Pothole Pitfalls Worsen in South Africa

While 2010 might be considered the year South Africa hosted an enormously successful football tournament, many motorists in Gauteng might argue that ‘the year of the pothole’ is a more apt description.

The deterioration of our roads due to the influx of potholes has recently spurred the newly appointed MEC responsible for Gauteng’s Roads and Transport, Ismail Vadi, to say that fixing potholes in the province is one of his main responsibilities.

According to Bradley Du Chenne, spokesperson for Dial Direct Insurance, “The reality is that more and more motorists are claiming for damage to tyres and vehicles because of potholes.”

In the interest of public safety and urban pride, Dial Direct Insurance launched The Pothole Brigade which fixes potholes in the Johannesburg area using innovative ‘Jetpatcher’ technology.

In association with the Gauteng Provincial Department of Roads and Transport (GPDRT) and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA), The Dial Direct Pothole Brigade has already managed to fill over 2500 potholes in Gauteng since the project launched in August 2010.

The Johannesburg public are now also able to report potholes to The Pothole Brigade either via cellphone by dialling *120*1551# (std USSD rates apply) or at www.potholebrigade.co.za.

Du Chenne says that most motorists are unaware of the challenges involved in claiming for damage caused to vehicles as a result of potholes.

“A successful claim depends on if there was negligence on the part of the roads or municipal authority in not repairing that pothole, thereby removing a clear and present danger to the road user,” says Du Chenne.

Claims for damages from potholes on national roads are directed to SANRAL and from there to the specific contractor on that stretch of road.

“On municipal roads, motorists have to approach that specific municipal authority or the Department of Public Works and enquire from them which documentation to complete, and to whom to submit such a claim.

“It is important to prove that the damage was caused by a specific pothole, at a specific place and to a specific vehicle. It is also important to show that you are not claiming from both your insurer and the insurer from the road works company,” comments Du Chenne.

When submitting a claim, information required includes your ID document, driver’s licence, registration details of your vehicle, three written quotes for repair and a declaration signed by the claimant. Photographic proof of the damage caused to the tyre and vehicle is very valuable.

Du Chenne says that, depending on the speed at which you are travelling, hitting a pothole can ruin the car’s wheel alignment, rims, tyres, steering mechanism, shocks, suspension and gearbox, leading to unpleasant consequences further down the line.

What’s more, the car’s suspension system can also suffer, all of which can result in having to spend a lot of money on repairs and premature tyre replacement.

“If you do unwittingly drive over a particularly deep or large pothole and you are concerned, get your car checked-out by a professional, particularly if there are bumps protruding from the sidewall of your tyre, if there is recurring loss of air pressure and if there is vibration in the steering wheel, the seat of your vehicle or at your feet in the foot-well,” concludes Du Chenne.