Yahoo News UK motorists alerted to two-second rule as pothole damage goes up by a third
Motorists are being alerted to rules on how to avoid a pothole - and what to do if you hit one - as figures show rising numbers of cars are being damaged by pitted road surfaces. The so-called two-second rule is among the top tips for giving yourself a chance to dodge one of the hazards.
The UK is thought to have more than one million potholes, with these road defects being a leading cause of car breakdowns. The RAC says its latest figures show that it attended nearly 30,000 pothole-related breakdowns in 2023, up by 33 per cent compared to the year before.
It's been estimated that, on average, there are around six potholes per mile on council-controlled roads in England and Wales. This means encountering holes in the road while driving is almost inevitable, especially after the cold winter months have cracked the tarmac, leading to new depressions appearing as the surface crumbles.
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With a high chance of damage being done to your car, it's good to know the correct preventative measures and how to respond if you do find yourself hitting one. Alarmingly, many of these severely uneven roads are often left unrepaired. Between 2022 and 2023, 1.4 million potholes were filled in England and Wales - a decrease from 1.7 million the previous year.
Howden Insurance experts have compiled some handy tips for dodging potholes and what to do if you end up hitting one. It says maintaining a two-second distance could be a game-changer. This rule is a favourite among driving instructors and involves ensuring there's enough space between you and the car ahead. Keeping a two-second gap gives you a chance to react if the car in front hits a pothole, allowing you enough time to slow down, look at exactly what's ahead and see if you can avoid hitting the sudden dip yourself.
Be especially cautious on unmarked roads that don't show speed limit signs. That means the national speed limit of 60mph applies and it could be disastrous if you hit a crater in the road at that speed.
Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is essential if you want to minimise the potential damage that poorly maintained roads can cause. Ensure your tyres aren't overinflated or underinflated to reduce the risk of blowouts, punctures and suspension damage.
Keep a firm grip on your steering wheel so that hitting a dramatic drop in the road surface doesn't make the vehicle veer to the side and even go off the road. You should always have at least one hand securely on the wheel, whether you're driving a manual or automatic car.
What to do if you've hit a pothole
Avoid slamming on your brakes as this could cause more damage than if you were to gradually reduce your speed before safely pulling over to check your vehicle. By abruptly braking, you're putting extra pressure and compression on the vehicle's suspension, which could lead to misalignment, tyre and wheel damage, and body or exhaust scrapes.
Pull over when it's safe and inspect your vehicle for any damage. And then, once you're back in the car and continuing your journey, be aware of any changes in the way your vehicle drives.
Also, make sure you report the pothole. If it was on a motorway, your point of contact should be National Highways. For non-motorway roads, you'll need to phone the local council as they're in charge of road repairs.
Motoring experts say you're fully entitled to make a claim for damage caused by a pothole. Note down the road where the incident occurred, along with the date, time, and weather conditions. If possible, get a photo of the pothole, including pictures of the surrounding area so the exact location can easily be identified.
If you hit a pothole on a motorway, take note of any markings to the left of your position and the direction you were travelling in so that National Highways can find where it is.
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "Local highway authorities are responsible for maintaining their road networks, but we are supporting them with £8.3billion of reallocated HS2 funding over the next 10 years, the biggest ever increase in funding for local road improvements which comes on top of an existing £5.5billion fund.
"Local authorities received the first £150million of this increase within weeks of announcing our additional funding in October, and will receive a further £150million this year to continue improving local roads."
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