Drivers could be fined up to £2,500 if their attempts to avoid potholes are seen as driving without due care and attention.

Currently, there are no clear answers as to whether avoiding a pothole could be viewed as an exception to the rules.

And with motorists being forced to make dangerous manoeuvres to avoid potholes, experts are calling on authorities to provide clarity.

Quotezone.co.uk CEO Greg Wilson said: “With the cost of living crisis pushing insurance premiums up, costly damage to vehicles due to potholes is the last thing drivers need. We are calling for there to be more information on how drivers should tackle problematic potholes in their area."

 A Quotezone.co.uk survey showed 90% of drivers had issues with potholes in their area, with 60% saying they or friends and family had suffered damage to their vehicles.

Greg continued: “As potholes around the country go unfilled for months, many drivers are unable to take their normal routes without needing to amend their driving to avoid hitting them, cheaper insufficient materials are reportedly being used to cut costs, meaning you have an accident while swerving round a pothole, it is likely you who will be held criminally liable.

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“However, if you have an accident while swerving round a pothole, it is likely you who will be held criminally liable. This means you could be charged with a number of wrongdoings, from driving without due care and attention to even harsher offences.

“Perhaps it’s a case of temporary speed reductions in problematic areas or alternative route diversions to reduce the risk of incidents and stop roads from deteriorating further.

"This problem isn’t going away in the foreseeable future, so we need manageable solutions and practical information to protect all road users from harm and safeguard their finances.”