Potholes – Here is How to Handle Them
When the wet weather breaks and the sun begins to shine, folks tend to hit the road. But not so fast DRIVEtorquers, the roads are full of potholes! While the skies might be blue overhead, the roads could very well be full of dangerous potholes.
Potholes are an international menace. Sometimes referred to as the bane of all drivers, potholes often emerge after a rainy day, or when the road has been pounded by heavy duty vehicles or neglected over time. With a little extra driving care, you can figure out how to deal with these hazards, saving a ton of wear and tear on your car as well as your fragile nerves.
Here is a little on how potholes happen. Water works its way into cracks in the road's surface. When the weather gets cold enough, the water may freezes and expand. The tarmac will then bubble up due to the swelling water. Normal road traffic over these vulnerable spots subsequently leads to the formation of potholes, which translates into torrid fun for everyone.
Pothole Driving 101
Your best bet is simply to keep an eye out for potholes. Exercise vehicle sympathy. If the road is clear, when you avoid a pothole, you avoid damage to your vehicle, and potential accidents. By driving slower, and refraining from tailgating (always a good idea), you will reduce the risk of slamming into a dangerous pothole. Yet even the most cautious of drivers hits a pothole now and again. Here are a few tips to minimize damage:
• Do not speed up. It is not possible to “fly over” a pothole.
• Slow down if you see an unavoidable pothole. By reducing your speed, you will reduce the amount of scars that you and your car will suffer.
• Again, do not tailgate. If the driver in front of you slams into a pothole (or just misses one), you will need time to react in order to take evasive action.
• Watch out for puddles (or frozen patches of water) on the road. They just might be hiding a pothole.
• Grip the steering wheel firmly when driving over a pothole. The wheel might jerk about when your tires dip into the hole. It is super important to maintain control of your vehicle and keep it as steady as you can.
• Never brake into a pothole. Let the car take the impact of the pothole, not your brakes.
• Do not veer off to the side. If you cannot avoid a pothole, reduce your speed, and drive as straight as possible.
Make sure your car is aligned. Correct wheel alignment is a gift when it comes to handling your vehicle in normal conditions—and especially so when driving over potholes. Proper wheel alignment will also help your tires last a lot longer.
After hitting a pothole, pull over and check for damage (and flat tires). If the alignment is out of whack or the steering is wonky, get your vehicle serviced as soon as you can. This way you will avoid further trouble down the road.
Potholes are an international menace. Sometimes referred to as the bane of all drivers, potholes often emerge after a rainy day, or when the road has been pounded by heavy duty vehicles or neglected over time. With a little extra driving care, you can figure out how to deal with these hazards, saving a ton of wear and tear on your car as well as your fragile nerves.
Here is a little on how potholes happen. Water works its way into cracks in the road's surface. When the weather gets cold enough, the water may freezes and expand. The tarmac will then bubble up due to the swelling water. Normal road traffic over these vulnerable spots subsequently leads to the formation of potholes, which translates into torrid fun for everyone.
Pothole Driving 101
Your best bet is simply to keep an eye out for potholes. Exercise vehicle sympathy. If the road is clear, when you avoid a pothole, you avoid damage to your vehicle, and potential accidents. By driving slower, and refraining from tailgating (always a good idea), you will reduce the risk of slamming into a dangerous pothole. Yet even the most cautious of drivers hits a pothole now and again. Here are a few tips to minimize damage:
• Do not speed up. It is not possible to “fly over” a pothole.
• Slow down if you see an unavoidable pothole. By reducing your speed, you will reduce the amount of scars that you and your car will suffer.
• Again, do not tailgate. If the driver in front of you slams into a pothole (or just misses one), you will need time to react in order to take evasive action.
• Watch out for puddles (or frozen patches of water) on the road. They just might be hiding a pothole.
• Grip the steering wheel firmly when driving over a pothole. The wheel might jerk about when your tires dip into the hole. It is super important to maintain control of your vehicle and keep it as steady as you can.
• Never brake into a pothole. Let the car take the impact of the pothole, not your brakes.
• Do not veer off to the side. If you cannot avoid a pothole, reduce your speed, and drive as straight as possible.
Make sure your car is aligned. Correct wheel alignment is a gift when it comes to handling your vehicle in normal conditions—and especially so when driving over potholes. Proper wheel alignment will also help your tires last a lot longer.
After hitting a pothole, pull over and check for damage (and flat tires). If the alignment is out of whack or the steering is wonky, get your vehicle serviced as soon as you can. This way you will avoid further trouble down the road.
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