By Ileana Garnand, Digital Editor
Potholes are the bane of any driver, pedestrian or cyclist’s existence.
While smaller holes may simply be an eyesore and a nuisance to maneuver around, larger ones can result in costly vehicle damage and serious bodily injuries. These hazards form on many surfaces and in various climates, making them hard to prevent without frequent maintenance.
Luckily, there are a few common ways to fix potholes, as well as even easier methods to navigate safely around them.
What are potholes?
It may seem like an obvious answer, but potholes actually have a technical definition. They are “a disruption in the pavement surface where a portion of the pavement material has broken away, leaving a hole,” according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
These holes can vary in size and shape, which affects how hazardous each one is. The average cost of pothole-related repairs is $406, according to the American Automobile Association.
More important, hitting a pothole may make drivers lose control of their vehicles, potentially leading to collisions with other cars, cyclists or pedestrians. This can result in serious injuries or even fatalities.
How are potholes formed?
Potholes can form on any road surface, from unpaved dirt to asphalt pavement, and can appear in parking lots and driveways as well. They are not limited to a particular climate but are often caused by a variety of factors, including weather and traffic conditions.
Potholes first need old, cracked asphalt to thrive. If water gets into the ground under the road, usually from rain or ice, it saturates the pavement layers. This makes the road susceptible to gaps, buckling and more cracks.
As vehicles travel over the weakened pavement and more water seeps into it, pieces of the roadway become loose. The asphalt either chips out of the road or breaks down, forming a pothole that then expands and deepens.
Potholes can also be formed by heavy vehicles traveling on rural or residential roads that were not made to support their weight. Trucks with multiple axles cause more wear and tear compared to regular passenger vehicles, leading the pavement surface to collapse into a pothole.
How are potholes fixed?
If a pothole needs to be fixed, the first step for many people is to research their city or county’s pothole reporting policy. There are a few different ways potholes are commonly repaired.
Pothole patching is a short-term fix that consists of shoveling a set amount of asphalt into the hole and compacting it. These repairs are quick and inexpensive but not meant to last long and don’t address the underlying pavement issues. Patching is usually used when there are plans for more extensive repairs in the future.
Mill patching can be used if there is still asphalt at the bottom of the hole. Crews mill a few inches off the surface around the pothole and replace the area with compacted asphalt. This option holds longer than a pothole patch.
If a pothole is too deep for mill patching, dig-out patching is the way to go. This entails removing all the asphalt around the hole, re-grading the base and then patching it with asphalt. Dig-out patching creates a structurally stable solution and is the most permanent option.
How do you protect against potholes?
A prompt response from your local transportation authority would be great, but sometimes it takes a while for a pothole to get filled. Not everyone has the resources to fix it themselves, like certain viral pothole vigilantes, but there are still ways to stay safe.
While you’re driving:
- Keep your tires properly inflated
- Eliminate driving distractions and look ahead for road hazards
- Watch out for puddles that may hide potholes
- Keep a safe distance from other vehicles
If you’re about to hit a pothole, check your surroundings for collision threats before you hit the brakes or swerve suddenly. If you can’t avoid the pothole, slow down, then release the brakes and straighten the steering wheel just before impact to help minimize any damage.
Sources: U.S. Department of Transportation, Summit County Engineer, Michelin, Tensar, American Automobile Association, Bituminous Roadways
