Drivers are counting the cost of Scotland’s “crumbling” local road network as pothole-related insurance claims soar. Research by Scottish Labour found that between 2019 and 2023 the number of insurance claims to councils citing poor road maintenance rose by 69 per cent.

Eight local authority areas have seen claims from drivers more than double, while four have seen claims more than triple.

In Glasgow, 2,135 insurance claims were lodged to the City Council citing poor roads maintenance in 2023 – an increase of 97 per cent on the total in 2019.

The number of claims in Edinburgh increased from 221 to 669 in the same period.

During the five year period, more than 27,000 insurance claims were sent to town halls from drivers suffering vehicle damage as a result of poor road maintenance.

Scottish Labour today blamed years of SNP Government budget cuts to councils for the declining state of local roads – and warned the sharp rise in insurance claims will stretch their budgets even further.

“Thousands of drivers every year are left dealing with damage from Scotland’s pothole-ridden roads, despite paying ever-rising Council Tax bills.

“Years of brutal SNP cuts has made it increasingly impossible for councils to deliver the basics, and soaring numbers of insurance claims will only pile on pressure.

“Labour has ended the era of Tory austerity and delivered record levels of funding for Scotland, so the SNP has no more excuses for short-changing councils.”