Whenever the weather gets cold, it seems like the amount of potholes becomes high overnight. You might be able to avoid one if you are lucky, but there is a high chance that your vehicle will bump into the next one. Your vehicle will go through significant wear and tear if it hits enough paved roads, which could lead to short term and long term damage.
A Closer Look at Potholes
Potholes develop when water enters the ground and freezes up. This generally happens during the winter, causing the water to freeze and expand. Once this happens, the pavement below the road is disrupted. Later on, the cars running over the thawing water push the pavement into a hole, creating a pothole in the process.
Keeping Away from Potholes
While you can easily drive your way around some potholes, there are several others lurking in places that you would least expect. For those who don’t know, the thawing and freezing cycle generally takes place during the spring season, so make sure that you keep an eye out for puddles. You may think the road you are driving on is puddle-free, but it is important to remain cautious to ensure your drive away as soon as you spot one. Be extra cautious when there is another car ahead of you and keep a safe distance so that you can spot paved roads before your vehicle takes damage.
Don’t Speed
Contrary to popular belief, driving fast will not minimize damage caused by potholes. If anything, it could cause even more damage, especially if you hit the road too hard. Your car may even end up getting flat tires if it hits a massive pothole, so make sure you slow down no matter how light the traffic is.
Use the Brakes Cautiously
As mentioned earlier, you must be very careful when driving over potholes. Ideally, it would be best to drive at a snail’s pace to steer clear from excessive damage to your tires and suspension. Also, make sure you don’t hit your brakes all of a sudden or too hard as it could cause your car to nosedive once you hit a pothole.
This could potentially cause irreparable damage, reducing your car’s overall value in the process. Instead, it would be better if you stepped on your brakes gently, just before the tires touch the pothole. Doing so will help your car absorb the blow, preventing the wheel and tires from taking the brunt of the hit.
If your car hit a pothole, waste no time in checking it for damage. If you don’t notice anything, consider showing it to a professional auto repair service to make sure you didn’t leave anything out.
