ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — It’s prime pothole development season. In winter and early spring when temperatures change frequently, snow and ice can melt and seep into the pavement. Then, when the temperature drops again, the water refreezes and expands, cracking the road and opening up a pothole.
According to a recent study by LendingTree-affiliate QuoteWizard, Michigan has the worst potholes in the nation, but Pennsylvania and New York aren’t far behind. Pa. was ranked sixth in the study and New York came in tenth, based on Google search statistics. Pollsters said Delaware, Nebraska, and Wyoming have the fewest potholes.
States with the worst pothole problems:
| State | Rank | Search index average |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 1 | 44 |
| Indiana | 2 | 41 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 41 |
| Washington | 4 | 38 |
| Vermont | 5 | 32 |
| Pennsylvania | 6 | 31 |
| New Jersey | 7 | 30 |
| Ohio | 8 | 29 |
| Tennessee | 9 | 29 |
| New York | 10 | 28 |
| Illinois | 11 | 21 |
According to the study, people between the ages of 35 and 44 are at the highest risk for pothole damage. Almost one-third of drivers in that age category said they’ve dealt with damages in the last year.
Potholes also seem more likely to strike twice—or more accurately, thrice. According to AAA, once your car has been damaged by a pothole, it’s likely to happen at least two more times in the next five years.
AAA officials say the average repair bill associated with a pothole mishap is $306. In 64% of cases, the repair bill is $250 or less, and for 30% of people, the related bill is between $250 and $1,000. Only 6% of incidents result in a bill that’s over $1,000.
How to minimize damage from potholes:
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated.
- Make sure your tread grooves are deep enough too.
- If avoiding a pothole isn’t possible, slow down, keep your foot off the brake pedal, and try to keep the wheel straight before impact.
