For those of us that see harsh winters, the downside of spring is the increased number of potholes on the roadways. The terrible and unsettling noises that you hear when you unsuspectingly hit a pothole are pretty bad, but what can be worse is what potholes can do to your car.
When you hit a pothole it can cause a laundry list of
problems for your car. The list can range from suspension and steering
component damage to tires and rim damage among others. While inflicting
structural damage usually comes from fast speeds over the pothole, average
speeds can still do a number of bad things to the tire, rim and suspension.
Damages to tires, rims, and suspension can obviously compromise your car's
handling ability, and therefore your safety.
Bent wheel rims from a bad pothole encounter can lead to
vibrations that you can feel when driving the car. In more severe encounters it
can knock off one of the wheel balancing weights or even damage steel belts
inside the tire. When tires are not properly inflated, potholes can do greater
damage to wheels and tires.
Another potential area of damage is the undercarriage of
your car, which can be punctured if the pothole is deep enough and your speed
is fast enough. This commonly leads to exhaust system damage and potentially
fluid leaks or bearing damage. The bearings are what help your car turn from
side to side can be damaged as well, which certainly compromises your safety.
There are a number of audible and physical signs that may
let you know that your car has experienced some damage from a pothole.
These
can include:
- Swaying of the vehicle while turning.
- The front end dives when braking
- The car's rear end squats when accelerating
- Bouncing or sliding sideways on a winding, rough road
- The vehicle "bottoms out" or thumps on bumps
In addition to these signs, strange noises coming from your
exhaust system can be signs of pothole damage as can leaks, rust or dents.
Tires that have been damaged by a pothole can show a bulge that will compromise
the tire.
Even on streets you travel every day, constant vigilance is
the best way to avoid interacting with a pothole. Keep in mind that this time
of year, you may encounter some loose asphalt one day and a full-fledged
pothole the next.
The best defense is to always leave enough distance between
your car and the vehicle in front of you in order to have time to see and react
to an upcoming pothole. It goes without saying that you must always be alert
for pedestrians, bicyclists and cars following behind you and to either side of
you. This awareness is even more crucial if you need to swerve to avoid a
pothole.
Sometimes, you just can't avoid a pothole and be safe, so if
you must go over it, slow down safely as you approach the pothole. Keep in mind
to never try to brake while you're going over the pothole as this will
potentially cause an equal amount of damage to going over it at a higher speed.
Whether your vehicle is old or new, it is vulnerable to
potholes. That applies even if your vehicle is a tough Subaru four-wheel drive
with extra clearance. No matter what type of vehicle you drive, you must be
vigilant and do your best to avoid those potholes even if it means taking an
alternate route.
To report potholes to PennDOT, call 800-FIX-ROAD (800-349-7623). You'll need to know a lot of information about the pothole: its location down to the county, town, and street, as well as any landmarks nearby. To report a pothole in New Jersey, you can fill out this form.
