A survey has revealed that the average road user in Wales has suffered almost £1,500 worth of damage caused by potholes.

According to the survey of 2,000 people across the UK, conducted by OnePoll for car insurer NFU Mutual, 47% of respondents had damage caused to their vehicle as a result of potholes and poor road conditions, with 44% of people in Wales suffering damage.

The financial burden is accompanied by an increasing frustration at potholes, with 50% of respondents to the survey citing it as their biggest concern as a road user – a 6% increase compared to six months ago.

Welsh drivers were also among the worst hit by potholes, with the average road user suffering damage of £1411, 42% more than the UK average of £992. Only road users in the South West (£1417) and London (£1525) were worse affected by pothole damage than those in Wales.

Andrew Chalk, car insurance specialist at NFU Mutual, said:

“Potholes are unfortunately now not only an annoyance, but a danger to road users and their property.

“Our tracker survey shows that half of people in the UK see potholes as their biggest concern as a road user, far surpassing any other worries, and this is no surprise given the average cost of damage caused by potholes is closing in on £1,500 in some areas like Wales.

“It’s not just motorists impacted. As a campaigner for rural road safety, we know that potholes and poor road condition can put vulnerable road users like cyclists, runners and horse riders at risk, either through collision or by having to come further into the road to avoid a pothole.”

Potholes can damage vehicles or trailers in a number of ways, including bending axles or warping chassis, puncturing or otherwise damaging tyres or wheels, and cracking or breaking suspension components. As well as being dangerous for the driver, potholes can also bend or break components on bicycles and motorcycles.

The Government of Wales recently announced that it would be spending £6 million this year on resurfacing roads to tackle the issue of potholes.