UK drivers spend £4bn repairing car damage caused by potholes each year

Motorists encounter seven potholes per journey

Potholes are UK drivers' biggest bugbear (PA)

Drivers in the UK are spending £4.09bn a year on car repairs caused by potholes, according to new research.

More than half of motorists (56 per cent) said their cars have been damaged by potholes, with the average annual vehicle repair bill coming to £230.

Roadside assistance provider Green Flag also found that drivers encountered seven potholes per car journey on average.

Those in the North West and Glasgow recorded the highest number of ruts per trip.

Two fifths (40 per cent) of UK drivers were so frustrated by it that they claimed they would be willing to pay more car tax or road tolls for pothole-free roads.

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of motorists said they would be willing to add up to five miles to their journey in order to avoid a road with potholes.

The Department of Transport recently announced it would spend £201m on tackling maintenance and resurfacing 1,000 miles of road. However, this falls short of the estimated £9.79bn needed to restore the UK’s roads to good condition, according to Green Flag.

“The problem of potholes on UK roads means there is an increased risk of car damage,” said Green Flag’s Simon Henrick.

“With this in mind, it is important to stay safe when driving and to regularly check your vehicle and tyres for damage.”

According to the research, potholes topped the list of motorists’ bugbears, with 66 per cent of respondents claiming it was the most irritating feature of driving.

It was followed by fast drivers (36 per cent), slow drivers (29 per cent) and lack of signposting (19 per cent).