Navigating through potholes – again
As written for CAA Niagara.
You may wonder why there is a Worst Roads campaign throughout Niagara and across Ontario each year. As a regular commuter, you already know that answer. The goal is to help identify the roads within our communities that need the most improvement. After each campaign concludes, road reports are distributed to each government leader to stimulate conversation and action.
We know some of the Niagara region’s roads need repair in a big way. The mild weather that follows a cold winter always seems to create more potholes. This year is no different, but there are several things we can do to navigate through these roads to remain safe and to keep our vehicles in good condition.
Be proactive
- Look well ahead: Look well ahead and look for a change in the shading of the pavement. If the pavement is darker, it may be a pothole. It can give you early information to avoid having your wheels drive into it, causing damage to your vehicle.
- Do what you can to avoid vehicle damage. Damage could include the suspension system, alignment, steering control, tires, and rims. This damage can affect the vehicle’s safety, performance, and smooth handling. It may affect it to the point that it is not drivable and needs to be repaired. Vehicle repairs from pothole damage can become expensive.
- Look for large puddles. If you see large puddles on the road, it may indicate a pothole. If it has not rained recently, there is a chance that the puddle you spotted is a pothole holding onto that water.
- Ensure your headlights are working, the lenses are clean, and your windshield is clean and clear for better visibility at night to help you spot potential potholes.
- Look for signs from other vehicles. Another advantage of looking well ahead is if you see vehicles ahead of you adjusting their position in their lane, that reason may be a pothole.
- Increase the distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you. It can help you spot a pothole sooner and give you a chance to avoid it. It is also safer to increase your following distance to be prepared to stop if the vehicle in front suddenly does something to avoid a pothole.
Respond early
Responding early is the key to maintaining control of your vehicle and the situation. Many drivers will slow down severely before they reach the pothole, but that may still cause damage to your vehicle.
The risk of slowing down quickly and suddenly is the traffic behind you. Many of those drivers may not expect that you will suddenly brake and may not be able to respond to you in time. Sudden braking also shifts the weight to the front wheels and can cause more damage while going over the pothole.
- The best option is to adjust your position on the road. That may mean moving closer to the next lane.
- To ensure you can respond safely, always position your vehicle in traffic so there won’t always be another vehicle directly beside you. This is a staggered position. In other words, drive beside space. This space can allow you an escape area to move into to avoid those nasty potholes.
- Brake before the pothole and then coast across it if you can’t avoid it altogether and grip your steering wheel firmly so you can maintain control. It reduces the speed at impact and allows your suspension to travel its complete range to absorb the impact.
While avoiding potholes altogether may be your goal, it may not always happen. Do your best to spot and avoid potholes. It’s always worth the effort.