Tags: dangerous potholes, steering alignment, car repairs, Bald tyres, car servicing, Northampton potholes, Northampton garage, potholes, northamptonshire roads, suspension.

← Back to NewsPosted on: 05/07/2022

The Plague of the Pothole

If you have ever spent any time on the roads of Northamptonshire then you do not need telling that potholes have become a real problem. Having experienced a particularly wet winter in the county has not helped and the repairs needed do not seem to be done quickly enough.

Here at Automotive Engineering we are all about prevention before restoration, which is why we want to make sure you all know just how damaging driving over potholes can be. Even driving over a deep pothole at low speed can cause problems as you might find your tyres tear. It may also affect your vehicle’s steering alignment, but the cost of repair probably will not justify claiming off your insurance.

Should you be unlucky enough to hit a pothole at high speed, then you might find your shock absorbers and suspension have been damaged. In extreme cases, it is possible to completely lose control of the car after hitting a pothole, so we always ask our customers to take extra care when driving around the streets of Northamptonshire.

If you notice the steering wheel does not appear to “centre” correctly or it is slightly pulling to one side, then we recommend you book your car into a reputable Northampton garage as soon as possible, or ring us here at Automotive Engineering, where we will give you a fair and honest verdict on what work needs to be done.

The good news is that should your repairs rack up, you might be eligible to claim the cost back from Northamptonshire Highways. All councils up and down the country deal with potholes in different ways, but they will all have a system in place to inspect roads. This will cover the frequency and method of road type and the size of the pothole.

For a pothole to be considered a safety issue in Northamptonshire, the hole must measure at least 40mm deep on a busy road. For local roads, the depth required before repairs will be carried out is 50mm.

If you hit a pothole, then I recommend you pull over safely, check your car over and then take a picture of the hole” says Automotive Engineering’s Nigel.

He suggests in order to show the size of the hole it is a good idea to use an everyday object, such as a cigarette or coin in the photo so there is no dispute over how big it is.

“Although we recommend, where possible to avoid potholes, please never do anything to endanger yourself behind the wheel and swerve into an even more dangerous situation,” Nigel adds