When snow and ice melt in Silver Spring, MD, it often leaves potholes. The stress of pothole damage can be significant to you and your vehicle, so knowing how to minimize the impact can help.
1. Increase the Driving Distance Between Vehicles
Spotting potholes ahead of time will be impossible when you’re in bumper-to-bumper traffic. Leaving the standard three seconds of driving distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you will not only help you be a safe driver but will also give you the visibility to potentially spot and avoid a pothole before it’s too late.
2. Keep Your Tires Adequately Inflated
Tires that are over-or under-inflated are more likely to sustain damage from hitting a pothole. Your owner’s manual will have information about the proper PSI for your vehicle’s tires. Always make sure your tires match the recommended inflation level. If you are unsure how to do that, our service team can help.
3. Avoid Speeding
Driving slowly, especially on roads that you suspect may be riddled with potholes, will help minimize the impact of colliding with one. The slower you drive, the more time you’ll have to react if you see one on the road. Giving yourself this little extra time will help you take better care of your vehicle, prolonging the life of your tires and undercarriage.
4. Avoid Puddles
Puddles happen simply because there is an area of the ground that is not level. And sometimes, the culprit of this unlevel ground is a pothole. Puddles can be deceptively deep. A puddle could be a small splash of water, or it could be a large hole. Rain or melted snow often pools in potholes, making it difficult to identify. Use caution to avoid puddles altogether when possible.
5. Don’t Brake or Swerve If the Pothole Is Unavoidable
If you can identify a pothole ahead and hitting it is unavoidable, your first reaction will be to swerve or hit the brakes. But doing either or both of those things could cause more damage to your vehicle than the pothole itself. If you are in heavy traffic or on a narrow road, swerving could be dangerous and cause an accident; keep your hands on the steering wheel and drive straight ahead.
Avoid braking if you are forced to drive through a pothole, as braking can cause more of a jolt to the affected tire. Sudden braking can also cause loss of control of your vehicle, creating a more dire situation than a simple flat tire or realignment.
If you are concerned that you have sustained damage to your vehicle from a pothole, or any other source, don’t wait to let us check it out. Call or stop by DARCARS Volkswagen to have our team of expert technicians take a look at your vehicle and get it in top driving shape.
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