Watch Out! The Dangers of Potholes

Potholes are very common, hard to avoid and can causes hundreds or even thousands of dollars in damages. They can be just as pesky as rock chip repair but Utah drivers are unaware of how serious it can become. The first thing to understand about dealing with potholes is understanding what they are and how they are formed.

A pothole is a failure in asphalt pavement. After water gets into the soil underneath the road the constant pressure of traffic driving over it can cause damages to both the asphalt and soil which creates a hole in the pavement.

The pothole damage is a slow process mixing structural fatigue and pressure. Similar to a rock chip, a pothole can start quickly and will then slowly progress over time. In areas subjected to freezing temperatures like Utah frost damage can create openings for water to enter. When spring thaws the pavement out it accelerates the process in the upper areas of the soil which saturates the supporting soil and weakens it.

Potholes can come in various sizes depending on how long the damage has to grow. Though they usually only grow a few inches in depth, some can grow over two feet deep. If they are large enough they can cause damage to a car’s tires, wheel and even vehicle suspension. For drivers in need of rock chip repair, hitting a pothole can create a severe crack in the windshield. Potholes can also be responsible for serious road accidents especially on high speed roads, which can cause costly repairs to Utah drivers.

One way to avoid potholes is to survey the pavement while driving. Unlike rock chip damages potholes often be seen in advance. Monitor the road when you drive to be aware of cracks and holes in the road surface. This can be an easy way to avoid expensive repair costs to the tires and suspension.  

With potholes being a continuous problem it is important to be vigilant and notify public authorities to get repairs done. This repair work is important to protect drivers and their vehicles.

Three different ways that pavement damages get repaired are through thermal bonds, crack seals or seal coats. A thermal bond is a process which includes heating the existing asphalt in timed heat waves to penetrate the existing asphalt. A crack seal is a process of applying hot crack seals in the existing cracks. The seal coat is an economical way to fill porous without using expensive tools or materials.

Vincent Otiede is an automotive writer. Information provided by Diamond Glass. He writes for Fusion 360, an advertising agency Utah. Find him on Google+