'Invisible' Potholes Threat

Motorists are being warned about the threat of 'invisible' potholes after a rise in accidents.

Road maintenance campaign website, Potholes.co.uk, reports an increase in drivers failing to notice water-filled potholes until it was too late – leaving many counting the cost of the damage to their vehicles.

The problem is increased by the combined result of the recent wet and wintry weather conditions and longer hours of darkness during the winter.

"The icy conditions over Christmas and the New Year have created new potholes across the country and motorists need to watch out," said Duncan McClure Fisher, of Warranty Direct, which set up the Potholes.co.uk site.

"Treacherous ice and snow may be at the forefront of drivers' minds as the main hazard, but potholes are another danger they need to be aware of."

Potholes.co.uk user, Deborah Hill, from Durham, caused £290 worth of damage when she hit a pothole which had filled with rain water.

Ms Hill said: "The noise was horrendous when I hit the hole, it nearly knocked my teeth out. I had to pull in because the car felt strange.

"The wheel had gouges round the rim and my local garage revealed that it had knocked the tracking out completely and I had to replace the wheel."

Experts say there has been a 65% rise in defects on English roads alone during the past decade, with the shortfall in funding for repairs running at an estimated £1.6bn.

The UK has been lashed by record rainfall, heavy snow and icy weather recently.

As the temperature continues to drop below zero, the 'freeze and thaw' effect that sees expanding rainwater crack the road will worsen matters further.

(PR/BMcC)