The first week of spring is here and shedding light on how many potholes are littered across British Columbia’s roadways. These road craters can wreak havoc on your vehicle and your driving experience.
This blog is your one-stop shop for all things pothole: how they form, the damage they cause, and most importantly, how to avoid them and what to do if you encounter one.
What are potholes?
Potholes are depressions that form in road surfaces, typically made of asphalt. They're caused by a complex interplay of factors. Water is a major culprit: it can seep into cracks in the road surface, weakening the underlying soil. When this water freezes and thaws, it expands and contracts, further breaking down the pavement. Traffic also plays a significant role. The weight of vehicles constantly pounding over the road puts stress on the asphalt, especially over areas that have already been weakened by water. Over time these cracks and weaknesses grow bigger and the asphalt crumbles away, leaving a hole.
While potholes can appear anywhere on a road, they are more likely to form on heavily trafficked roads and rural roads. While these are two fairly opposite environments, potholes are likely to be seen, but for two different reasons. Heavily traveled roads endure constant pressure from vehicles, which can accelerate cracks caused by water damage. Imagine millions of cars pounding on the same spot over time - that weak spot is much more likely to give way and become a pothole. For rural roads, the culprit is often less frequent maintenance. Rural roads might not be repaved or patched as often as roads in urban areas, allowing water damage to progress further before repairs are made. This gives potholes more time to develop and grow larger.
How can potholes damage my vehicle?
Potholes can vary in size, from a few harmless inches to large, deep menaces that can damage your car. Most smaller potholes won’t do any serious damage to your vehicle, however, hitting a large pothole can have its consequences.
Driving over irregularities in the road exerts a force on the suspension of the tire, which is directed upward because the bottom of the tire is what touches the road. The higher up the tire the impact is, the more force there is pushing the tire both up and back. When a tire hits a pothole, it drops into the hole and has to roll out of it. The damage is almost never due to the wheel entering the hole, but rather the impact on exit. The amount of damage depends on the diameter of the tire, the depth and length of the pothole, and the speed of the vehicle. The smaller the wheel diameter, the more severe the impact. Longer potholes cause the most damage, typically to the vehicle frame or platform. This is because the tire is likely to enter the pothole completely and bottom out before exiting, no matter the speed.
Larger, deeper potholes can cause damage to the tires, as they absorb the impact first. These potholes can break the interior structure of the tire, tear the sidewall, or both. Inadequately inflated tires have an increased risk of damage, with overinflation leading to a greater risk of structural damage and underinflation potentially causing a tire rupture when it’s squeezed between the pothole and the wheel rim. If the rim itself hits the pothole, this can lead to bending, cracking, or even breaking of the wheel rim.
A common casualty of potholes are hubcaps. Hubcaps are often attached to wheels only by pressure clamps, so the impact from driving into a pothole may loosen the attachment and send the decorative piece flying through the air. While hubcaps can be easily reattached or replaced, potholes can cause significant damage to a vehicle's suspension. When a wheel falls into a pothole, it is subject to both vertical and horizontal force and these forces are transmitted to the suspension, which is meant to move up and down. If there is enough horizontal force, suspension parts and the steering linkage can be damaged, and the wheels knocked out of alignment.
How can I avoid damage from potholes?
Avoiding potholes requires your full attention on the road. Focus on scanning the road surface ahead, not just focusing on the road user in front of you. Maintain a safe following distance to give yourself room to react to unexpected potholes. If you see one, slow down gradually and avoid slamming on the brakes. Briefly release the brakes before hitting the pothole to ease the impact. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel to maintain control of your car. Be cautious of puddles, as they can hide deep potholes that could cause serious damage. Finally, make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure for your vehicle, which helps absorb some of the impact from potholes.
During winter and spring, be extra vigilant for potholes. Freezing and thawing cycles can worsen existing potholes, and new ones may appear before road repairs take place in warmer weather.
What should I do if my vehicle gets damaged from a pothole?
If you hit a major pothole, you may notice right away if the vehicle has sustained any damage - steering control may feel different or you may hear abnormal noises coming from your tires or underneath the vehicle. You should find a safe place to pull over, or take the next available exit if you’re on a freeway, and complete a vehicle inspection. You may not notice any significant changes to your driving experience, but it would still be beneficial to check your vehicle for any damage at the next chance. Travelling too far on a damaged tire or rim may cause further damage or lead to an accident.
Vehicle damage caused by a pothole is considered an optional collision claim through ICBC, so depending on your coverage, you may be able to make a claim. Collision coverage is not mandatory, but if you have this added to your insurance coverage it covers the repair costs when you hit another vehicle, object or the surface of the road. As potholes are considered the surface of the road, you will be covered for any damage once the deductible has been paid.
If you hit a pothole within the City of Vancouver, as well as Surrey and Abbotsford, you may qualify for reimbursement for vehicle damage from the city. Each of these cities has funding set aside for reimbursing vehicle damage caused by potholes - as long as the damage occurred on a public road - you can file a claim with the city and may be reimbursed for some, if not all, of the repair charges. If you hit a pothole in the city, keep all the receipts for your repair work and keep a record of the time and location of where the event happened. Keep in mind that not all roadways are under the city’s jurisdiction - freeways are often maintained by private contractors and are not eligible for reimbursement.
Many cities across the province, as well as DriveBC for highway problems, have a reporting system for citizens to inform them about potholes in need of repair. The City of Vancouver, the Township of Langley, Abbotsford, and Chilliwack are just some of municipalities in BC that accept pothole reports.
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From pothole formation to post-impact procedures, you're now armed with the knowledge to conquer these road warriors. A little vigilance and preparation can go a long way in protecting your vehicle and ensuring a stress-free drive, allowing you to navigate BC's roads with confidence this spring!