Now that the warmer weather is upon us, most people don’t think too much about road conditions. Certainly the wet, icy and slick roads you can experience during the winter are dangerous, but often that poor, cold weather, can leave the roads in a state of disrepair when summer comes around.
There are a few different types of poor road conditions you should look out for. Potholes are the biggest problems. When the asphalt gets cold (as it does during the winter) it can slightly contract. In warmer weather it can expand. When you put the two together you have the asphalt contract then heat up and expand and it can cause it to crack or fracture. Then you add heavy traffic passing over that compromised area and the next thing you know the asphalt is breaking loose and a pothole is forming. There are parts of the city where potholes are real problems.
When you hit a pothole you risk damage to your car not to mention the fact that it could cause you to temporarily lose control of your car. These can be very dangerous condition where there are other cars or pedestrians around.
Another problem roads have is loose gravel on the side of the road. Gravel is often used to repair roads or to fill in areas along the side of the road. It can easily accumulate. Your tires can easily slip in that gravel and cause you to temporarily lose control of your vehicle causing a car accident.
If you are driving in an area that you know has roads that are susceptible to poor conditions use extreme caution. When possible avoid potholes and if you have no choice but to hit one slow down as much as possible. It is better to momentarily risk annoying other drivers by going slow than to risk damage to your car or others. If you have been involved in a car accident involving potholes or poor road conditions and you are not injured try to document the conditions as best you can.
If you come across a pothole or dangerous road condition you can always notify the public works desk of that city. Let them know where it is and hopefully they will respond quickly and repair it.
Just because the warm weather is hear doesn’t mean that the environment doesn’t still play a major role in driving safety. As always, be defensive and keep your eyes open for potentially dangerous situations and it will greatly reduce your risk of being involved in a car accident caused by poor road conditions.