Millions of drivers swerving to avoid potholes A study by a repair company showed there had been a 143 per cent rise in the number of motorists hitting potholes, while millions of other drivers are swerving - in some cases onto the other side of the road - to avoid damaging their cars. In a survey of just over 2,000 drivers, 66 per cent said they had been forced to take evasive action compared with 54 per cent in 2011. This, the study by Kwik Fit found, included seven per cent who had hit the kerb, five per cent mounting the pavement and 18 per cent who said they had slammed on the brakes. The worst area was the West Midlands, with 71 per cent of drivers saying they had been forced to take evasive action. In Wales, on the other hand, only 56 per cent of drivers had to do so. More than one in 10 motorists aged between 18 and 24 said they had been in an accident avoiding potholes, while seven per cent of all drivers said they had been in an accident because of one. Last year local authorities had repaired 2.2 million potholes, compared with 1.7 million in 2011.