The road safety conditions in the UAE have always been taken seriously by the officials. The UAE government ensures smooth and well-maintained roads as part if its extraordinary infrastructure. It is why you will hardly find potholes in the UAE. However, bad weather of certain incidents can damage the roads and drivers might face the issue for a certain period. Residents can play their part and report to the toll-free number if they find any potholes, sand-covered roads or damaged roads. Finding potholes on the road not only increases the risk of accidents but also damages your vehicle, especially car tyres, suspension and steering parts fail quickly. Here is why you should avoid potholes while driving.
The impact is felt throughout the car’s structure when we drive through a pothole. Automobiles are built to ride on a smooth and steady surface. Hence, when the wheels are constantly bumped into potholes damage to car parts and causing them to crack, twist and break.
The governing bodies in the UAE have also imposed strict fines, penalties and different helplines to avoid unfortunate incidents. The Ministry of Infrastructure Development has also announced a toll-free number to encourage residents to report any complaints regarding damaged roads and potholes.
The number to call is 800 88889. However, only federal roads can be reported via this number.
Reasons to Avoid Potholes
Here are the most common problems that potholes can cause in the vehicle.
Suspension Issues
Car suspension is responsible for absorbing the shocks when we go through potholes. The sudden movements generated at this time greatly accelerate the wear of car suspension, such as bushings, arms, bearings and trays.
In more serious cases, the car suspension can damage permanently, causing the shock absorber fluid to leak and the components to lose their efficiency. This ends up compromising the vehicle’s stability, representing a major safety risk.
However, you can avoid potholes by respecting the UAE speed limits and using safe driving techniques. Depending on the speed and size of the pothole, a collision could break your vehicle’s suspension. Besides, the maintenance of car suspension helps in running its parts smoothly.
Wheel and Tyre Wear
The car tyres are in direct contact with the ground. Hence, it is natural that they also feel the impacts of potholes on the roads. The severe shocks due to potholes can cause deformities in tyres’ structure, such as blisters and cracks. In these cases, you must change the car tyre quickly, as it can become unstable and can deflate or even burst if used for a longer trip.
It’s no different with the wheels, as they work together with the tyres. More intense impacts can dent them, resulting in an uneven and unbalanced rotation. The consequences of these problems are less stability and safety, especially when the vehicle develops at higher speeds.
Car Axle Problem
The biggest victim of potholes is your car’s axle. The car axle keeps the wheels together with the rest of the vehicle and transmits kinetic energy generated from the engine.
When the wheel hits a hole head-on, it receives an impact that is transferred to the axle and the rest of the car. The positioning of the car axle is under the vehicle which makes it more vulnerable to this type of impact. Also, you must keep a check on the signs of car axle repairing.
Misaligned Steering
Another problem that can be caused due to potholes in the road is steering misalignment. If the vehicle starts to “pull” to one side or shudders after hitting a pothole, your alignment likely needs to be adjusted. This issue is caused by changing the angle of the wheels due to shocks.
As a result, it becomes more difficult to steer correctly as you have to adjust the steering wheel. Misaligned steering sometimes manifests as a constant shaking of the steering wheel.
Steering Box Breakage
Similar to the axle of the wheels, the axle of the steering box is responsible for transferring the rotation of the steering wheel to the wheels and steering them. It is also vulnerable to the impact caused by potholes on the road and can end up breaking.
Deviation Accidents
Worse than any of the damages we’ve listed above is the possibility of losing control of the steering wheel and ending up in the opposite lane due to potholes in the road.
This can happen because the wheel usually lifts a few centimetres off the ground when passing through some holes. If your car accidentally passes through a pothole, it can fall at an irregular angle that can cause an accident.
Tips to Minimise Damage and Avoid Potholes
Reduce Speed
Following the UAE speed limit is the main tip to avoid potholes. The higher the speed, the more difficult it is to dodge holes, with the risk of losing direction. On unfamiliar streets, pay close attention. In the rain, try to avoid puddles of water, where there may be holes.
Do Not Apply Brake Sharply
When you notice a pothole with no time to swerve, continue to keep the steering wheel straight and don’t slam on the brakes abruptly. When the wheels lock, the impact is even greater and not only the tyres but the suspension and brakes can be damaged.
Use Clutch to Reduce the Impact
If the car is not automatic, depress the clutch when going through a pothole, which reduces the risk of damage to the transmission. Make sure you know the signs of bad car clutch to avoid any further inconveniences.
Keep Your Tyres Inflated
Deflated tyres increase the risk of tears and punctures. Balance and align every 10,000 km or after wheel damage. Air pressure in the tyre, too low or too high, affects tyre wear and puncture resistance.
Respect Safe Distance from the Vehicle in Front
The proximity of the vehicle in front prevents you from seeing the holes and having time to avoid them. The best conduct is to keep your safe following distance, to protect yourself.
Keep a Spare Tyre
If the tyre bursts because of a hole, it will need to be replaced. Hence keep the spare tyre with you. So you can continue your trip without a tow truck. Here are some tips for buying car parts online.
That’s the wrap of our guide on why you should avoid potholes while driving. Be careful and try to avoid the holes as much as possible, even the small ones. When potholes are unavoidable, the best thing to do is to slow down gradually, as soon as you see them, to lessen their impact. Braking hard causes the energy of the movement to accumulate in the wheels, making the shock even stronger.
Always check your car parts such as suspension, exhaust and shock absorber are working fine. Don’t forget to use good quality parts in your car to increase your safety. If your car parts aren’t working fine and you are tired of frequent workshop visits, then browse through the list of used cars for sale in the UAE and enjoy hassle-free rides.
Stay in touch with the UAE’s famous car blog for more guides and automotive tips.
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