Pothole season is here and this one already seems to be a bad one. The craters that show up on Michigan roads are caused by the freeze-thaw weather pattern that has been particularly aggressive this year.
There is nothing you can do about the weather, but there are a few things that can be done to report potholes, avoid potholes, and deal with the aftermath of hitting a pothole.
Avoiding potholes is the best way to prevent damage to your vehicle, but sometimes they are unavoidable. Hitting a pothole can cause drivers to swerve and lead to collisions, so drivers need to have a strategy.
The Michigan Department of Transportation says to make sure your tires are properly inflated and that your suspension and steering are in top shape to be able to handle the jarring effects of hitting a pothole.
If you can’t avoid a pothole, slow down, but release the brakes before you hit it so you have full use of steering. Hitting a pothole head-on instead of at an angle could reduce damage to your vehicle as well.
MDOT has a “Report a Pothole” form that can be used to inform them of potholes on state roads. The names of state roads start with “I”, “M”, or “US”.
Pothole Hotline at 888-296-4546.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
