Potholes, driving and your vehicle: do's and don'ts

NEWS RELEASE

CANADIAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION

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OTTAWA -  With the promise of warmer temperatures lingering in the forecast, people across the province are already turning their thoughts to a season filled with patios, barbecues, road trips with the windows down – and potholes.

Many road users are all too aware that the harsh winter climate in our region guarantees that potholes are a regular part of spring.

To help avoid costly damage that potholes can cause to vehicles, CAA North & East Ontario (CAANEO) offers the following tips for motorists to keep in mind this spring:

• Check your tire pressure regularly. Keeping a consistent tire pressure can go a long way towards minimizing pothole damage to your wheels and tires. Remember that pressure readings are most accurate before the car is driven; driving causes the tires to heat up, increasing the pressure and changing the reading

• Don’t swerve to avoid a pothole. Swerving can result in the front wheel of your vehicle hitting the pothole at an angle, causing more damage than if it is hit head-on

• Avoid sudden braking when you are approaching a pothole. Braking transfers the car’s weight to the front tires, thereby increasing the possibility of damage

• If your tire does lose air after an unfortunate pothole encounter, when it is safe to do so pull over to the side of the road in order to minimize the chance of wheel damage. Always keep a properly maintained spare tire in your vehicle, and have your CAA membership card handy in case you require roadside assistance.

With these helpful tips from CAANEO you can prepare yourself  - and your vehicle - for the inevitable potholes this spring, and mitigate unnecessary hassle and damage.

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