More than 15,500 potholes have been repaired in Somerset this year. Picture: Somerset Council

Somerset B and C roads among worst in the country, according to new analysis

Paul JonesSeptember 27, 20250 Comment0

SOMERSET has some of the worst-quality B and C roads in the country, according to new analysis.

Using Department for Transport data, Go.Compare motorbike insurance isolated the areas with the highest proportion of the routes in a ‘red’ condition – meaning they should be considered for maintenance and require investigation.

The comparison firm identified the safest and most dangerous places for motorcyclists based on road conditions using the data, which is recorded using SCANNER technology.

B and C designated roads are usually quieter, more picturesque routes, common in rural areas like Somerset.

And of the 93 areas in the study, the county had the joint-third highest volume of B and C roads in red condition – a 8% – alongside Staffordshire, Kent, Oxfordshire and Herefordshire.

Only Westmorland and Furness, and Devon reported higher percentages of red B and C roads overall.

It comes after Somerset Council recently revealed more than 15,500 potholes had been filled in 2025 so far – and urged people to report concerns over county routes.

The authority said it has also surface dressed nearly 1 million square metres of road at more than 200 sites.

Nationally, around two-thirds (63%) of England’s B and C roads are in green condition, with 7% in ‘red’ or poor condition, and the remaining are classed as amber.

Steve Ramsey, managing editor for motoring at Go.Compare, said: “Poor quality road surfaces can cause vehicle damage and accidents, especially for motorbikes, so it’s essential that roads are properly maintained.

“Yet, the B and C roads in the country’s beauty spots, popular among motorcyclists, appear to be in a desperate state of disrepair.

“Clearly, more work needs to be done on these roads so that they’re safe for all road users and can be explored with minimal risk.

“If you plan to use these routes over the rest of this summer, make sure you proceed with caution and keep your speed down, minimising the dangers from things like potholes and uneven surfaces.

“If your bike is damaged or the road surface causes an accident, you could claim on your insurance to cover the repairs.

“You’ll still have to pay your excess, though, and could lose your no-claims discount, so claiming is not always worthwhile.

“You might get compensation from the local authority in some cases, so this could be worth exploring if claiming on your insurance isn’t viable.”