Road safety advice offered for dealing with difficult surfaces

Date: 6/1/2011

Road safety is important when driving on surfaces that are uneven or marked with potholes, one group has claimed.

The Institute for Advanced Motorists (IAM) has offered some tips for driving on such roads, noting that vehicle owners should ensure they leave space between themselves and the car in front so that they have a good view of the surface before they go over it.

If they spot a hole in the road, it is important drivers do not pull out suddenly to avoid it, as there may be a motorcyclist or cyclist attempting to steer past - as holes are even more dangerous to them - while this action may also put drivers in the path of an oncoming vehicle.

Neil Greig, IAM Director of Policy and Research, said: "Anticipation, planning and good forward vision will help you spot that lethal pothole and help avoid unwanted extra bills for new tyres and wheels."

Should drivers hit a pothole, the body advises checking the tyres once the vehicle has stopped, with the inner and outer wall both worth inspecting for damage.

It is also advisable to get the wheel alignment checked as well, the IAM claims, with AlignMyCar.co.uk recently noting that problems with the tracking of a car can cause bills to mount up.

Posted by Sarah Bailey