Potholes are road hazards that can result in car damage and accidents if improperly handled.
If you can’t safely swerve around a pothole, it’s important to know the proper steps to take to get through it without causing damage to your car or putting yourself in danger.
Although, in a case where damages can’t be bypassed, it’s also important to know how to make the damages minimal.
In this article, we’ll see the possible things to do: get over a pothole safely when you can’t swerve it.
Getting Over Potholes with Minimal Car Damage
It’s often advised to avoid potholes to prevent accidents of loss of control, but in most cases, they come at you very fast.
Here are some techniques you can employ that’ll help you drive over potholes safely.
1. Slow Down and Enter it gently
If you’re driving at a reasonable speed and notice a pothole on the highway, downshift to a lower gear before you hit the pothole.
Meanwhile, drivers with automatic transmission vehicles should gently tap the brakes before hitting the pothole.
This will help to help you coast/Glide over the pothole, thereby reducing the impact and preventing damage to your vehicle.
2. Don’t Apply the Brakes
If you’re driving at a very high speed of, let’s say, 80 to 100km/hr, then It’s advised that you jump over the potholes without depressing the brakes.
This is usually because applying brakes at this point will make the vehicle hit the pothole even harder, resulting in accidents or wheel suspension damage.
While the jump might also result in minor damages, it can’t be compared to the one that’ll happen if you hit a pothole with that impact.
3. Hold the steering wheel firmly
Make sure you have a good grip on the steering wheel before you hit the pothole. This will help you to maintain control of your vehicle and prevent it from going astray.
4. Drive Slowly
Driving slowly in an unfamiliar area or places known for potholes can help you swerve them on time.
This is advisable, especially when driving at night because impact with potholes seems more frequent now.
It’s also important to slow down because it gives you more time to react to the pothole and make any necessary adjustments.
5. Face it Straightforward
Another tip to help you swerve potholes with less impact is to avoid hitting the hole at an angle.
Avoid swerving in panic when you notice potholes; face them squarely, as this will reduce the damages and eliminate the risk of collision.
6. Don’t brake after you hit the pothole
If you brake after you hit the pothole, it can cause your vehicle to become unstable and potentially lead to an accident.
Instead, continue driving at a reduced speed until you pass the pothole.
7. Properly Inflate Tires
Underinflated or overinflated tires aren’t good for handling potholes as they’ll further worsen the impact.
Improper tires will either make the car bounce off the track or inflict more damage to the wheel and suspension.
You must check for over or under-inflated tires, worn-out tires, and tires with side wall bubbles and replace them.
8. Report to the appropriate authorities
If you see a pothole on the road, report it to the appropriate authorities. This will help to repair the pothole and prevent it from causing issues for other drivers.
That’s all.
How to safely avoid Potholes
Here are some guides you can put into practice while driving to avoid potholes safely.
1. Concentrate
Most drivers often drive with divided attention, thus exposing them to pothole impacts.
Concentrating will help you notice and avoid potholes on time without maneuvering them.
2. Drive Carefully
This involves increasing the distance between you and the car in front. This will help you prevent potholes easier if the vehicle in front does.
Also, avoid overtaking a car without a clear highway view; you might run into a pothole trap.
3. Increase your visibility
While driving at night, it’s advised that you drive slowly with the headlights on and the windshield free of dirt, moisture, or dust.
This will increase your visibility and help you see potholes on your track.
4. Look for alternative routes
If possible, try to avoid potholes by taking a different route. This is especially important when driving a low-clearance vehicle or transporting a fragile product.
5. Maintain your tires and suspension
The health of your tires and suspension also plays an important role in how much damage the pothole impact will cause.
So, ensure your tires are properly inflated and your suspension checked to help keep your shock, springs, and struts intact.
Pothole Damages
Here are some damages that will likely occur to your car if you don’t know how to avoid or swerve a pothole.
- Tire leaks and damage
- Wheel misalignment
- Bouncing car
- Steering and suspension damage
- Tire sidewall bubbles/Bulge
- Strange Noises from the car.
Regardless of these signs, if your car isn’t working as it used to after a pothole impact, you should visit a mechanic.
FAQs
Should you swerve to avoid a pothole?
Do not swerve around your lane if there is a pothole. Swerving can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident. It’s better to go straight through the pothole than to swerve and risk a collision.
What is the best way to avoid potholes while staying in your lane?
It’s better to go straight through the pothole in your lane with the slow down and glide method than to swerve and risk a collision.
What happens if you hit a pothole too fast?
Hitting a pothole too fast results in accidents and tire or wheel suspension damage.
What should you do to get over a pothole safely if you can’t maneuver around it, Quizlet?
Brake or shift to a lower gear before you hit the pothole, then release when the brakes when the wheels are inside the pothole.
Avoid braking when the wheels are already inside the potholes.
Is it better to brake or swerve?
Braking rather than swerving when you encounter a pothole is generally better. Swerving can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and cause an accident.
Conclusion
It is essential to take the necessary precautions to get over a pothole safely if you can’t maneuver around it.
Slow down, stay alert, and use your brakes to reduce the impact. Hold the steering wheel firmly and avoid braking after you hit the pothole.
RESOURCEFUL LINKS
https://vautobasics.com/diy/get-over-a-pothole-safely-if-you-cant-maneuver-around-it/
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