Photo: WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Keep an eye on the roads this early spring as pothole season goes into full effect.
Potholes form through a combination of traffic and wet, cold weather. Water seeps into cracks in the road, then freezes and expands, causing the cracks to get bigger and create a hole in the asphalt.
Driving over a pothole can not only be a bumpy ride, it can also wreak havoc on a car's tires, wheels, and suspension. And with plenty of below-freezing temperatures and rain in recent months, and even more rain set to arrive over the next week, the pothole problem is not going away anytime soon.
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WBZ NewsRadio spoke with Dean, a truck driver who is familiar with the pain of potholes. He told WBZ Friday that driving around in a larger vehicle does not always reduce the impact of the bump.
"In a heavier vehicle, the suspension’s tighter," Dean said. "When I have no weight in it, I feel it more."
Dean said he expects pothole season to only get worse due to climate change.
"Well, global warming has a lot to do with it too because of the amount of rain," said Dean. "We have more and more and more."
As for any advice, Dean said, "You can’t avoid everything, otherwise you’ll be zig-zagging, of course. So roll without being on the gas or being on the brake. Obviously, don’t go too fast."
AAA says drivers should frequently inspect their tires to make sure they are properly inflated and don't have any excess wear. They should also check their suspension, slow down as much as possible if the pothole is unavoidable, and beware of puddles, as they may be deep potholes filled with water.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasMMJ) reports.
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