AAA: Potholes Pack a Punch as Drivers Pay $26.5 Billion in Related Vehicle Repairs

A new survey from AAA found that last year 1 in 10 drivers sustained vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole.  With an average price tag of almost $600 per  repair, damage caused by potholes cost drivers a staggering $26.5 billion in 2021 alone.

These same drivers often ended up with an average of two pothole-related repairs signaling that America’s roadways need immediate attention.  As states receive an influx of funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, AAA urges government officials and departments of transportation to focus on improving road conditions, prioritizing those areas most in need of
repair.

How to Save Your Car and Your Wallet from Pothole Damage
Check Your Tires, which includes tread depth, tire pressure, suspension and alignment

• Tread depth — insert a quarter into the tread groove with Washington’s head upside down. If you can see the top of Washington’s head, start shopping for new tires.
• Tire pressure — check this at least once a month using a quality gauge. Do so before driving when tires have been at rest and are not hot. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door.
• Suspension and Alignment — look for changes in vehicle handling, excessive vibration or uneven wearing of tires, all indications of a problem with the suspension like alignment or shocks. If your vehicle pulls to the left or right, have the wheel alignment checked by a trusted mechanic.  

Keep Your Eyes on the Road, an alert and cautious driver is less likely to hit a pothole

• Scan the road ahead for potholes and, if it’s safe to do so, drive around any in your path.
• Standing water or puddles may disguise a deep pothole. Avoid driving through standing water when possible but if you can’t, drive through slowly and treat them as though there may be potholes hiding beneath the water.
• There may be times when you cannot avoid hitting a pothole. In that case, safely reduce your speed as much as possible and avoid braking abruptly, particularly as you go over the pothole as this compresses your suspension and adds extra force to the tire. Striking a pothole at higher speeds increases the chance of severe damage including knocking the wheels out of alignment, affecting the steering and bending or even breaking suspension components.
• If you hit a pothole, pay attention to any new or unusual noises or vibrations. If you detect something is off with your vehicle, take it to a AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility or AAA’s owned and operated Car Care Center in Clifton Park for a full vehicle inspection as soon as possible.