All Motorists Know the Struggles of Trying to Avoid Potholes
Potholes are often the root of all evil on our roads, and they can result in a bit of discomfort at best, and plenty of damage to your car at the worst!
If you’ve driven in the UK recently, chances are you’ve met one of the thousands of potholes haunting our roads. These crates can cause everything from bent alloy wheels, to costly suspension issues - and repair bills are rising as drivers continue to hit them. However, you don’t have to be at the mercy of poor road surfaces, with awareness, preparation and safe habits, you can significantly reduce risk to your car. We take a look at how you can report a pothole, and should you pick up pothole damage on your car, how you can claim money to cover the repair costs.
Why Potholes are a Real Threat
Potholes form when water gets into the road surface and expands in cold weather, cracking the tarmac. Over time, traffic washes chunks out of the road and leaves deep depressions. Hitting one too fast, or unexpectedly can damage:
- Wheels & Tyres (Bent rims, punctures and sidewall damage)
- Suspension Components (Struts, shock absorbers and control arms)
- Wheel Alignment and Steering Precision
- Undercarriage Parts (Exhaust, sensors, chassis)
Scan the Road Ahead
One of the simplest but most effective ways to avoid potholes is early detection:
- Keep your eyes up and look well ahead rather than focusing just in front of your bumper.
- At night or in poor weather, use dipped headlights to create contrast and help you spot potholes before you’re on top of them.
Seeing a pothole early gives you more time to react safely - whether that’s slowing down or steering around it.
Slow Down - But Don’t Slam the Brakes
Speed matters. The faster you hit a pothole, the more force travels through your wheel, tyre and suspension.
- Reduce Speed - Gradually brake as soon as you spot a pothole.
- Avoid Sudden Braking - Do not brake suddenly over a pothole, hitting the brakes right at impact can transfer more force into your front suspension and potentially make damage worse.
If you can’t avoid it, letting the wheel roll over the pothole at a slower spreads the shock more gently.
Maintain Proper Tyre Pressure and Condition
Your tyres are your first line of defence:
- Under-inflated Tyres can’t absorb impacts as well and are more likely to bulge or suffer sidewall damage.
- Over-inflated Tyres are stiffer and transfer more shock to wheels and suspension.
- Check tyre pressure regularly and stay within the manufacturer’s recommended range (usually found in the handbook or on the driver’s door frame).
- Also inspect tread depth - well-maintained tyres grip the road better and cushion impacts more effectively.
Keep a Safe Following Distance
Tailgating might shave seconds off your journey, but it also blocks your view of the road ahead - and the potholes lurking there. Leaving a comfortable time gap to the car in front gives you extra time to spot and respond to hazards safely.
Avoid Abrupt Steering or Dangerous Swerves
If you see a pothole mid-corner or traffic is heavy, it’s tempting to swerve sharply. Sudden changes however, or changes in direction can:
- Put you into another lane
- Cause loss of control
- Create a collision risk
If it’s safe to manoeuvre around a pothole, do so gently and deliberately - otherwise slow down and let the tyre roll over it if you must.
Check your Car After an Impact
Sometimes you can’t avoid a pothole - even with the best habits. If you do hit one hard, watch for signs of hidden damage:
- Pulling to one side while driving
- A sudden loss of tyre pressure
- Unusual vibrations or knocking noises
- Steering feeling loose or off-centre
If you notice any of these, have your wheels, tyres and suspension checked at a garage as soon as possible. Early detection can save bigger bills down the line.
Report Potholes - It Helps Everyone
While avoiding damage is important, tackling the root of the problem helps all road users.
- Report potholes to your local council or the authority’s own reporting system.
- Many drivers don’t report defects, meaning hazard persist longer than they should.
Know Your Insurance and Compensation Options
If potholes damage does occur, you may have options:
- Car Insurance Claims - Comprehensive policies may cover damage, though check your excess and potential effect on no-claims bonuses.
- Local Council Claims - In some cases, councils can be liable for damage if they failed to maintain the road properly - but compensation success varies widely across the UK.
Always document incidents with photos, location details and repair bills when making a claim. Your insurer may provide cover for pothole damage, especially more likely if you have a comprehensive policy.
It’s also not your imagination, an article from the RAC revealed that in 2023, separate data obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request provided a glimpse into the scale of the UK’s pothole problem. This FOI request was sent to all of England’s 185 county and district councils, with 81 providing a response. Of these, 556,658 potholes were reported in England in the financial year of 2021-22 - a figure that is stated to be higher, had every councils provided data.
What’s more, between 2022 and 2023, 1.4 million potholes were filled in England and Wales - down from 1.7 million the year before. Per the 2025 Annual Local Authority Road Maintanence (ALARM) survey report, by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) provides a comprehensive overview of the state of UK roads, particularly focusing on potholes. The report revealed that:
- Potholes are filling every 18 seconds, every day for 10 years in England and Wales.
- Local Authorities would need an extra £7.4 million each last year to maintain their network to their target conditions.
- 52% of the network has less than 15 years’ structural life remaining, equating to over 106,000 miles.
- Roads are only resurfaced, on average, once every 93 years.
- Council pothole claims rose by 90% in 3 years, highlighting the urgent need for effective pothole management and repair.
Potholes: What To Do and What Not To Do
We can’t go out and fill in all the positions, but we can give you some do’s and don’t tips on what to do when confronted with a pothole:
- Do keep your tyres at the right pressure.
- Don’t assume a puddle in the road is just a puddle.
- Do keep scanning the road ahead.
- Don’t suddenly swerve to avoid a pothole.
- When you see a pothole, do reduce your speed.
- Once you’re going over the pothole don’t brake.
- Do avoid the possibility of the steering wheel being knocked out of your hands.
If you feel you may have damaged your car, make sure you wait for a safe place to stop before getting out and inspecting your vehicle.