 Pothole Damage: Tips For Colder Climates
Posted by carsandtrucks on Tuesday, March 25 @ 14:39:04 PDT
If you live in a cold climate like Maine, you know about the battles we fight against the dreaded pothole. Well, pothole season is here with vengeance this year. Potholes are created when the temperatures rise above freezing and the snow and ice melts. When the melting occurs, the water seeps through the cracks in the pavement and when the temperatures return to freezing the water turns to ice. The ice expands forcing the asphalt to rise. As traffic drives over the rises the pothole is created. Potholes are an enemy of your car or truck. They show up
unexpectedly and cause damage to wheel, tires, steering, and suspension parts, alignments, and shocks and struts. If a pothole is large enough for the tire to drop into it you can expect damage to occur. Your only defense against the damage caused by potholes is avoid as many as possible and slow down for the ones you can not avoid. If you do hit a pothole with a jolt that jars your teeth it is best to have your vehicle looked at by your servicing mechanic. Even though there may not be visible damage there is the potential for problems. I have seen some pothole damage that has put the safety of the vehicle occupants in peril. If you break a tie rod, or loosen a ball joint, your ability to steer the car or truck is compromised. If you do have damage to your vehicle the financial responsibility for the repairs generally will fall on you and your insurance company. You might like to think the party responsible for maintaining the road would pay the bill, but don’t count on it. The city’s, town’s, and state’s position is often that potholes are beyond their control so they do not feel obligated towards the cost of repairs. If you see severe potholes on the roads you travel, you should report them to the proper officials. The road crews will address them as quickly as possible if they are aware they exist. So as we muddle our way through this pothole season be mindful that potholes are a way of life in cold climate areas. Watch for those black holes eagerly waiting to swallow your car or truck. If you hit one get your vehicle checked for damage, get back on the road and wish for spring to come soon.
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