Hitting a pothole usually results in damage to tyres, though it’s not always obvious to the untrained eye. Add speed to the equation and you could damage the wheel and the vehicle’s suspension too.
How to deal with potholes
- Increase your following distance. Give yourself more than two seconds distance.
If you’re too close to the car in front and that driver stops, you will crash into it and the collision will be legally your fault.
- Drive at or below the speed limit but don’t drive too slowly. The limit assumes you are driving under the best conditions. If conditions are not the best, slow down. This includes the dark and bad weather which increases the time you need to see, understand and then act to avoid a problem ahead.
- Avoid driving through puddles or do so slowly if you can’t drive around them. While puddles may be hiding potholes, water is also slippery and hitting it at speed will lift the cars’ wheels off the road and make you lose control or aquaplane.
- Report potholes to your local municipality. Don’t believe someone else will do it.
