Understanding the Formation of Potholes and Strategies to Protect Your Vehicle from Road Damages
Potholes are a common annoyance for drivers, causing damage to vehicles and posing a safety risk on the roads. In Victoria, the issue of potholes is being addressed through various means, including the exploration of recycled materials for asphalt production.
If you encounter a pothole and are concerned about potential damage to your vehicle, it's important to pull over to a safe place and contact RACV Emergency Roadside Assistance on 13 11 11.
So, what causes potholes on roads? The primary factors include water infiltration, environmental stressors, mechanical loading, and material degradation.
Water infiltration occurs when water penetrates small cracks in the road surface, weakening the underlying pavement layers. This is exacerbated by freeze-thaw cycles, heavy traffic loads, poor drainage and maintenance, temperature fluctuations, and material and construction quality issues.
Heavy vehicle traffic, especially those travelling over roads not designed for their weight class, can also contribute to pothole formation. In cold regions, the freezing of water in the asphalt can also lead to pothole formation.
Potholes can grow in size and depth over time due to vehicles passing over them and rain or flooding washing away more road surface. In Victoria, VicRoads is responsible for potholes on arterial roads and freeways, while local councils are responsible for non-arterial roads within their municipalities. Parks Victoria and the Department of Land, Water and Planning manage non-arterial state roads, and privately owned roads like the CityLink freeway are the responsibility of the controlling corporation.
To prevent pothole formation, proper design, quality materials, effective drainage, routine maintenance, and controlling traffic loads are key. In prolonged periods of wet weather, cold mix asphalt is used to fix potholes as hot mix asphalt cannot be applied.
When encountering an unavoidable pothole, it's recommended to avoid sudden braking and dangerous swerving into oncoming traffic. Keep a firm control of the steering wheel when hitting a pothole, keep wheels straight, and release brakes before impact.
RACV is urging Victorians to participate in the 2025 My Melbourne Road survey to identify and prioritize dangerous intersections in Melbourne for government attention. The demand for asphalt materials in Victoria is projected to increase from 63.7 million tonnes in 2020-2021 to 79.5 million tonnes by 2030.
In 2023, approximately 370,000 potholes were patched in Victoria, and an additional 211,000 were fixed in the first 11 months of the 2024-25 financial year. Always be mindful of other drivers on the road to make safe decisions when spotting a pothole.
The RACV Drive School provides guidance on safe driving, including tips for driving in poor-visibility conditions, driving in the snow and on icy roads, and improving night vision for safer driving. It's also recommended to drive slower in road or driving conditions that make it more likely to encounter or hit a pothole, such as at night or on rough roads. Keep your hands at 9 and 3 on the steering wheel for optimal control and safety, and maintain a three-second following distance in good conditions, with an additional second added for every condition that reduces visibility or increases risk of additional hazards.
In summary, understanding the causes of potholes and taking preventative measures, as well as being mindful of safe driving practices, can help reduce the impact of potholes on our roads and ensure a safer driving experience for all.
To maintain the longevity of your vehicle, it's essential to pay attention to car-maintenance, especially the condition of your tires, which can be affected by driving over potholes. Despite the efforts of VicRoads, local councils, and Parks Victoria in repairing potholes, the constant presence of home-and-garden landscaping equipment on Australian roads contributes to the problem, as their heavy weights can exacerbate pothole formation. Thus, ensuring proper car-maintenance and practicing safe driving techniques can help reduce the risk of damage from potholes.
