Potholes are a blight on our nation.
Big ones, small ones, and very very deep ones; potholes have been damaging our vehicles and denting our wallets since horses and carts took to the roads.
Every year, UK motorists face a repair bill of around GBP2.
8 billion to fix the damage caused to their vehicles by potholes in the road.
And councils are aware of this, with a backlog of repairs that is estimated to add up to GBP1 billion already.
But the roads are getting worse as their mortal enemy - freezing weather - hits the UK hard.
Starting from Christmas 2009, treacherous weather conditions including snow and ice, have attacked our roads and inflicted yet more damage.
If you're driving a big, hardy 4 x 4, you may be better shielded from the damage a seemingly harmless pothole can cause.
But if you're one of a third of UK motorists who has paid to have your axle and suspension damage fixed, you might have more experience of the pain a pothole can cause.
So is there anything the average motorist can do? My advice to drivers is to remain vigilant, and make sure you have car insurance in place should your car suffer any pothole damage.
The average pothole damage repair bill is GBP240, with some bills hitting as high as GBP2,710.
With that in mind, here's a tip if you do hit a snag in the road.
If possible - take a photo of the pothole in question, followed by a picture of the damage caused to your car.
Try to take a picture of the scene too, to prove that there were no warnings to motorists that the pothole was there.
Provide this evidence to the local authority's highways department, and you can claim compensation to help cover the cost of your repairs.
Compensation might be a small comfort after your vehicle has been brutally attacked by a vicious pothole and your no-claims bonus disappears faster than a frightened rabbit, but it may help to ease the pain a little.