What you can do about potholes

Britain's roads can be hazardous in the winter, when poor weather conditions cause a decline in visibility and make it more difficult to control cars, while the freeze and thaw of ice can leave dangerous potholes in the roads.

While a cyclist could be knocked off their bike by such damage to the tarmac, motorists may be at risk of having an accident if they swerve to miss the eroded hollows.

What's more, if they were not to see a pothole and drove straight into it, they could face damage to their vehicle and the possibility of having to make a car insurance claim.

But road users are not powerless when it comes to such issues and there are channels through which residents can report the appearance of the hazards in their area and get them fixed.

People who are worried about the quality and safety of the roads following the formation of potholes should go to the website of their local authority, which acts as the Highway Authority.

Alternatively, charitable organisation mySociety has developed an online application called FixMyStreet, where individuals can report a problem with the infrastructure in their area, pinpoint the location of the pothole or other problem on a map and have it sent to the council on their behalf.

Local authorities may need to assess the severity of the pothole and for this they will take several factors into account.

These include its size and depth, the amount of traffic that normally uses the road, the typical speed of cars in the location, visibility and where the hollow is on the street.

Drivers should be aware that newly instated rules mean potholes and other defects may no longer be fixed straight away if they are smaller than 15cm wide or 4cm deep, including on motorways and trunk roads.

If a car is damaged by a pothole, it is possible to get compensation for the repairs from the Highways Agency.

However, money is not likely to be paid out if it is shown the government acted responsibly to keep the road in good condition.

Those hoping to claim against the Highways Agency are advised to provide the precise time and location of the event as well as any supporting evidence. However, they are warned not to go back to the scene as a pedestrian, as they could be putting themselves in danger.

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