Unfortunately,
after waiting for what seems like eternity for the snow to melt, we are faced
with the burden of potholes on our streets. Sometimes there are just one or two
easily avoidable holes and other times it feels like we are navigating a
spaceship through a meteor shower. The harsh winters here in the north show the
wear and tear every spring. The cold weather along with snow removal, salt, and
heavy loads leaves its toll on our roads. Luckily, there are ways to help avoid
damage that can be caused by potholes.
Potholes
do more than just damage our tires, many other parts of our vehicles are at
risk for damage as well. The harsh roads can cause a number of other problems
for our vehicles, some which are serious and costly. Some things to consider are
rims, shock absorbers, suspension system, struts, and alignment. You want to
try and minimize damage done as much as possible to protect the life of your
investment as well as your pocketbook.
The
best thing you can do is try to minimize damage all together. There is some
simple vehicle maintenance that can help:
- Check your tire pressure regularly,
you should try and keep it at the manufacturer’s recommendation. Tires with too
little or too much air are more vulnerable to damage.
- Keep your windshield clean and
repair any chips or cracks as soon as possible. Windshield obstructions make
visibility poor, causing difficulty seeing problems on the road.
- Make sure your headlights are
working and also clean. Potholes are even harder to spot in the dark, make sure
you have every advantage while night driving.
- Keep a spare tire and tools on
board to change a flat. Make sure your
spare is in good condition.
On top of
vehicle maintenance there are some things you can do while driving that can
also minimize hitting any craters on the roads. Firstly, be aware of your
surroundings. Look ahead at the road and see if it you can spot any holes on
your route. You can also keep an eye on the vehicles ahead of you, if they are
swerving to avoid hitting potholes it can give you an indication of what is ahead.
If you see a problem, slow down! The faster you hit a pothole the more damage
your vehicle incurs. If you have to slow down make sure you do it before the
hole, avoid sudden braking. When you break it transfers the weight of your
vehicle to the front tires, resulting in more damage. Try not to swerve to
avoid the holes, if your tire hits the pothole at an angle it can result in
more damage to your tires, plus it can be dangerous for motorists in the other
lane. Beware of puddles on the road, you can’t tell how deep they are and they
could be hiding a deep jagged pothole.
If you hit a
pothole try and assess if damage has been done. If you think your tire is flat
or you have serious driving difficulties pull off to the side of the road as
soon as you can. Make sure you use your
hazard lights, especially if you are in a high traffic area. You should get out
and have a look to see what kind of damage your vehicle has sustained. Make
sure you check rims for damage too, they may be bent. You may need to change
your tire (check out our earlier blog "How to Change a Flat Tire)
or call for help. If there doesn’t seem to be any damage that needs attention
right away you should still keep a close eye on how your vehicle handles after
hitting a pothole. If your vehicle pulls to one side or your steering doesn’t
seem straight then you should take it to be looked at as soon as possible, that
can be an indication of front end damage.
Hopefully, if
you take the proper precautions you can avoid pothole damage. Remember to take
it slow and avoid sudden breaking when possible. If you have sustained damage
as a result of a pothole, or you notice a dangerous pothole on the street you
might want to consider contacting the city to notify them. Hopefully the
problems can be fixed and dangers to other motorists can be eliminated.
-Muriel Rolufs
