Drivers warned over little-known law that could see them hit with £2,500 fine for AVOIDING potholes – know the rules
DRIVERS have been warned over a little-known road law that could actually see them fined for avoiding potholes.
Brits could face losing thousands if they make the wrong call when navigating damaged routes.
Potholes are a daily nuisance for drivers up and down the country, causing discomfort and even damage to motors and motorists alike.
However, many might not know that avoiding one could land you in hot water.
If, as is often the case, you only spot the crater at the last moment, swerving out of the way could see you prosecuted for careless and inconsiderate driving.
At the top end, this carries a penalty of up to £2,500 and points on your licence.
Instead, try and keep your eyes on the road as much as possible and avoid potholes early.
Make sure to indicate before making any sudden changes in direction and leave a good gap to the car in front to give yourself more time to react to defects in the surface.
If you find yourself driving over a pothole, try not to swerve or brake hard, as this can cause greater damage.
Just try and glide over the whole as steadily as possible, maintaining a consistent speed.
Keeping your tyre pressure within the recommended range and regular servicing of your suspension can also help to absorb more impact.
Sadly, though, if you do it one the chances are that some damage could be caused.
Greg Wilson, CEO of insurance experts Quotezone, said: “With the cost-of-living crisis pushing insurance premiums up, costly damage to vehicles due to potholes is the last thing drivers need.
“Pothole-related damage to vehicles is becoming more expensive as parts, paint and repair costs all soar, meaning drivers are having to lose their no-claims bonus to claim for repairs.
“It’s one of the key reasons that car insurance costs are on the rise, a surge in claims is escalating insurance premiums right across the UK.”
It comes after the latest figures lifted the lid on a pothole pandemic that’s seeing Britain’s road crumble.
Pothole-related breakdowns hit a five-year high in 2023, with drivers shelling out a collective £500 million on repairs.
The last time it was this bad was in 2018 when road were devastated by the prolonged cold snap dubbed the Beast from the East.
AA president Edmund King said: “We have a vicious circle of pothole formed, damage caused, pothole patched, pothole reappears with more damage caused.
“What we need are more permanent repairs.”
Back in November, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak committed an extra £3.8 billion over the next decade to try and address the “scourge of potholes”.