With winter now melting away, more and more people are going out for a drive to take advantage of the good spring weather. Yet, this is also a time for you to look for any potholes that can put you in great danger when you drive. Learn below about what potholes are and how they can not only damage your tires but also trigger a major accident and what needs to be done to avoid them.

A pothole is a hole or pit, particular one situated in a road surface. Potholes are commonly found on roads in mountains and valleys. In urban areas, they occur when the road surface breaks away after becoming corroded or soil under the pavement erodes away. Although they are a natural phenomenon, you need to watch out for them because they may cause a major accident when one is created on a paved road with heavy traffic involving cars or pedestrians.

Spring, in particular, sees more accidents involving potholes than any other season. That’s because frozen snow or rain in the cracks in pavement melts away in warmer weather, leaving wider spaces in it. Pavement with such wide spaces inside can break easily upon a mild impact, resulting in a deeper hole. Corrosion is also a major cause of potholes, which often occurs due to calcium chloride left over from use in the removal of snow during winter. Recently, potholes are increasingly being found due to the erosion of bedrock that occurs during the construction of underground passes or subways.

A car running over a large pothole is liable to experience a major impact on its underbody. This can lead to damage of the tires. If the car is running at a high speed before hitting the pothole, the force of impact will be also be transferred to the driver, causing a secondary accident. Braking abruptly or suddenly swerving to avoid a pothole that emerges in the path of car can often lead to collisions with other cars.



Why is the danger of a pothole emphasized so much? That’s because they can appear anytime and anywhere. That makes it hard for you to respond properly. It is therefore imperative that you make it a rule to drive safely. Refrain from speeding on regular motorways so that you can be assured of full visibility up ahead and take extra care on roads spotted with cracks and pits to avoid any accidents.

Another important precaution is to check the pressure of the tires and their abrasion. Ensure that they maintain a proper level of pressure because over-pressure increases the risk of damage to the tire while insufficient pressure may cause a problem with braking. The abrasion is associated with the ability to withstand an external impact.



Take all necessary precautions and drive safely before potholes can ruin a drive you may be having on a pleasant spring day.