Potholes: A few tips on how to minimize the damage

Potholes are a nuisance. There is little you can do about that as a driver, but, here are a few tips to help you deal with them and maintain minimal damage to your car if any.
  • Slow down if you see an unavoidable pothole. You’ll reduce the amount of carnage you and your car will suffer if you’re moving slowly.
  • Don’t veer off to the side. It is almost the most natural thing to do when one sees a pothole, but it is not advisable. If you spot a pothole,reduce your speed, and drive as straight as possible.
  • Grip the steering wheel firmly when driving over a pothole. It’s important to maintain control of your vehicle.
  • Do not tailgate. This always makes it impossible to see potholes that you could avoid. Maintain a decent distance between you and the car ahead of you such that you can see the road.
  • If you can, avoid driving into puddles of water. They might be covering up a pothole.
  • Never brake into a pothole. Let the car take the impact of the pothole, and this will reduce the damage that will be suffered.
  • Make sure your car is aligned. Correct wheel alignment is key when it comes to handling your vehicle in normal conditions—and especially so when driving over potholes.
  • After hitting a pothole, pull over and check for damage (and flat tires). If the alignment is out of whack or the steering is wonky, get your vehicle serviced as soon as you can. This way you’ll avoid further trouble down the road.