A new survey from AAA found that one in 10 American drivers has sustained significant vehicle damage from potholes, at an average cost of almost $600 per repair.
The total cost to drivers because of potholes in 2021, the organization said, was $26.5 billion. Those same drivers, the survey found, often end up with an average of two pothole-related repairs – a sign that America’s roadways need immediate attention, the organization said.
“In many parts of the country, winter roads will likely give way to pothole-laden obstacle courses,” said Greg Brannon, AAA’s director of automotive engineering. “When a vehicle hits a pothole with any kind of force, the tires, wheels, and suspension get the brunt of the impact, and fixing any of those items is pricey.”
As states receive money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, AAA is urging government officials and transportation departments to focus on improving road conditions, especially in prioritizing roads that are in the most need of repair.
The organization said potholes can damage a vehicle’s tires, alignment, suspension, and shock absorbers. In the winter and spring of 2021, the organization said, AAA responded to 1.8 million tire-related roadside assistance calls. While AAA admitted that it does not identify whether or not a roadside assistance request is due to a pothole, the number of tire-related calls in the winter and spring represent 11 percent of the total calls over those two seasons last year.