Potholes are more than a nuisance — they damage vehicles, cause injuries, and cost cities billions every year. Yet most go unreported because people assume "someone else will call it in." Here's how to make sure yours actually gets fixed.

1. Document the pothole

A clear photo is the single most important thing. Snap one in daylight, ideally with a common object (like a shoe or water bottle) next to the hole for scale. OpenStreetProblem's AI will automatically estimate severity from the image, but a well-lit photo helps.

2. Pin the exact location

When you report on OpenStreetProblem, the app uses your GPS to drop a pin. If you're reporting from home later, you can drag the pin on the map to the exact spot. Accurate location is critical — a pin in the wrong lane means a repair crew drives past it.

3. Let the community verify

After your report goes live, neighbours can upvote it and add their own verification photos. Reports with multiple community confirmations rise in priority and are far more likely to get attention from local authorities or maintenance contractors.

4. Track progress in real time

Unlike calling a hotline and hoping for the best, OpenStreetProblem shows you the status of your report: open → acknowledged → in progress → resolved. You'll get notified at each step, so you know exactly when the repair crew shows up.

5. Why most pothole complaints get ignored

Traditional reporting methods — calling 311, filling out government web forms — route your complaint into a queue with no transparency. There's no way to see how many other people reported the same hole, no way to add evidence, and no follow-up. Community-driven platforms like OpenStreetProblem change the dynamics: more verified reports on a single issue mean stronger signal, faster action.

Ready to report? Browse issues near you or sign up and start reporting.