{"id":63663,"date":"2022-03-02T09:57:17","date_gmt":"2022-03-02T14:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/framinghamsource.com\/?p=63663"},"modified":"2022-03-02T09:59:17","modified_gmt":"2022-03-02T14:59:17","slug":"aaa-potholes-pack-a-punch-as-drivers-pay-26-5-billion-for-vehicle-repairs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/framinghamsource.com\/index.php\/2022\/03\/02\/aaa-potholes-pack-a-punch-as-drivers-pay-26-5-billion-for-vehicle-repairs\/","title":{"rendered":"AAA: Potholes Pack a Punch As Drivers Pay $26.5 Billion For Vehicle Repairs"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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FRAMINGHAM – Americans battling the polar vortex will soon face a greater enemy\u2014pothole season. A new survey from AAA found that last year 1 in 10 drivers sustained vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With an average price tag of almost $600 per repair, damage caused by potholes cost drivers a staggering $26.5 billion in 2021 alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make matters worse, these same drivers often ended up with an average of two pothole-related repairs signaling that America\u2019s roadways need immediate attention. As states receive an influx of funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, AAA urges government officials and departments of transportation to focus on improving road conditions, prioritizing those areas most in need of repair.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIn many parts of the country, winter roads will likely give way to pothole-laden obstacle courses,\u201d said Mary Maguire, Director of Public\/Government Affairs for AAA Northeast. \u201cWhen 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pothole\u2019s Origin Story<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cracked and crumbling pavement is the perfect environment for potholes to form. Moisture collects in these crevices and as temperatures fluctuate, it expands and contracts due to freezing and thawing. This breaks up the pavement and, combined with the weight of passing cars, eventually results in a pothole. These concrete craters can wreak havoc on a vehicle\u2019s tires, alignment, suspension and shocks. In the winter and spring of 2021, AAA responded to 1.8 million tire-related roadside assistance calls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While AAA does not identify if a roadside assistance request is the result of pothole damage, this number represented 11% of the total calls received in the winter and spring last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How to Save Your Car and Your Wallet from Pothole Damage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While potholes are a reality for many drivers, sustaining vehicle damage does not have to be. AAA recommends the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n