Potholes: Their Causes and Strategies to Protect Your Vehicle from Damage
In the bustling city of Melbourne and the vast expanses of regional Victoria, potholes are a common road hazard that can cause significant damage to vehicles. Here's what you need to know to navigate these pesky road irregularities safely and protect your vehicle.
RACV is urging Victorians to participate in the 2025 My Melbourne Road survey, aiming to identify and prioritize the most dangerous intersections in Melbourne for government attention. Meanwhile, in 2023, approximately 370,000 potholes were patched by the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.
Potholes form due to a variety of factors, including wet weather, heavy vehicle traffic, and even the freezing and expansion of water in cold regions. They can grow in size and depth over time, causing costly damage to vehicles, including tyres, wheels, suspension, exhaust, and vehicle body.
To avoid and safely drive over potholes, the most effective strategies include scanning the road ahead, slowing down before reaching them, and steering around them when safe to do so. Scan at least 10-12 seconds ahead to identify potholes or road irregularities in time to react safely. Slow down well before reaching the pothole to minimize the risk of damaging your tires, suspension, and other critical components. When it is safe and without endangering traffic, steer around potholes rather than driving directly over them to reduce damage and maintain vehicle stability.
If avoidance is impossible, drive over the pothole slowly, keeping a firm grip on the steering wheel to maintain control and reduce the chance of a sudden jolt causing loss of control. After encountering potholes, inspect your car’s tires, wheels, and suspension for damage and maintain regular vehicle servicing to catch and repair any harm early.
In Victoria, VicRoads is responsible for potholes on arterial roads and freeways, while local councils are responsible for non-arterial roads within their municipalities. To help manage the increasing demand for pothole repair materials, Victoria is exploring how quarry materials can be supplemented with recycled materials such as fabric, glass, and construction demolition waste.
Carrying a roadworthy spare tyre that's properly inflated can provide a contingency plan if a pothole causes tyre issues. Always be mindful of other drivers on the road to make safe decisions if you do spot an upcoming pothole. If you hit a pothole and are concerned about a mechanical or tyre issue, pull over to a safe place and contact RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance on 13 11 11 to help assess your vehicle.
Recent surveys reveal that potholes and poor road conditions are the biggest safety issue on both urban and regional roads in the state. In RACV's 2024 My Country Road survey, an overwhelming 64% of survey participants identified potholes as the primary safety issue, up from 46% in 2021.
By following these simple strategies, you can help protect your vehicle’s critical components such as tires, wheels, suspension, stabilizer bar links, and exhaust system from the substantial damage potholes can cause. Slowing down when potholes are present is key to reducing both accident risk and repair costs. Stay safe on the roads of Victoria!
Maintaining a vehicle in optimal condition is essential for a smooth lifestyle, especially when navigating pothole-filled roads in Victoria. Alongside regular car-maintenance, having a roadworthy spare tyre can serve as a useful contingency plan. InHOME-AND-GARDEN news, RACV is advocating for community involvement in the 2025 My Melbourne Road survey, aiming to prioritize dangerous intersections in Melbourne. While sports enthusiasts might be focusing on football seasons - be it NFL, American Football, or NCAA Football - it's crucial not to overlook car-maintenance and pothole awareness for a safer driving experience. With the increasing demand for pothole repair materials, Victoria is exploring innovative solutions, such as using recycled materials from fabric, glass, and construction demolition waste, to supplement quarry materials.
