ATLANTA — Potholes along a popular stretch of I-285 can be more than a headache for many drivers. Some 11Alive viewers have reached out complaining about their commute. We looked into ways drivers can protect their vehicles.
Pat Williams said she's no stranger to the rough ride.
“When you hit a good pothole you really feel it not only in your car but in your back," Williams said.
AAA says pothole headaches have been getting worse across the U.S. In 2021, 28 million Americans were hit with pothole repair bills - and that number jumped to 44 million in 2022. The average cost of each repair was about $406.
“There’s some that there’s nothing you can do about it besides suck up the hit,” Williams said.
Kieran O’Brien, owner of the tire shop Gran Turismo East in Chamblee, said he sees damage all the time with tires getting shredded, wheels getting misaligned, and rims getting bent.
But there are ways to help prevent this damage, such as keeping the tires maintained, avoiding potholes when possible, and slowing down when riding over them when drivers can't steer clear of them.
O’Brien said commuters should hit potholes straight on when they can't be avoided.
“If you’re turning the wheel when you hit it, you do more damage because you put the tire and wheel in a more exposed position,” O’Brien said.
Georgians should also report them.
“What we do is, we get so attuned to it, they’re just there," O'Brien said. "We get desensitized to it and then we don’t care anymore, but somebody has to call.
The Georgia Department of Transportation said the stretch along I-285 will be repaved after the construction project is finished. However, that won't be until early next year. In the meantime, crews can patch up potholes if they know about them. Drivers can report them by calling 511.