Pothole season 2023!
Spring is here! Crocuses and tulips will soon be popping out of the ground. — And potholes will be popping up everywhere to remind us that we live in Michigan and that we need to exercise more caution when driving area roads.
Road Commission of Oakland County (RCOC) crews will be working extra hard to keep up with patching the potholes along the 1,700-plus miles of paved county roads that they are charged with maintaining throughout the year.
RCOC also depends a lot on citizens like you to report potholes – and other road issues – that need their attention. There is a form on the RCOC website that can be used to report any non-emergency issues.
If you see a pretty large pothole, particularly one with sharp-edged that could damage vehicles, you should report it by phone for emergency response to the RCOC Customer Services hotline at 877-858-4804. For less severe issues that don’t require an emergency response, use the Report-an-Issue form on the RCOC website. Let them know the nature of the problem and the location. You can even upload a photo if you need to.
Don’t assume that someone else has already reported an issue. And don’t assume that RCOC won’t respond. They will follow up, but it might take a few days (or even a few weeks) if it’s just your run of the mill pothole on a lesser travelled side road.
Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Roads
For potholes on a state trunkline (an “I-“, “M-“, or “US-” route) MDOT is asking for the public’s assistance in mapping them out. Submit it to MDOT’s Report a Pothole webpage or call the Pothole Hotline at 888-296-4546.
If your vehicle sustained damage from a pothole on a Michigan trunkline, you may file a claim. See the Damage Claim Procedure page for info. However, be aware that most claims are denied under governmental immunity laws.
More Information:
- RCOC pothole information brochure (PDF file)
- AAA Michigan: safety tips for dealing with potholes
- Just FYI. You might find these interesting. — pothole facts and Lifespan of a Pothole
Also, perhaps interesting, but not particularly useful, is this: Bachor is an artist who creates and installs unique mosaics to (temporarily) fill the voids left by potholes. The gallery on his website shows 10 of his installations on Detroit streets. Pretty cool. You must see these works of street art before they get run over!
POTHOLE SEASON SAFE DRIVING TIPS:
1) Keep your speed down for a better chance to see and avoid potholes. Remember, what may just appear to be a puddle could be a serious hazard.
2) Unavoidable pothole? Slow down as much as you can (safely), then drive straight through the pothole. Turning your wheel and hitting one on an angle could damage your tire’s sidewalls. The resulting blowout can mean a much more serious situation. A sudden swerve can be very dangerous.
3) Keep your tire pressure at the recommended levels during pothole season — and any time of the year.