Potholes – get used to it says LLM

People need to overcome obstacles every day of their lives - this include potholes. On April 10 a Heidelberg resident reported a Cypress tree planted in a pothole in Sipresboom Street.

On April 10, a resident reported a Cypress tree planted in a pothole in Sipresboom Street. People need to learn how to avoid pothole damage and know the symptoms thereof.

The comic scene was an attempt to draw attention to the pothole situation Heidelberg is facing. Mirna Mulder (Lesedi Local Municipality DA councillor for Ward 8) said to HERAUT that there simply is not enough money to repair potholes.

“Potholes are filled with soil to make the situation better, but there is not enough money to solve the current problem,” Mulder said.

People need to learn how to avoid danger caused by potholes. Your tyres need to be properly inflated. It causes damage if your tyres have too much or too little air. Drive cautiously through puddles of water, because you never know whether there might be a pothole lurking. If there is not a safe way to avoid a pothole you need to slow down before driving through one.

Don’t brake directly over a pothole, because this actually causes more damage than just driving through it. Remember to hold the steering wheel firmly so that you don’t lose control of your vehicle when driving through a pothole.

Also read: Pothole problem returns after heavy rains

It is important to know the symptoms of pothole damage, like blisters or bulges on the tyre sidewalls. Wheel alignment problems can be indicated by uneven tyre wear caused by potholes. Dents in the wheel rims are the most common sign (and problem) when it comes to pothole damage. Fluid leaks are sometimes caused by undercarriage damage that is caused by potholes. Your vehicle needs to be inspected when experiencing these problems.

The roads of South Africa are the government’s responsibility, which, according to Arrive Alive, makes the government liable for the payment if your vehicle underwent damage caused by a pothole. The law states that if you provide proof that the damage was not due to of your own negligence but the government’s, then they will have to pay for the repairs to your vehicle.

First thing you do is to check for damages. You need to pull over as soon as possible. Return to the scene and take notes of where the pothole is and get contact information of anyone who saw what happened. You need to report a pothole whether you are making a claim or not. Get several quotes on repair costs from different places/ people.

Take all of the quotes and evidence you have collected and write to the council responsible for the maintenance of the roads (remember that the council is not liable to pay any quotes if they didn’t know about the pothole in the first place).

Pothole problems are not going to be properly resolved soon. Residents need to be safe and vigilant against potholes in the road to avoid expenses or even physical harm to themselves.

The South African roads are becoming worse every year, but because of budget shortfalls the government is not able to fix them. Filling the potholes with soil serves as a temporary solution.