Every hour, there’s a pothole-related incident on one of Britain’s roads. In fact, the RAC attended 20 per cent more pothole emergencies in 2019 than in 2018.
So to give you the best chance of steering clear of potholes this winter and beyond, here are our top tips.
Take your time
Hitting a pothole at high speed increases the chances of your car sustaining serious damage. You’re more likely to spot the pothole if you’re able to see it coming.
And if you can see puddles on the road, be cautious. One of those puddles could be hiding a big pothole, so keep your speed down
Keep a firm hold of the wheel
Hitting a pothole at any speed can cause you to change direction.
Keeping a firm grip of the steering wheel will enable you to correct any change of direction and keep your car on the road.
The two-second gap
Slow down gently
Get the pressure right
Making sure your tyres are at the right pressure – not under or over inflated – is vital if you ever do come across an unavoidable pothole.
That’s because you’re much less likely to have a puncture or blowout if you hit it.
Check for damage
Checking out any damage after a pothole incident is important. Leaving damage unfixed could really cost you and other road users in the long run.
Simply pull over somewhere safe to look for damage. If something doesn’t seem right, take your car to a garage to be serviced properly.
Reporting Potholes
The best way to avoid pothole drama is to make sure they’re dealt with by the authorities before they have a chance to cause you and other road users any danger.
To report any potholes you see, just visit Fix My Street and follow the simple instructions. They’ll pass on the report to your local council and the problem should be dealt with quickly.