MDOT Posts Tips for Driving During Terrible Pothole Season
(MDOT Press Release, March 13, 2014)
Record snow and cold may be departing, but they’re leaving in their wake one of Michigan’s worst pothole seasons ever. The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is suggesting some ways that motorists can avoid hitting potholes, and to minimize damage if they can’t miss them.
“Our aging roads, a history of under-investment, and an unusually harsh winter will bring what we expect to be an absolutely horrendous pothole season,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “Potholes form so quickly that crews can’t get all of them right away, and they’re showing up nearly everywhere on state and local roads. If you leave your driveway, you’re almost certainly going to cross some awful potholes this spring.”
Avoiding hitting potholes is best, and driving with extra caution and not tailgating will help drivers see and react to potholes. Potholes are sometimes difficult to spot in the daytime, and even more so at night. Puddles also can conceal potholes, either already formed or beginning to form.
A properly maintained vehicle and tires can help motorists avoid potholes or minimize damage when one is struck. It’s also best to slow down then release the brakes before hitting a pothole. This helps to reduce the speed at impact as well as give a vehicle’s suspension the full range of travel to absorb the impact.
A full list of pothole tips is available on MDOT’s website.
MDOT spent roughly $8.8 million on pothole repairs last year, and expects to spend 50 to 100 percent more this year.
“The best way to prevent potholes is to keep roads in better shape to begin with,” Steudle said. “Unfortunately, without the proper investment in roads, MDOT, county road commissions and city public works departments are left little choice but to spend more each year filling potholes – which we all know is not a permanent fix.”
When drivers spot potholes, reporting them to the proper agencies will help get them filled more quickly. If the pothole is on a city street or county road, report it to the local city public works department or county road commission. If the pothole is on state trunkline (I, M or US route), submit it to MDOT’s Report a Pothole webpage or call it in to the Pothole Hotline at 888-296-4546.
Fast Facts:
– By driving extra cautiously and not tailgating, drivers have more time to see and react to any potholes they’re approaching.
– Properly inflated tires in good condition handle potholes better than worn, over-inflated or under-inflated tires.
– Reporting potholes on state trunkline (I, M or US route) to MDOT’s Report a Pothole webpage or the Pothole Hotline at 888-296-4546 will help get them fixed more quickly.