Potholes Are A Bigger Deal Than You Might Think

There are few things that signal the coming of spring, like the great Canadian pothole. With a near non-stop cycle of freeze and thaw in Ottawa this year, driving has been particularly challenging. Friends and I swap stories of the worst potholes with each other and put them on our “avoid” list. We are basically housebound until June now.

Potholes are such an accepted part of living in Canada, that many of us aren’t even aware of the damage they do to our cars. Kaltire recently surveyed 1000 Canadians and found that 72% of us have had run-ins with potholes this year. Of that number, 40% reported damage to their car. The most surprising finding? Less than half of those that reported damage, had it fixed.

Um, Canada. We need to talk.

Just because potholes are are a part of everyday living doesn’t mean you can ignore them. Your safety and the safety of your family is at risk.

A run in with one big pothole, or several smaller ones can cause some of the following issues with your car:

• alignment issues, car pulling to the left or right
• damage to your tires and wheels, putting you at risk for flat tires, reduced braking and poor handling
• suspension issues that can significantly impact your steering abilities.
• vehicle damage from scratched undercarriage to broken mechanical components

Those are just some of the most obvious signs. The worst offender though is the things you can’t feel or see until it’s too late. According to Bill Gardiner, Canada’s Car Doctor, the only way to truly know if any damage has been done to your car or not is to have it inspected. That means, get yourself in for a spring tune-up.

I know it’s easier to put your head in the sand and hope for the best but that’s just poor adulting. Hoping for the best could result in big expenditures down the road.

Don’t take my word for it though, more info straight from the latest Kaltire Times!

Looking for more reason to watch those potholes? Watch this video for more info on the damage potholes can cause your vehicle.

Disclosure: I know you were all wondering; yes, yes, I can confirm that Kaltire and I are still together. I have been compensated for this post, but as always the opinions expressed within are all mine.