A DRIVING expert has revealed six top tips for dealing with potholes, including a little-known tyre inflation trick, to help you avoid “untold misery”.
Brits need to be more careful than ever as UK roads crumble, with pothole-related damage reaching a five-year high last year.
GettyA driving expert shared their top tips for dealing with potholes[/caption]
Thankfully, Nicholas Lyle from road safety charity IAmRoadSmart is on hand to share his advice with motorists, helping them beat hefty repair bills.
First of all, he urged drivers to leave a bigger gap between them and the car in front.
This allows a better view of the road and gives you more time to react if you do see a pothole.
Not only that, but if the person in front of you brakes or swerves to avoid one, you also have those vital extra seconds to avoid going into the back of them.
Likewise, it’s important to keep an eye on the traffic ahead for the same reason.
Thirdly, Nicholas recommended being wary of puddles, especially coming out of the colder months when ice may have made divets in the road worse.
Just last year, The Sun tracked down Britain’s biggest pothole, which was deep enough to swallow up a child, but which could become almost invisible to drivers in poor light.
Making sure you are hyper-aware of the road you’re driving on could be the difference between a casual cruise and a busted suspension.
Nicholas also shared three recommendations which could be your saviour in the event that you’re unable to avoid a pothole.
First of all, while it may seem counterintuitive, avoid sharp braking.
When spotting a pothole at the last moment, it’s almost instinctive to slam on the brakes in an effort to save your motor.
However, this can actually cause more damage by putting additional strain on the suspension system.
Similarly try and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel, both to protect yourself from being thrown forward by the impact and to prevent the pothole sending you veering off course.
If you find yourself going over a hole, brace yourself for the bump and try and glide over it as smoothly as possible.
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Finally, always make sure that your tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure.
You may not be running on flats but the lower the tyre pressure, the more impact is borne by the mechanical components of the car.
Better tyre pressure allows the air cushion to absorb some of the shock and ease wear on the suspension.
You can find the recommended pressure for your car in your owner’s handbook or on the manufacturer’s website.
Nicholas told The Mail: “Potholes cause untold misery for drivers and riders and are not only a nuisance but also a major road safety hazard.
“The DfT’s recent funding announcement is a welcome and sizeable amount of spending from the Government and should give local authorities the cash injection needed to bring road surfaces up to an adequate standard.”