Roland-Bowen: Potholes could be causing unseen damage

While your vehicle may appear unaffected after dropping into a pothole, unseen damages can be occurring.

“You may be able to see bulges and blisters on your tyre wall, you may see fluid leaks, hear loud noises coming from your exhaust system or feel your vehicle pulling to the left or right after falling into a pothole that you did not see or could not avoid, but there may be damage occurring under your vehicle that you cannot see,” stated President of the Barbados Road Safety Association Sharmane Roland-Bowen.

It is this unseen damage, she pointed out, that could cause major issues if it is not repaired quickly.

Therefore, she urged drivers to take their vehicles into their various automobile shops or mechanics to get them properly inspected over a scheduled time.

“You may get a minor bending that would break the seal between the rim and the tyre, leading to water getting into the tyre or air escaping over time. Repeatedly falling into potholes can cause your wheels to become misaligned, damage your suspension over time or dampen the shocks and can reduce your vehicle’s contact with the road. It can also scratch your undercarriage or break a mechanical component underneath,” she told The Barbados Advocate during a recent interview.

Roland-Bowen pleaded with drivers to continue to exercise caution when manoeuvring on the island’s roads, while once again applying pressure to the government to address the situation.

“We are not second class citizens, so we do not deserve second-class roads,” the road safety advocate insisted.
(JMB)