What to Do If You Come Across a Pothole

We all know of the nuisances that plague our roads. Everyone has that notorious road in their village or town that is covered in potholes. Potholes can be a simple bump in the road but some can cause serious damage to your vehicle. Research has shown that potholes cause millions of pounds worth of damage to vehicles every year. 

Damage can range from to a puncture to crippling your car’s steering and suspension units. Not to mention the potential to cause damage to other vehicles on the road. It is a serious problem and one that seems to be getting worse. Potholes should be avoided at all costs in a safe manner, so we have put together a few tips on avoiding potholes and how to approach them if you have to drive through them.  

1. Keep a grip on the steering wheel

Hitting a pothole can affect the direction of travel, ensuring that you always have a tight grip of the steering wheel. If you do, you will be better prepared to keep your vehicle heading in the correct lane. 

2. Take it slow 

If you are to hit a pothole at speed, the chances of causing damage is increased. Keep to a steady speed, also be aware of the potholes covered by rain. If you see them, approach them at a sensible speed.

3.Keep Your Distance

You always want to ensure that you have a two-second distance between you and the car in front, but this becomes even more important when it comes to potholes. Leaving a safe distance from the car in front means you have time to react if they hit a pothole – as well as allowing you a chance to notice it upfront and manoeuvre around it.

4. Keep your tyres inflated

We are sure that many of you maintain your vehicle correctly and tyre maintenance is a part of that. Inflated tyres will help to reduce any damage that may come after hitting a pothole, reducing the chances of punctures or blowouts on the road.

5. Check for damage

If you are unfortunate to hit a pothole, make sure to check for damage at the earliest safe convenience. Pretending like it never happened, could result in a bigger bill further down the line. If something doesn’t look or feel right, take your car to a garage to be checked over – you don’t want to let the issue build and cause a bigger problem later on.

6. Keep off the brakes

When you hit a pothole, hitting the brakes can actually cause more damage to your car’s suspension. To minimise pothole damage, slow down before you reach the pothole, and avoid braking if you happen to drive over a pothole. This will help protect your tyres and suspension. It’s essential to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front to give you time to steer clear of potential damage caused by potholes. If you notice a pothole, you should report a pothole immediately to prevent further damage to your car or others. If your car sustains damage, consider making a claim for pothole damage. Remember, you may be able to make a claim for the cost of repair to your suspension or tyres if the pothole was reported but not fixed.

Reporting potholes

We know that many councils’ budgets have been cut due to the pandemic, but you are well within your right to report the offending potholes to your local council. If your car is damaged after you hit the pothole and you can’t avoid hitting a pothole, it’s important to document any tire damage or other issues. You may be eligible to claim compensation for the damage through your car insurance. While it’s best to avoid potholes when possible, reporting them ensures that future drivers can steer clear of similar problems.

Scuff Doc 

If you encounter a pothole and it damages your tyres or cracks your alloys, you’ll need to contact Scuff Doc. We offer a fantastic solution to getting your cracked alloys back on the road again. To avoid pothole damage, it’s best to try to avoid a pothole when driving, but if you can’t, make sure to get your vehicle inspected as soon as possible. We hope that you found this blog helpful and informative. If you have any further questions about any of the services that we offer, please get in touch today. Call 07884395619 and speak to our friendly Scuff Doc team! We can come to your home or workplace, and it will be taken care of in a flash.