Don’t Underestimate Pesky Potholes

March 22, 2010 - PRLog -- The lowly pothole can create far more than just a bumpy and uncomfortable ride to work, especially in climates like New York’s, where cold winter temperatures result in freezing and thawing cycles that put additional stress on cracked pavement. It’s estimated that motorists collectively end up paying millions of dollars a year in repairs because of damage from close encounters between their cars and potholes.

“Drivers don’t always feel the force of the pothole because the car’s suspension absorbs the impact,” says Allstate NY spokesperson Krista Conte, “but some potholes can have as much impact on your car as a 35 mph car crash.”

If you live in an area prone to potholes, keep these driving safety tips from www.vehiclevibes.com in mind:
•   Always maintain proper air pressure in your tires.
•   Leave plenty of room in front of your vehicle so you can avoid potholes without getting into an accident.
•   If you can’t avoid a pothole, slow down, but don’t break directly over a pothole as this can actually cause more damage.
•   When driving over the pothole, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid losing control.
•   Don’t drive over a puddle of water, because it might be a particularly deep pothole in hiding.

In addition to structural damage to the tire itself, potholes can also cause underinflated tires to blowout, or cause your tires to become unaligned, leading to uneven wear. If you’ve been running over potholes lately, pay attention this list of symptoms that would indicate a trip to the repair shop to check for damage is in order:

•   Reoccurring loss of air pressure
•   Noticeable bends/dents in wheels
•   Vibration in the wheel or seat
•   Steering wheel not aligned straight

To learn more about preventing pothole damage or receive information on other safety topics, contact your local Allstate agent or visit Allstate’s information center at www.allstate.com.

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The Allstate Corporation  is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®” slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help more than 17 million households insure what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow.