Every season brings unique weather-related safety hazards, and potholes are a common hazard in the spring. Here are some tips and considerations to be mindful of while driving and walking in areas prone to ground surface damage, such as large cracks, potholes, and uneven terrain:
- Be careful of other drivers/pedestrians when navigating around potholes. Keep a safe distance from the car in front of you to reduce the risk of collision if that vehicle brakes suddenly. Also, be aware of others trying to avoid potholes.
- If you cannot avoid the pothole, slow down as much as possible before riding over the pothole – do not brake over the pothole – and keep both hands with a firm grip on the steering wheel to prevent losing control of your vehicle.
- Ensure your tires are properly inflated. Doing this will help reduce damage caused by potholes if you hit one.
- Avoid driving over puddles. What looks like a puddle may actually be a deep pothole full of water.
Potholes and parking lot/sidewalk damage can pose a significant trip and fall liability and personal injury hazard in the spring.
- If you are a business owner, keeping your parking lots and sidewalks well-maintained is essential to prevent an accidental trip and fall injury caused by potholes or uneven surfaces from ground movement in the spring.
- Pedestrians – use caution when navigating through parking lots or across roadways. Uneven walking surfaces are more common in the spring than in other seasons.