RESEARCH by Citroen has found that almost 75 per cent of UK drivers think the state of the country's roads is a danger to motorists and other road users.

In Citroen UK's latest survey - conducted with OnePoll - 75 per cent of respondents said that damage sustained to their car by a pothole had required repairs to their vehicle.

However, drivers are still in the dark about how best to seek support after enduring pothole damage to their vehicle, as approaching half of those affected told Citroen they were unaware that they could have claimed compensation from the relevant local authority.

Of those surveyed, only 14 per cent said they had claimed compensation from their local authority after previous incidents.

The latest research follows findings from Citroen in May, which identified that the total cost of compensation claims paid out last year, because of pothole damage, totalled £22.7 million - equivalent to the average cost of filling 340,000 potholes.

Citroen UK compared Asphalt Industry Alliance figures over the last six years and found that, since 2017, a total of £139.9 million had been spent on damage compensation, which could have filled an additional 2.3 million potholes.

In the new study, Citroen asked drivers how they felt the condition of UK roads had changed over the past six years.

Some 68 per cent of respondents said that they felt the roads in the UK had become worse - and only 15 per cent said they felt the condition of the UK's roads had improved since 2017.

Almost half of all drivers - 46 per cent - told Citroën that there are roads they avoid completely due to the fear and risk of damage.

The East Midlands was found to be the region where drivers felt most concerned about the state of the roads, with 56 per cent of respondents saying the roads in their area have got worse.

This can be compared to London - the area that reflects the least decline in road conditions - with only 18 per cent of drivers reporting that their local roads had deteriorated.

Greg Taylor, managing director of Citroen in the UK, said: "The people of the UK are clearly concerned about the state of our roads. The Citroen Advanced Comfort Programme mitigates the discomfort of driving on broken road surfaces, and limits the shock and impact of hitting a pothole for drivers, but it is clear that more work needs to be done to improve surfaces across the country, and to restore public confidence."

Many Citroen models - such as the new C5 X - have from the brand's Advanced Comfort Programme, with enhanced suspension and supportive seating for a smoother ride.