What Is National Pothole Day?
It is hard to find anyone who would claim to love potholes. So how did this universal hated thing get its own national day?
Written by Aleena Juarez
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
One of the most aggravating parts of our daily commute is the traffic you have to endure when commuting to work. However, potholes offer more headaches because they hit you in the wallet. When it comes to
road safety
, these annoying holes need more attention. That's why we have National Pothole day every year on January 16. Why have a day for potholes, and what should you do to celebrate this national day? Let's take a look.
Potholes are not a new problem
According to
Days of the Year
, potholes originated in Roman times. The roads back in those days weren't built from asphalt; they were created from a layer of clay with gravel and hard-baked bricks laid on top. These roads saw wagons and chariots pounding the pavement and not automobiles like we see today. Potholes came from local potters who would dig through the surface to get to the clay. Holes would be left in the road, making traveling difficult.
Today, potholes cause quite a bit of trouble for automobiles. According to
Car and Driver
, the estimated cost of damage to our vehicles is about $3 billion every year. Older cars are more susceptible to damage in some cases. However, some of the worst damage could be dangerous, like
harming the vehicle's frame.
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Modern potholes are a common problem for drivers
The potholes of today are created from cracks in the road's surface. Water seeps into the cracks and will freeze and thaw during the winter and spring. This weakens the road's material, eventually drawing the asphalt away, causing the annoying holes our cars travel on.
In areas that don't see a freeze, the roads are impacted by cars constantly moving over weakened areas, causing a pumping action each time. Eventually, the road breaks down and washes or crumbles the material away, leaving a deep hole in its place.
Fixing them, in most cases, is disappointing for drivers. Maintenance crews tend to throw some patch material in the hole and leave. It's only a short-term fix, though, because the area starts washing away the next time it rains.
How to avoid potholes
Some drivers have taken extreme measures to get the attention of the city's maintenance workers. Someone painted an inappropriate graphic around the pothole that wasn't getting fixed in one case. It gained immediate attention with proper repair in order to get rid of the image. It was, however, illegal, so it's not recommended.
You could also purchase newer vehicles with unique technology to warn you about them so you can avoid hitting them. Mercedes-Benz has its Car-to-X system to help you do just that. If you're not informed about it ahead of time, this tech will note the pothole's location and let other vehicles (with the tech) know it's coming.
Instead, the best thing you can do is probably talk to your local city representatives. Let them know the issues and how damaging the potholes can be to your vehicles.
Also, make sure they're aware that the city can save money in the long run if they seal the cracks when they form. This way, water won't get too much of a chance to get in and cause damage to the road's surface.
Find the right insurance to protect your car and wallet
Until potholes become a thing of the past, expect to pay for the damage done to your vehicles, which can get pretty costly. To offset the repair bills, you'll need to find an affordable insurance policy that won't cost you more than it needs to. However, getting one isn't an easy feat to do.
That's where
Jerry
comes in. We will do the searching for you. We can access over 50 providers to find the one that will offer you the protection you need without the costly premiums. Sign up for our service today to start saving money.
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