Potholes are the worst; aren’t they? Especially the ones that seem to creep up out of nowhere. BANG! Your front tire hits the crater with no warning and your whole car feels like it suspends out of its structural boundaries. What follows is an anxiety-ridden drive to the side of the road, or home, to see if any damage has been done.

In the worst scenarios, vehicles experience immediate damage after suddenly diving into a pothole, from tire punctures and warped rims to exhaust system damage, suspension damage, and even engine damage. And now that the freeze-thaw cycles are in effect and potholes will continue to form all season, it is the right time to review your safe driving habits, and possible even a adopt a few more.

This strategy, plus the ones listed below, can help you avoid hitting potholes until the city repairs them again come spring!

Safer Driving Habits Can Prevent Pothole Accidents

Stay Alert and Keep Your Eyes on the Road at All Times

Potholes seem to get us the most when we are least expecting it, which is why driving alertness is such a critical habit this time of year. By keeping your eyes on the road, and not on your phone, in your purse, or under the back seat, you can better dodge potholes and prevent serious vehicular damage.

Part of staying alert on the road is avoiding drowsy or fatigued driving. Be careful taking certain medications that can cause sleepiness, as this can reduce your alertness and awareness while driving. Impaired driving is another bad decision that can lead to serious vehicle damage or worse, bodily injury.

Keep a Safe Distance Between You and the Car in Front of You

In drivers’ education, they teach students to keep at least one car lengths distance between you and the car in front of you. Well, this principal teaching point remains pertinent no matter how many years you have been a licensed driver.

During peak pothole season, one car lengths distance is the least amount of distance you should be keeping around you while driving. To divert potholes, you must be able to see them well in advance. If the cars in front of you are too close, you will not have enough time to defensively react to a pothole.

Maintain a Reasonable Speed

Many people will tell you that swerving to hit a pothole is a dangerous reaction, and they would be telling you the truth. Swerving to miss a pothole can put you and your passengers, as well as other drivers on the road, at risk of a serious collision. It can also cause you to lose control of the vehicle, especially in slick or wet conditions.

In order to avoid swerving when attempting to avoid potholes, maintain a reasonable driving speed at all times. Not only should you obey the set speed limit, but you should also slow down a bit more on roads that are known to be bumpy or old.