A new report from Kwik Fit has revealed a 143% increase in the number of motorists hitting potholes in the last two years.

Its research shows that nearly 13 million (39%) motorists collided with a pothole in the past 12 months compared to 5.7 million (16%) in 2011.

However, the danger to drivers is coming from pothole misses, as well as hits.  Kwik Fit’s study shows that over a quarter of motorists were forced to swerve on to the other side of the road to avoid a pothole – a 12% increase on 2011. Over the same period almost twice as many motorists have been forced to a complete sudden stop – 2.2 million up from 1.2 million two years ago.

With at least 2.2 million potholes in England and Wales last year, Kwik Fit’s study shows that two thirds of drivers have been in a situation where they needed to take evasive action to avoid a pothole, compared to just over half in 2011. 

Motorists in the West Midlands have been the worst hit by potholes around the UK with 71% saying they’ve had to take evasive action.  Drivers in Wales have been the luckiest, with ‘only’ 56% of drivers affected.

Roger Griggs, Communications Director at Kwik Fit, said: “Potholes are a growing problem for motorists, not just through the damage they cause, but the fact that they force drivers to make risky manoeuvres.”

Photo: Danger to drivers from potholes comes from swerving to avoid them as well as having to drive through them.