Fleet vehicles and Potholes

by Forecourt

05 Jan 2012

Is it our imagination or have there been Road works on just about every road we have driven along this year? Driving on these roads in a fleet vehicle, particularly long vehicles can be especially treacherous.
The deterioration in the condition of many UK roads is due to the severe winter weather from last year and the subsequent thaw out. This has left many roads with cracks and potholes that have taken a good 12 months to repair. With a lot of those road works still in progress, it all feels like its never ending!
All this is now coupled with this winters weather; we have severe weather warnings on the way and heavy snow forecast!
It would be fair to say that road works are here to stay for the foreseeable future so please bear in mind the following tips for safely navigating potholes and broken surfaces.
Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front so that you can see the road surface before you drive or ride over it
If you do hit a pothole, check your tyres once you’ve stopped. Examine the inner as well as the outer tyre wall, which may have been damaged
Get the wheel alignment (tracking) checked, any impact with a pothole can easily disturb the adjustment this can result in rapid tyre wear and affecting the vehicles handling
Avoid suddenly pulling out to avoid potholes, there may be someone trying to get past you, or you could enter the path of an oncoming vehicle
Potholes can be even more dangerous for cyclists and motorcyclists; give them plenty of room to steer past them. They are entitled to a wobble and would appreciate not having a motorist trying to overtake as they are taking avoiding action
Potholes tend to reappear in the same place as previous repairs fail – remember where you’ve seen one and expect it to be there again
Be extra vigilant on roads with lots of lorries, and around bus stops. Extra pressure is put on the road surface wherever heavy vehicles stop, start or turn
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