Pothole Season Arrives In Minnesota: How To Drive To Avoid Damage

In case your neighborhood streets haven't reminded you already, pothole season in Minnesota has arrived. As the snow and ice begin to thaw, crumbling roadways emerge with deep, tire-puncturing gaps.

Potholes are more than just a pain to drive over or avoid; the damage they cause can require expensive and extensive vehicle repairs. A 2016 study from AAA found that pothole damage costs drivers in the United State $3 billion annually.

To minimize damage to your car, AAA offers the following tips:

• Ensure tires are properly inflated and have adequate tread depth, as they are the only cushion between a pothole and the car.
• If a pothole strike is inevitable, drivers should slow down, release the brakes and straighten steering before making contact with the pothole.
  • Spare tires are critical for drivers affected by pothole damage.
• To avoid potholes in the roadway, drivers should remain alert, scan the road and increase following distances behind the vehicle ahead.

Every year, AAA responds to more than four million calls for flat tire assistance, many the result of damage caused by potholes, according to a news release.

If you see a pothole that needs fixing, you can report it online to the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

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