
Transport for London manages and maintains the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN), commonly known as red routes. While these routes account for only 5% of London’s roads, they carry up to 30% of the city’s traffic.
These include major A-roads, bus routes, cycleways, bridges and some pedestrian zones. TfL is responsible for gritting these roads during winter and repairing defects such as potholes, faulty street lighting, and street signs.
You can report most street and road issues to TfL using their online Streetcare tool, including potholes, debris, missing manhole covers, flooding, pavement defects, and damaged trees. For other issues, you can call 0343 222 1234 or use their online contact form.
How to find out who maintains a specific road
There are several ways to find out who is responsible for your road or any other road in the UK:
- Check your local council’s website or street maps – councils often publish interactive maps showing which roads they are in charge of.
- Use the National Highways interactive map – you can enter a road number to search for major motorways and A-roads outside London.
- Transport for London maps – use the TfL Road Network (TLRN) map, which highlights the red routes serviced by Transport for London.
- Land Registry – if the road is unadopted, you can use the Land Registry to find out who owns the land.
- Use the FindMyStreet app – enter the road name or postcode to find out if it is public or private and identify the highway authority responsible for it.
- Make a Freedom of Information (FOI) request – You can submit a FOI request using the website WhatDoTheyKnow if the responsible authority isn’t obvious.
Why knowing the highway authority for your road matters
Knowing the highway authority for your road is important because they are legally responsible for maintaining highway safety and repairing hazards, such as potholes and obstructions.
Identifying the correct authority is essential if you need to report a defect, request repairs or make a compensation claim under the Highways Act 1980 or the Occupiers’ Liability Act 1957.
Sometimes, however, it may be unclear who is responsible. For example, a boundary road may be shared between a council and National Highways, or a new road may be partially adopted.
If responsibility is disputed and you want to make a claim, your solicitor will contact all possible authorities to clarify who is in charge and liable for your injuries.
Where do I report a pothole on my street?
Where you can report a pothole depends on who is responsible for maintaining your street. Reporting it to the correct authority ensures faster repairs and creates an official record that can be later used if you decide to make a claim.
Local council roads:
- You can use the Report a pothole page or an app such as FixMyStreet or FillThatHole.
- Include photos, the exact location, and details about the nature of the defect.
National Highways roads:
- Use their dedicated online portal for reporting maintenance issues.
- Provide the exact road name, GPS coordinates or carriageway markers to help them identify the site.
Transport for London roads:
- Use the TfL Streetcare tool or their online contact form.
- Provide the precise location and, if possible, photos of defects.
Private roads
- Contact the responsible developer, landowner, private management company or residents’ association.
- Describe the issue and document your communication thoroughly.
Scotland
- Report potholes to local councils via mygov.scot app or contact Traffic Scotland for major roads.
Northern Ireland
- You can report potholes and other street defects to nidirect or by using the contact details on the DfI Roads page.
How to claim for accidents caused by road conditions
If you were injured due to a pothole or defective pavement, you can make a claim through the Highways Act 1980 against the responsible highway authority.
To make a claim against a council or another highway authority, the first thing you need to do is contact a solicitor experienced in pothole accident claims or pavement trip compensation claims. They will assess your eligibility, document your claim and help prepare against a Section 58 defence.
To strengthen your case and maximise your potential compensation, you should take detailed photos of defects, keep medical records of your injuries, report the accident to the responsible party and ask for the contact details of witnesses.
If you need help with a claim or want to find out more about your legal rights, you can call 0800 470 0472 or request a call back for a free consultation with a legal adviser.
