If you haven’t been jarred by a pothole recently, consider yourself lucky.

Three consecutive bad winters, plus a backlog in repairing potholes has resulted in an increasing number of breakdown cover calls due to problems caused by potholes.

However, potholes aren’t just an annoyance. They can be a serious safety hazard as well, causing suspension problems, tyre punctures, and damage to your car’s bodywork. And swerving to avoid potholes can result in collisions with other cars.

Fortunately, most roadside assistance plans cover you to some degree if your car breaks down due to hitting a pothole.

When you compare breakdown cover, you may want to ask specifically if pothole problems are covered, because it is unlikely that the UK’s pothole problems will be fixed any time soon.

Some of the steps you can take to minimise damage from potholes include slowing down when approaching an unavoidable pothole and avoiding driving directly over them. Partially skirting a pothole is less damaging than going right across one. You may be able to alter the angle of your headlights slightly to help illuminate potholes better.

Something else you can do to help is report potholes to local councils. Due to budget cuts, plus the fact that approximately £9.5 billion is needed to get roads in proper repair in England and Wales, potholes will likely be a hazard for the foreseeable future. But if people bring potholes to the attention of local councils, it can help them prioritise repairs once they are able to fix them.