Avoiding Pot Holes

Pot Hole And Speed Hump Damage

Unfortunately in the UK after we have a cold snap, our road surfaces seem to get worse and worse with new potholes appearing every day. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to be getting any better and all that keeps happening is the holes are filled and patched which doesn’t last as long as re-surfacing would.

The other problem we have in the UK is large speed humps which also damages wheels and suspension if you take them too fast.

The following information acts only a guide on what to do if you encounter pot-hole damage to your wheels or suspension.

Chassis Calibration

R-Tec Auto Design is a specialist in chassis calibration, or in other terms wheel alignment.

Bent / dented wheels, ruptured tyres and broken suspension are all visible signs that you have hit something hard. The energy needed to conflict this sort of damage doesnt stop at the tyre or wheels or indeed suspension components. The chassis positions that support the wheel in the correct position can also be displaced which will cause bad handeling and increase tyre wear.

From the original manufactured Geometry position for each angle for each wheel there is a tolerance from the perfect positions so all four wheels are pointing in the same direction. Some tolerances areas little as 1mm so you can probably understand it doesn’t take a lot to put your vehicle out of alignment.

Please see (4 Wheel LASER Alignment) section for more information

The following details are from the Auto Trader Website telling people how to deal with the large amount of pot holes in our country caused by the heavy cold snap.
Very Large Pot Holes

Dealing With Potholes

According to independent warranty provider Warranty Direct, the typical cost of fixing axles and suspension damage from potholes is £240. You may be able to claim this from a local authority, but you can’t count on it; we’ll show you how to avoid pothole damage and how to claim compensation if you get caught out.
How to avoid potholes

The key thing about avoiding potholes is to leave plenty of space between yourself and the car in front, so you can spot problems in good time, and so you’ve got ample time to react. However, there are other considerations too:

• Don’t suddenly pull out to avoid a pothole, as there may be a motorcyclist trying to get past.
• Be particularly conscious of cyclists who may suddenly swerve to avoid road damage.
• Wet weather can make potholes more dangerous by hiding them under surface water.
• If you know a local road with a pothole, try to use a driving line that avoids it – if safe to do so.
Reporting a pothole

Your local council is responsible for the maintenance and repair of roads, and it relies on drivers reporting potholes. When reporting a pothole, give details of:

• The location
• The size
• How visible it is
• Its proximity to the pavement

Claiming for Pot Hole Damage

Potholes can damage tyres and suspension, while also knocking your car’s steering out of alignment. Ask your council if the pothole has been previously reported and why it hasn’t been repaired.

The key to claiming compensation is to have:

• A picture of the pothole.
• Pictures of the area proving there’s no warning of potholes.
• A picture of your car’s damage.
• A quote for repairs from a garage.
• Confirmation from a garage that damage was probably caused by a pothole.