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Most drivers see potholes as a nuisance, but they can be far more dangerous than many people realise. Hitting a pothole can damage tyres, bend rims, affect steering, or even cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle.

The danger increases at night, during rainy weather, or on busy roads where potholes are harder to spot, and drivers have less time to react. In some situations, a single pothole can lead to a serious accident or roadside emergency.

Understanding the risks and knowing how to respond can help keep you, your passengers, and other road users safer.

Why Potholes are so Dangerous

When a vehicle hits a deep pothole, the impact can be hard enough to damage tyres, rims, suspension, steering, and wheel alignment.

A damaged tyre may burst immediately or fail later while driving. Bent rims and suspension damage can make a vehicle harder to steer and control safely.

For motorcyclists, cyclists, and scooter riders, potholes are even more dangerous. A sudden dip in the road can cause a rider to lose balance and fall into traffic.

Swerving Can Make Things Worse

Many drivers panic when they see a pothole at the last second and instinctively swerve to avoid it.

While this reaction is understandable, a sudden swerve can sometimes be more dangerous than hitting the pothole itself, as it may cause a collision with another vehicle, a pedestrian, or a cyclist. Drivers can also lose control, especially on wet roads or at higher speeds.

If you spot a pothole early enough, slow down safely and avoid it only if it is safe to do so. Always be aware of surrounding traffic before changing direction.

Rain Makes Potholes Harder to See

Rain can make potholes much harder to spot. When they fill with water, it also becomes difficult to tell how deep they really are. What looks like an ordinary puddle could be hiding a large pothole that can damage a vehicle or cause a driver to lose control.

Wet roads can also make driving more challenging. Tyres have less grip on the road surface, increasing the risk of skidding when a driver brakes suddenly or swerves to avoid a pothole.

When driving in rainy conditions, it is best to slow down, leave more space between your vehicle and the one in front, and stay alert for potholes and other road hazards.

What to Do If You Hit a Pothole

If you hit a pothole, try not to panic.

Hold the steering wheel firmly and avoid sudden movements. If the vehicle starts pulling to one side, vibrating, making unusual noises, or feels difficult to control, slow down gradually and pull over when it is safe.

Switch on your hazard lights and, if possible, inspect the vehicle. Look for flat tyres, bulges, cracks, leaking fluids, or visible wheel damage.

If the vehicle appears unsafe to drive, call for assistance rather than risking further damage or an accident.

Check Your Vehicle Afterwards

Not all pothole damage is obvious straight away.

Even if your vehicle seems fine, watch for signs such as:

• A flat or damaged tyre.
• A shaking steering wheel.
• The vehicle pulling to one side.
• Strange noises from the wheels.
• Uneven tyre wear.
• Poor braking performance.
• Steering feeling different to normal.

Having your vehicle checked early can prevent bigger and more expensive problems later.

Report Dangerous Potholes

Reporting potholes can help prevent accidents and protect other road users.

The iER App’s new Infrastructure Reporting feature allows users to report potholes, broken street lights, water leaks, sanitation issues, power outages, and other infrastructure problems directly through the app.

By reporting hazards when you spot them, you can help bring attention to issues before they cause further damage, accidents, or emergencies.

If a Pothole Causes an Accident

A serious accident can occur in seconds if a driver loses control after hitting a pothole.

If you come across an accident, stop only if it is safe to do so. Switch on your hazard lights and, if possible, move to a safe area away from traffic.

Call for emergency assistance immediately. If someone is injured, avoid moving them unless there is an immediate danger, such as a fire or the risk of another vehicle hitting them.

The award-winning, FREE-to-use iER App helps you access assistance faster when every second counts. Once an emergency alert is activated, the Live Tracking feature automatically shares your live location with the control room, enabling response teams to locate you more quickly and provide faster, more accurate assistance.

Conclusion

Potholes are more than just a nuisance; they can damage vehicles, cause accidents, and endanger lives. Staying alert, slowing down when road conditions are poor, checking your vehicle after an impact, and reporting dangerous potholes can help make roads safer for everyone.

The iER App helps keep users safe through features such as Emergency Alerts, Live Tracking, Safety Squad, and Infrastructure Reporting. Whether you need emergency assistance, want to keep loved ones informed, or need to report dangerous road hazards and community issues, the iER App puts safety and support at your fingertips.

With more than 1 million downloads and growing, the award-winning, FREE-to-use iER App is available on Android, iOS, and HarmonyOS devices, helping connect users to emergency assistance and essential support when it matters most.