Devon County Council spent over £100,000 on pothole damage compensation

Devon's roads contain so many potholes that it's one of the highest places for pothole-related compensation in the UK, according to figures acquired in a Freedom Of Information Act request.

The UK company Lease Car sent out an FOI request to Devon County Council to discover how much they have had to pay in compensation claims related to pothole damage.

They discovered that Devon County Council spent £113,977 between 2018 and 2019 compensating drivers who had suffered vehicle damage or personal injury from potholes across the county.

1,277 road users made compensation claims to Devon County Council during this time period, according to the data seen by Lease Car.

It has been revealed that Devon is the 9th highest place for the amount of compensation awarded for pothole damage, suggesting that its roads are in a very poor shape.

A spokesperson for LeaseCar said: "Drivers can be left with vehicle damage and personal injury after feeling the full wrath of a pothole."

"Whether you own or lease a car, it can be frustrating to have your vehicle damaged by one of the potholes across the country and many drivers seek compensation from their local council."

Road users across Devon are being urged to slow down, avoid puddles and keep their windshields clean this winter in order to spot possible potholes and avoid damaging their vehicles.