Spring pothole season is here: Steps to avoid that tiring annual headache
More than just a nuisance on the road, potholes put a major dent in American driver's wallets—to the tune of billions of dollars every year.
The impact potholes have on your vehicle
Spokesperson of AAA Northeast Robert Sinclair discusses the dangers of potholes and how motorists can avoid damage.
While spring temperatures bring excitement for many in the Northeast and Midwest who have been cooped up after a long winter, spring also brings a potentially expensive headache for drivers: potholes.
According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), Americans spend billions of dollars every year on pothole-induced repairs.
Potholes form when water seeps into the ground under the pavement. When that water freezes, it expands. That, in turn, causes the pavement to expand and crack.
Then, as it warms up, the ice will melt, leaving behind a gap under the surface. As the process repeats and cars continue to travel on the road, a pothole is formed.
WHO IS ON THE HOOK FOR YOUR CAR’S POTHOLE DAMAGE? IT MAY NOT BE ALL ON YOU
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Image 1 of 6FILE - OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 11: A car drives past a pothole at the intersection of East 15th Street and 15th Avenue in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. ((Ray Chavez/MediaNews Group/The Mercury News via Getty Images))
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Image 2 of 6FILE - Boston, MA - Hubcaps litter the Jamaica Way as cars slam through a pothole. Boston Herald staff photo by John Wilcox. ((Photo by John Wilcox/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images))
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Image 3 of 6FILE - West Islip, N.Y.: Vehicles travel over the rough road of the Sunrise Highway south service road eastbound between Udall Road and Malts Avenue, in West Islip, New York on April 19, 2022. ((Photo by Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images))
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Image 4 of 6FILE - East Farmingdale, N.Y.: Vehicles pass over a rough roadway with potholes on Route 109, westbound, near E. Carmans Road in East Farmingdale, New York on April 19, 2022. ((Photo by Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images))
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Image 5 of 6FILE - Cars dodge potholes on Fuller Road near Washington Avenue Extension Tuesday morning February 8, 2011. ((Photo by John Carl D'Annibale /Albany Times Union via Getty Images))
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Image 6 of 6FILE - Drivers traveling on Quintara Street have to steer clear of a persistent sinkhole between 18th and 19th avenues in San Francisco, Calif. on Wednesday, April 29, 2015. ( (Photo By Paul Chinn/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images))
Costly driving conditions
Recent driver surveys from AAA found that one in 10 drivers received vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after a pothole collision, with repair costs averaging above $600.
Unfortunately, the issue seems to be getting worse.
"I think potholes are more prevalent due to a general degradation of pavement quality," said Robert Sinclair, Senior Manager for Public Affairs with AAA.
Sinclair cited the Washington, D.C.-based National Transportation Research Group (TRIP), a nonprofit organization which documents road conditions across the country.
"30% of the pavement in [the Northeast] is rated as poor, and 16% as fair. I believe those numbers hold for the nation as a whole," said Sinclair.
According to TRIP, the road to better roads across the country will have to be paved with billions of dollars in investment and improvement.
SEE IT: MASSIVE SINKHOLE SHUTS DOWN PART OF MAJOR CROSS-COUNTRY INTERSTATE
Indiana DOT deploys new technology to fix potholes
Luna Lu, Purdue University professor of civil engineering, developed new technology to use with potholes. She developed tech enabling roads that can prevent and repair their own damage, increasing their longevity and saving in the long run.
Navigating the pothole problem
With potholes being seemingly unavoidable, properly inflated tires come in clutch for drivers who hit bumps in the road.
Sinclair recommended that drivers regularly check to see if their tire pressures match their car manufacturer's recommendations, since tires lose about 1 pound-per-square-inch of pressure every month—and even more in colder temperatures.
"A tire without sufficient air pressure is crushed under the force of hitting a pothole, transferring the force to the wheel the tire is mounted on, and to steering and suspension components," he said.
Data from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that 80% of vehicles on the road have at least one improperly inflated tire.
And while many drivers have an instinct to hit the brakes when going over potholes, Sinclair said that actually stiffens car suspensions, making damage more likely.
Reducing speed is also a key tip for drivers looking to stay out of the car repair shop; it allows drivers to more easily spot potholes, especially after heavy rain, and reduces the damage of any pothole impact.