Pothole peril: Caution urged as wild weather churns up Victoria's roads

Safety bodies are calling for drivers to take extra precautions to avoid damage caused to Victoria’s roads due to diabolical weather conditions across the state in recent months.

Heavy rain has contributed to flooding on metropolitan and regional roads, as well as causing potholes – presenting hazards for drivers, motorcyclists and cyclists.

According to The Age, VicRoads has filled in 71,500 potholes in a repair blitz, but 448 roads remain closed including parts of the Barmah-Shepparton Road and Murray Valley Highway.

The Royal Automotive Club of Victoria’s (RACV) Head of Policy, James Williams, said it is crucial road users are aware of the changed conditions brought about by the extreme weather event.

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“Victorians would be acutely aware of how quickly weather conditions can change – they would also know that the recent storms can have a significant impact on our roads," Williams said.

The state has experienced an increase in rainfall and severe weather events in 2022 as a result of a La Niña weather phase, with the wettest October on record inflicting devastating damage on the state’s roads.

Thousands of potholes have opened up on roads everywhere from Melbourne’s CBD to country highways, which, despite repair efforts, continue to endanger drivers.

Silvia Morris, a senior instructor for the RACV Drive School, said the dangers of potholes should not be underestimated.

“Large potholes have the potential to cause severe damage to your tyres, wheels, suspension, exhaust and/or vehicle body, and in some cases can even lead to drivers losing control of their vehicle,” Morris said.

“Even small ones can cause wear and tear to your vehicle’s suspension and steering which can be costly.”

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“When you do encounter a pothole, avoid sudden breaking and dangerous swerving into oncoming traffic. Keep a firm control of the steering wheel – which can be jolted with impact.

“If you do hit a pothole and you’re concerned about potential damage to your vehicle, pull over to a safe space and contact your roadside assist.”

Flooded roads and even deep puddles are also a factor following rain, the peak body said.

“Some puddles can be hiding large potholes underneath them, so you should avoid driving over puddles where possible, and never drive through floodwaters,” Morris added.

According to The Age, road maintenance funding has decreased by about 60 per cent in real terms since 2010. The Victorian Transport Association, a trucking lobby group, told the newspaper that repairing flood-damaged roads would cost between $500 million and $1 billion – but even that estimate is thought to possibly be on the light side.

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Potholes occur when water gets into the underlying structure of the road due to continual traffic passing over the affected area causing fatigue. Heavy rain, freezing and thawing also have destructive effects.

Five factors that make roads susceptible to potholing include; insufficient pavement thickness for heavy vehicles, poor quality initial construction, inadequate drainage, failures at road joints or inserts, and defects and cracks left untreated.

Potholes can be patched up, which may be either temporary or permanent.

Temporary patching is often done as a quick response to public demands for prominent potholes to be fixed.

Has your car been badly damaged by a pothole? Share your story and pictures with us at news@wheelsmedia.com.au