Motorists face plenty of perils out on the roads, from careless fellow drivers to seasonal weather problems, but frequently the danger comes from the very surfaces we drive on.

All too often emergency car window repair takes place as the result of a loose piece of stone or tarmac flying up from the surface because a pothole has not been repaired, posing a danger to windscreens as well as tyres and suspensions.

For that reason, there are many who believe that local authorities are getting their priorities wrong when other road works such as the installation of cycle lanes are carried out with the result that there is less cash to fix potholes.

This was the view of many Nottingham residents in the wake of a recent announcement that the city council had secured £18 million from the government to fund new cycleways and walkways in the St Anne’s area of the city. Councillor Audra Wynter, the council’s portfolio holder for Transport, said: “Nottingham is leading the way with green travel alternatives to the car.”

However, locals are more sceptical. Speaking to the Nottingham Post, local builder James Morgan said the money could have been used more effectively. He remarked: “There’s so many potholes that can be fixed that would save people’s cars from future damages. That’s worth looking into.”

Another St Anne’s resident, Cynthia James, echoed this point about potholes. She said it “would have been nice for there to be a consultation” about what people needed instead of the council just making assumptions.

These views echo those expressed by motorists across the country in a recent survey by InsureTheGap, which found more than three quarters believed pothole repairs should take precedence over cycle lanes.

Of the 2,000 drivers interviewed, 712 were also cyclists, but 71 per cent of them agreed potholes should get priority.