AAA Offers Strategies to Protect Vehicles from Pothole Damage

ORLANDO, Fla.--Oct. 2, 20039, 2003--The return of winter weather brings snow, ice, sleet and potholes.

"And the appearance of potholes brings the potential of damage to vehicle suspension components and the possibility of costly repairs," said John Nielsen, director of AAA's Approved Auto Repair network.

During AAA Car Care Month in October, the nation's largest organization for motorists is issuing the following recommendations to help protect vehicles against the jarring experience of a pothole encounter:

-- Maintain full air pressure in all tires to provide as much cushion as possible between the pothole and the rim of the tire. Consult the vehicle owner's manual for the correct pressure.

-- Watch for potholes by leaving plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Alert drivers have plenty of time to avoid potholes. Before swerving around a pothole be sure to check surrounding traffic.

-- If a pothole can't be avoided, slow down. Hitting a pothole at high speed increases the chance of damage to tires, wheels, shocks, struts or springs. High speed also increases the chance of loosing control of the vehicle, especially if a series of potholes occurs on a curved roadway.

-- When driving over a pothole-filled road, hold the steering wheel firmly to avoid loosing control.

-- Don't brake when directly over a pothole. Applying the brakes causes the car's weight to shift to the front of the wheel and can increase damage from the impact.

-- Beware of water that may be concealing a deep pothole.

"Hitting even one especially severe pothole could alter the alignment of a wheel and cause uneven tire wear," Nielsen said. Uneven tire wear means the tire will need to be replaced sooner than necessary causing a needless expense.

A broken shock or strut from a pothole encounter could alter the steering and handling of a vehicle, and create dangers when driving at higher speeds or in tight corners. Broken suspension components should be remedied immediately.

AAA recommends that motorists who suspect their vehicle may have been damaged by a pothole should take it to a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility where it can be carefully inspected, and serviced if necessary.

AAA approved shops have met the association's tough requirements for employing qualified technicians, meeting and exceeding customer satisfaction requirements, using quality parts and service equipment, and following ethical business practices. AAA members are entitled to free vehicle inspections when having other work - such as an oil change - performed on their vehicles.

Potholes are caused by the freezing and thawing of water as it works its way into the pavement, so don't look for an end to pothole season until warm weather returns and road crews are back at work.

There are more than 7,500 AAA approved repair facilities in North America. The names and addresses of these shops can be located at http://www.aaa.com, or by calling your local AAA motor club. All AAA approved shops are required to prominently display their affiliation with AAA outside their place of business, and many advertise AAA approval in the telephone directory.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 46 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.