POTHOLES are tearing up tyres – with drivers across the country flagging up craters in our roads.
The dangerous defects are caused by water penetrating Tarmac, then cracking the surface as it freezes then warms with the weather.
The damage affects tyres, wheels, suspension and steering, with repairs costing hundreds of pounds.
Here Harriet Cooke looks at how to avoid breakages and what to do when they happen.
SPOT AND REPORT: Tell your local authority about serious potholes via gov.uk/report-pothole.
It not only means they will be inspected, but if any damage occurs there is more chance of redress.
If the hole might endanger a driver or cyclist’s life, phone your council’s emergency line rather than use its less-urgent online reporting system.
Also check any unfamiliar routes you plan to drive or cycle.
The FixMyStreet app and website lets you search areas for reported potholes and other road obstacles.
DRIVE AWARE: Check your tyre pressures — under or over-inflated ones can exacerbate pothole damage.
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Watch your speed and never brake hard if you spot an imminent hole.
Graham Conway, of Select Car Leasing, said: “You should instead come off the brakes, keep a firm grip of the wheel and aim straight ahead, making sure you stop, when safe to do so, to check for any damage.
“Try to avoid turning the wheel while heading into a pothole, as this can again place extra stress on steering and suspension.
“The aim is to identify the threat before it’s too late, giving you time to slow down properly.”
Look for signs of damage such as punctures or bulges in the tyre wall or bent, chipped or cracked wheels.
Washing your wheels can help reveal them.
CLAIM COMPO: If you’ve damaged your car and want compensation, work out which council is responsible for the road.
For major A-roads or motorways — in England contact National Highways, in Scotland use the Transport Scotland website or for Wales, try Traffic Wales.
For other roads contact the local council responsible.
See gov.uk/find-local-council.
Write to the authority and, if they believe you have a valid claim, they will send you a damage report form.
You’ll need to provide copies of estimates or invoices for repairs, a current MOT certificate and ideally photos of the damage.
Consumer champion Helen Dewdney advises drivers to show how the specific amount they are claiming was calculated.
Include notes on the size, shape and depth of the pothole with sketches of its position and photos — but don’t trespass onto a motorway in a bid to get these.
Ask for details of the road’s repair programme as this will strengthen your case if it isn’t being properly maintained.
Be aware authorities often defend the claims, especially if they can show they have a good road maintenance programme and were unaware of the hole.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: If you are struggling to find out about a road’s repair programme send a Freedom of Information request, which the council has to answer.
Your request should ask for the age of the road surface, numbers of reports about the specific location your car was damaged and repairs carried out.
If the council rejects your claim, you could take it to court, but this can be costly and time-consuming so it is only worth it if the damage or injuries are significant.
Seek legal advice before using this resort.
‘I put mini Xmas trees in holes to warn motorists’
HAIRDRESSER Piero D’Angelico claimed £680 from his council after the wheel and tyre of his Ford S Max were damaged by a pothole three years ago.
Piero, 51, of Cambridge, said: “I sent the invoice and a picture of the damage and pothole and they paid.”
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Piero now places discarded miniature Christmas trees in deep potholes to warn drivers.
He said: “Cromwell Road, where my car was damaged, is like patchwork due to cheap repairs that keep breaking open.”
Cambridgeshire County Council said it regularly inspects roads, bridges, cycleways and footpaths, and defects are repaired as quickly as possible.
Virgin media bills blow
BILL increases of at least £50 a year will hit Virgin Media users from May 1.
The firm will be writing to customers this week explaining what is happening and their options.
It said bills are expected to rise by an average of 13.8 per cent.
The exact amount more you pay will depend on how much your current bill is now.
For example, the Big Bundle package’s monthly cost is £29.99, so you will pay £34.13 following the rise – an extra £50 per year.
Not everyone is affected.
Virgin Media said mobile vulnerable customers, such as those on the Essential Broadband package,
will not see bills rise.
If you’re not happy with the increase, you can cancel your contract within 30 days of being contacted by Virgin Media.
You will not be charged an early exit fee.
If you want to stick with Virgin Media, try haggling for a better deal.
Use price comparison sites such as Uswitch, Broadbandchoices and ComparetheMarket to find the cheapest deal then ask Virgin to match it.
Consumer group Which? said broadband customers switching away from major providers, which includes Virgin Media, can save around £190 a year.
Tesco Clubcard crisis
MILLIONS of Tesco shoppers have just weeks left to use their Clubcard vouchers.
Every February, May, August and November, Tesco sends out vouchers to Clubcard shoppers.
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These are valid for two years.
Tesco said two million customers are yet to spend £16million worth of vouchers.
They will expire on February 28.
If shoppers don’t use them before then, they’ll lose out.
Log on to the Tesco website or app to check your vouchers use-by date.
If yours were issued in February 2021, they will expire at the end of next month.
Customers can use the vouchers to save money on their weekly shop, or fuel.
Each point equals 1p, so 150 points is worth a £1.50 voucher.
You can also boost your points to three times their face value – by swapping them online with Tesco’s reward partners.
So a £10 voucher could be turned into £30 if you spend them at partners like Pizza Express or Cineworld.
Collect the vouchers by scanning your Clubcard when you pay at the till.
You get one point for every £1 spent, or one point for every £2 on fuel. You can also get points for using Tesco Clubcard Pay+, Tesco Bank Credit card and Tesco Mobile.
Sign up for free by visiting tesco.com/account/register.
Download the Clubcard app via the App Store or Google Play.
