CALIFORNIA ENDURES POX OF POTHOLES AS STORMS PUMMEL ROADS

California drivers battled flooding, mudslides and downed trees and power lines from recent rains, but potholes caused by the storms pose new dangers.

In Los Angeles, requests for pothole repairs have soared as downpours have crumbled streets. Since Dec. 30, there have been more than 2,407 potholes reported on Los Angeles roads, with 722 the weekend of Jan. 14 alone.

Michael Cox, a manager with the Street Maintenance Division of Department of Public Works, is in his 34th year working for the city.

“This is the busiest we’ve seen it in quite some time,” he said.

Pothole issues are not limited to Los Angeles, of course.

As of Jan. 16, a stretch of northbound state Route 71 near Pomona had to be closed for “urgent pothole repair,” according to a tweet from the California Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, in Fresno, crews reported at least 30 areas with pothole issues, and vehicles had been damaged, per ABC30.

In Redwood City, a pothole on the northbound U.S. Highway 101 caused blown-out tires and had motorists scrambling for repairs.

“Pothole damage can be extremely expensive,” said Doug Shupe, a spokesperson for the American Automobile Association. “The most common type of damage is a flat tire and bent rims, but potholes can also damage suspension. The faster you hit a pothole, the more damage that can occur.”

A 2021 survey from AAA found that 1 in 10 drivers sustained vehicle damage significant enough to warrant a repair after hitting a pothole. The average price was about $600 per repair. The group estimates that American drivers in 2021 shelled out $26.5 billion related to pothole damage.

Potholes also pose a liability for city governments. In 2017, Los Angeles paid $6.5 million to a cyclist who hit a pothole and sustained severe injuries. Last year, Los Angeles paid $143,623 to people who filed damage claims due to potholes, according to Ian Thompson, a spokesman for the city attorney’s office.

“That’s why it’s so important to be watchful,” Shupe said. “Keep your tires properly inf lated; they are the cushion between your rims and the road. And if you can safely avoid (potholes), then do.”