Avoid Pothole Damage This Spring With These Tips

Whether it’s a flat tire, lost hubcap, warped wheel alignment or a bent axel, a pothole can cause significant damage to your car.

from patch.com | By Kara Seymour

Pothole season is in full swing and thousands of area motorists have already fallen victim to these costly road obstacles. Freezing temperatures at night, above-freezing temperatures during the day, and melting ice or snow expands and constricts the asphalt, creating potholes.

Whether it’s a flat tire, lost hubcap, warped wheel alignment or a bent axel, a pothole can cause significant damage to your car.

The result isn’t cheap: the annual tab for pothole damage nationwide was nearly $6.4 billion last year, AAA Mid-Atlantic said. On average, $5.4 billion in damage is done each year due to potholes, according to insurance industry estimates.

“Motorists need to aware of possible potholes, slow down and increase following distance to safely steer around them,” says Jana L. Tidwell, Manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “After driving over a pothole, check your tires for blisters or other damage. The best way to protect your tires from potholes is to keep them properly inflated and adjust your speed to match road conditions.”

To report potholes on local or county roads, call your town or county’s Highway Department.

If you notice a pothole on a state road that is maintained by PennDOT, contact 1-800-FIX-ROAD.

AAA has the following tips to avoid damage to your car from potholes:

1. Keep an eye on traffic patterns. Cars that slow down or move quickly to other lanes may be a sign of major potholes or road damage ahead.
2. Beware of snow, ice or water that may be concealing a deep pothole.
3. Avoid swerving. Swerving can cause a loss of vehicle control.
4. Slow down. Carefully avoid sharp impact with potholes.
5. Roll through. Rolling through the pothole is better than braking rapidly.
6. Inflate tires properly. Over inflated and under inflated tires increase risk of tire and wheel damage.