A new survey suggests that 89% of drivers have had to dangerously swerve to avoid debris on the road, with remnants of tyres and cardboard boxes among the items most commonly seen on motorways and dual carriageways.

“Our latest findings present a concerning situation as drivers already have enough distractions on the nation’s roads, which is not being helped by them turning into a rubbish tip and causing added danger,” said David Shelton, managing director of Motorpoint, which carried out the survey.

He suggested that drivers should insist their car has electronic stability control (ESC), which can help them stay in control following a high-speed avoidance manoeuvre, such as swerving to avoid debris on the motorway.

However, in a prior study, it was found that nearly two-thirds of motorists have no interest in buying a car equipped with ESC.