Tips for surviving Lancashire's pothole plague

Recent research has unveiled that less than half of all local roads in England and Wales are deemed as being in ‘good’ structural condition. According to the RAC pothole index, there are over 67,000 potholes in the Lancashire region. It’s no secret that potholes can damage your vehicle, but fear not automotive experts Swansway Motor Group have some advice for keeping your car intact on the rocky roads of suburban England. 

According to the AIA’s most recent survey, only 47 per cent of local roads in England and Wales are structurally ‘good’, so you’re on a risky road more than half the time you are driving. Potholes can harm your car in more ways than a burst tyre. They can also cause damage to wheels, suspension, exhausts, and your car’s chassis, potentially leaving you stranded, bored and desperately trying to contact roadside assistance.  

Potholes are caused by water inside or on top of roads expanding and contracting in varying temperatures. This is why we see so many of the car crippling craters during winter and spring. Unfortunately, many pothole-filling methods only work in the summer months, and therefore often any ‘non-urgent’ potholes are placed onto waiting lists and are usually dealt with in warmer conditions.  

As much as we’d like to, we can’t fill these potholes ourselves. So here are 7 things that Swansway Motor Group suggest you can do instead. 

1. Regularly check your tyre pressure.  

This tip is one you should be doing regularly for safety reasons, but it also makes a big difference in protecting you from pothole damage. Under or overinflated tyres are at greater risk of damage. 

2. Watch out for Puddles! 

Unlike Peppa Pig, you need to be careful when driving through puddles. There’s every chance a pothole is lurking in the depths ready to strike. 

3. Scan the road ahead. 

Scanning the road ahead for potholes means you can act early in a safe way for yourself and other road users. 

4. Don’t swerve. 

It’s dangerous for you and other drivers. 

5. Slow down. 

If you do have to go through a pothole, slow down in advance of hitting it. The faster you’re travelling the greater the risk of pothole damage. 

6. Don’t brake once you’re in the pothole! 

When you’re driving over the pothole don’t brake. This places stress on the front suspension putting you at greater risk of damage.

7. Get in 10 to 2 

Just like we were all told when learning to drive. Place your hands at 10 to 2 on the steering wheel as this means you’re less likely to lose control when driving through the pothole. 

So, although it looks like there is no end in sight for the UK driver’s war on potholes there are some steps we can take to protect our vehicles. It will take an estimated £16.3bn and 10 years to fix the current state of the UK roads so keep these tips in mind as potholes are here to stay. If you’d like more advice on Potholes or general motoring queries, the Swansway blog is full of top tips for all things automotive. 

Enjoyed this? Read more from Swansway Motor Group

Latest news

1

Tourism Unsung Hero finalists revealed Jenny Moss Kate Pollard Peter Martland Andy Black

Tourism Unsung Hero finalists revealed

01 Oct 2025

2

Basil's in the pink Basil Newby

Basil's in the pink

30 Sep 2025

3

Celebrating the Women building Britain’s business future at The Enterprise Vision Awards The 2025 Enterprise Vision Award winners

Celebrating the Women building Britain’s business future at The Enterprise Vision Awards

30 Sep 2025

4

Business School recruits three industry leaders University of Lancashire recruit business leaders Rob Binns, Miranda Barker and Marcello Trovati new

Business School recruits three industry leaders

30 Sep 2025

5

Third letting at Frontier Burnley is completed Frontier Park in Burnley CRC Evans

Third letting at Frontier Burnley is completed

30 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – October

Soul Bowl, Morecambe, LA4 4BU

08:00 - 10:00

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world
Oct PTC.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
07 Oct 2025 - 07 Oct 2025

The Future of Work: Tech, teams and thriving in a changing world

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace
Muted Blue (4).png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
08 Oct 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

HR Recharge: Empowering today’s workforce, transforming tomorrow’s workplace

Crow Wood Hotel & Spa Resort, Burnley, BB12 0RT

08:30 - 13:30

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West
Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West event
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering Franchise Growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors, Sceptre Way, Walton Summit Centre, PR5 6AW, PR6 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Empowering franchise growth in the North West
TFA Event - Empowering Franchise Growth.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Oct 2025 - 09 Oct 2025

Empowering franchise growth in the North West

Forbes Solicitors Sceptre Way Walton Summit Centre , Preston, PR5 6AW

08:00 - 10:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin