How alert do you think you are when it comes to spotting common road hazards on your car journey?
Being aware of common road hazards to watch out for on your journey can help you to avoid unfortunate and expensive mishaps from causing damage to your car.
While driver error is the main cause of accidents occurring on our roads, there are many common road hazards that drivers are likely to encounter.
Common Road Hazards to Avoid
Let’s recap and discuss where and how common road hazards can be avoided.
That Kerb Wasn’t There!
Kerbs are common road hazards likely to cause damage to your car – particularly to your alloy wheels.
When parking your car in particular, you may find that you get too close to the kerb, causing dents or scratches to your alloy wheels.
It’s an unfortunate but common road hazard and mistake to make!
You can avoid them by slowing down, judging the space in your mirrors, particularly when parallel parking – and taking your time. Alternatively, seek out parking spaces clear of low curbs and hazards that are likely to dink or scratch your alloys.
Potholes
Potholes are an unfortunate but common road hazard on UK roads. This is due to adverse weather and changing seasons, which make tarmac expand and shrink during heat waves and icy snow.
Potholes are best avoided by driving clear of any potential dips in the road your car tyres are likely to take the brunt of and risk denting your body work at the same time.
Potholes will not fix themselves, and while our UK network is proactive in fixing our roads for the safety of drivers – we can help report a new pothole or road surface defect to the local council. This can be done online via Highways England – making It easier for other road users to avoid this particular road hazard risk in the future.
Bollards
Vehicle control measures often include using concrete pillars and bollards, which are widely used across the UK to restrict vehicle access and help avoid collisions in certain areas such as industrial parks, warehouses and car parks. Although created as a safety measure, we often find they can be a road hazard when parking your car, leaving a hefty dent in its place.
To avoid this common road hazard, always check the space around your car, particularly when approaching a car parking space, where your vision is restricted and cars are often compact into tight spaces. Bollards are commonly used to protect pedestrian areas or trolley parks in supermarket car parks – so always keep your eyes peeled for them when judging your parking or turning space.
Hedges
Picturesque country lanes make for a glorious weekend drive but can quickly become a common road hazard that restricts your view.
Control your speed, even when the national default speed limit for rural or country lanes is 60mph – realistically you are driving on a single-lane road with restricted views and narrow passageways. Leave plenty of space for the car in front of you too, as you often need to stop suddenly and reverse to let oncoming traffic through single-lane roads.
Low winter sun
It can be tricky to drive in the low winter sun when the sun beams directly at eye level causing you to become blinded momentarily.
It’s a common road hazard that can’t be avoided in the UK winter months, but here are some tips to help make driving in low winter sun easier and safer.
- Keep a quality pair of sunglasses handy in the car.
- Use your visor against direct sunlight
- Slow down and stay in control
- Increase distances between you and other vehicles.
- Keep your windows clean and your washer fluid topped up
Winter driving
Standing water can cause common road hazards for drivers who are not aware of the depth of puddles during heavy or consistent rain. This can cause cars to glide or aqua-plan across standing water, losing control of the wheels when travelling at speed, as a dangerous result.
Always approach large pools of water with caution, travelling through them slowly and towards their edges. Look out for oncoming traffic when travelling around water or icy patches in case you are verging into the oncoming lane. Using your hazards to make other drivers aware of the road hazard you are dealing with will help to slow down the flow of traffic for safety too.
Other drivers
Unfortunately, the most common road hazard to avoid is other drivers themselves. We must all drive with courtesy and caution and look out for common road hazards we may create such as car doors opening, vehicles emerging from junctions, or driving too closely to the car in front.
Being aware of our own driving behaviour is a good place to start.
Common Road Hazard Car Damage
ChipsAway has been a well-established expert in minor car body repairs for over 20 years, helping you to fix the damage that occurs from common road hazards you don’t manage to avoid.
With a fantastic reputation for providing high-quality SMART car body repairs such as minor paintwork scratches, bumper scuffs, dents, and alloy wheel repairs – ChipsAway are able to help.
Customers love us too – which is why we have given us a coveted 5* Trustpilot rating.
