And on January 15 every year attention turns to one of road users' biggest scourges: the pothole.

This National Pothole Day we want to hear from you about the worst potholes on your road to find the worst spots in Herefordshire.

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has already revealed through Freedom of Information requests that local authorities in the West Midlands, which includes Herefordshire, receive a complaint to fix a pothole every six minutes.

In total, more than £61m has been spent fixing damaged roads and holes in the region during 2018/19, down £4m from the previous year.

Just less than £175,000 has been paid out in compensation to claimants in the region who had their vehicles damaged last year.

RELATED NEWS: Drivers' fury as pothole damages cars

The figures revealed that just 31% of claims for vehicle damage were successful across the West Midlands, with the average pay out per claim equating to £218.

Potholes are a major blight on the nation’s roads. Small businesses rely heavily on the road network, with nine in 10 (89%) small firms considering the road network to be important for their staff, customers and trade deliveries.

FSB is calling for a number of measures to help improve road infrastructure across the country, including:

• More funding for local authorities from central government to support planned regular maintenance programmes, and to help alleviate the pothole problem. Unless additional funding is provided, the road maintenance problem is likely to increase over time, meaning more will need to be spent on repairs and damage claims.
• Better coordination is needed between utilities companies and local authorities when roads need to be dug up. The amount of time that utility companies are responsible for the road they have dug up should be extended from the current two to five years. 
• FSB also wants to see Government ensuring there is a simple system for both reporting potholes locally, as well as for submitting claims for damage to vehicles.
• Local authorities should use innovative technology to monitor road condition to enable them to identify deteriorating roads, learning from trailblazer councils.

Sarah Windrum, FSB policy representative in the West Midlands, said: “I am urging local authorities to use National Pothole Day as a starter to fixing up our roads, with potholes a major concern for small businesses in the West Midlands.

“Our members in the region rely heavily on the local road network, with their staff, customers and trade deliveries, dependent on fast and efficient road networks.

“Poorly looked-after roads peppered with holes and cracks not only hamper their ability to do business, but lead to damaged vehicles. 

"These are often vital assets to small firms, many of which are working without large capital reserves."

Where do you think are the worst potholes in town?

From Chris Howell

What is your response?By the Hop Pocket coming from Bishops Frome. Wrecked tyre

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By the Hop Pocket coming from Bishops Frome. Wrecked tyre

From Community contributor

What is your response?Flytipping at the side of a road near Lea Bailey light railway, south of Ross-on-Wye. Picture: Andrea Wolf

Your pictures

Flytipping at the side of a road near Lea Bailey light railway, south of Ross-on-Wye. Picture: Andrea Wolf