MP proposes AI-powered bin lorries to help detect potholes faster

A proposal to use artificial intelligence on refuse collection vehicles to identify potholes and road defects has been raised in Parliament, with the aim of helping local authorities detect highway issues more quickly and improve maintenance planning.

Dr Ellie Chowns, MP for North Herefordshire, has urged the Government to explore the use of AI-enabled cameras fitted to bin lorries, arguing that the vehicles already travel virtually every residential street on a regular basis and could provide an efficient way of monitoring road conditions.

Speaking in Parliament, Dr Chowns suggested that refuse collection crews could play an important role in identifying emerging defects by using technology capable of automatically detecting, mapping and reporting potholes as they appear.

She pointed to an existing initiative in Australia, where similar AI-powered systems have been used to support highway inspections, and asked whether the Department for Transport could work alongside the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to investigate adopting comparable technology across England.

The proposal comes as councils continue to face increasing pressure to manage ageing road networks while operating within constrained maintenance budgets. Earlier detection of defects could allow highway authorities to prioritise repairs before potholes deteriorate further, reducing long-term maintenance costs and improving road safety.

Responding to the proposal, the Transport Minister said the Government is already supporting innovation within the highways sector through its £30 million Live Labs 2 programme, which is focused on developing and trialling new technologies to improve local road maintenance and potholes.

The minister added that the Government wants local authorities to have access to the best available data and digital tools, including AI-based monitoring systems, to help make road maintenance more effective and efficient.

The suggestion reflects the growing role artificial intelligence is beginning to play in highway asset management, with councils and infrastructure organisations increasingly exploring data-driven technologies to monitor road conditions, prioritise maintenance programmes and improve the resilience of local road networks.