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Ukrainian roads test the durability of cars and the nerves of their owners daily, presenting deep potholes and holes everywhere from city streets to country roads. Improper handling of such obstacles can have serious consequences for the vehicle's technical condition, including warped wheels, damaged tires, and the failure of vulnerable suspension components, ultimately leading to significant repair costs. Auto mechanics and safe driving experts have developed a number of effective techniques that significantly reduce the risk of breakdowns and maintain the chassis's performance for years to come, saving money and peace of mind for the driver.
When encountering a dangerous bump on the road, the first priority is to slow down as quickly and smoothly as possible, and fully release the brake pedal just before entering the pothole. This allows the vehicle's suspension to absorb the impending impact while in a free and compressed position. This technique provides much more effective shock absorption, as the shock absorber springs, compressed during braking, are physically unable to absorb all the impact energy, transferring destructive forces directly to the tires and wheels, often resulting in severe deformation or complete failure. Holding the steering wheel firmly and straight ahead is another essential requirement, as any sudden steering movements in such a situation can only aggravate the situation by creating critical lateral loads on the wheel and steering components.
It is strictly not recommended to attempt to overcome serious potholes at high speed, as the force of the wheel impact increases proportionally to speed, and even a slight excess of speed can be fatal to the integrity of the tire or wheel. Many years of competent driving experience also dictate the need to always maintain a sufficient distance from the vehicle in front, which provides precious extra seconds for timely visual identification of a dangerous section of the road and a smooth, evasive maneuver, or for correct and measured braking without the need for abrupt and rash actions.
Particular vigilance should be exercised on sections of the road hidden under even a shallow layer of water, as a standard puddle can reliably disguise a serious pothole that could cause significant damage to a vehicle if driven carelessly. In situations where avoiding an obstacle is absolutely impossible due to the prevailing traffic conditions, the optimal solution is to reduce speed as much as possible, down to the minimum, and then smoothly and carefully pass the problematic area while maintaining the steering wheel straight ahead. Strict adherence to these proven driving principles not only helps keep the vehicle's vital components in good working order for a long time, but also guarantees a much higher level of personal safety for the driver and all passengers during the inevitable journeys on roads whose condition is far from ideal.