Rejected petition Make Authorities legally responsible and accountable for the condition of roads

Drivers and owners of vehicles used on the public highway are legally responsible for ensuring each and every part of that vehicle are maintained in roadworthy condition. The same obligation should be placed on the Highways Agency and Local Authorities for roads they are responsible for maintaining

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Despite the availability of adequate tax revenue the public roads infrastructure has been poorly maintained for many years and in many places now poses a risk of both damage to vehicles and to the safety of road users.
The Authorities have demonstrated a continued unwillingness to address the problem which is now impacting on the economic well being of the UK. It is time they were held legally responsible for their obligations in the same way users of road vehicle are already held accountable

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

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The Highways Act 1980 sets out who is legally responsible for road maintenance. Local highway authorities have a legal duty to maintain their respective roads under the Act.

You can find out more about local road maintenance in this House of Commons Library briefing: https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-9975/CBP-9975.pdf

You may be interested in the following petitions:

"Launch an inquiry into road maintenance & publish road tax spending"
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/760470

"Legislate for the repair of potholes within a time frame in the UK"
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/757761

"Ring-fence 100% of VED for mandatory road maintenance targets"
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/761149

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 12 March 2026
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