Encountering potholes in the road while driving is almost inevitable, especially after the cold winter months. Still, with a chance of severe damage being done to your car, it can be tough to know what to do if you find yourself hitting one. 

Experts at Howden Insurance have put together some top tips for avoiding potholes and what to do if you find yourself hitting one. 

 The two second rule - Leaving a two-second distance between yourself and the car in front will give you time to react if the vehicle hits a pothole avoiding a costly collision. 

 Take extra caution on unmarked roads – Adapting your driving to the appropriate road conditions is always important. Plenty of unmarked roads have no suggested speed limit signs, meaning the national speed limit applies to 60mph, which can be detrimental if you hit a pothole at this speed.  

 Keep your tyres in good condition – Maintaining the right tyre pressure for your vehicle is a must if you want to reduce the potential damage potholes on roads in terrible conditions can cause.  

 Keep a secure grip on your steering wheel – Stirring can be greatly affected when you hit a pothole, so it is important always to keep a firm grip on the wheel to prevent the risk of swerving off the road. You should constantly have at least one hand firmly on the wheel. 

If you have hit a pothole: 

Don’t slam on your breaks – Although it can be a knee-jerking reaction to hit the breaks as soon as you hit a pothole but, this can indeed cause even more damage than if you were to slowly reduce your speed before getting out in a safe place to assess your vehicle. By slamming on the brakes, you are putting more strain and compression onto the vehicle's suspension, which could cause misalignment, tyre and wheel damage and body or exhaust scrapes. 

 Check for damage – It is crucial that you pull over when it is safe to do so and check your vehicle for any damage. 

 Report the pothole – If you on the motorway you should contact National Highways. If you weren't it’s the local council which is responsible for fixing the road. 

 Making a claim - Take note of the road on which you hit the pothole, as well as the date, time, and weather conditions. before you make a claim