Durbanites warned about large pothole on the M7 highway
If you've ever hit a pothole, you know how quickly things can go wrong – not just in terms of damage to your car but also the risk of an accident.
Hitting a pothole
never feels good. Beyond the potential damage to your car, it also
poses a safety risk – whether from the impact itself or an accident
caused by swerving to avoid it.
In 2023, TopAuto reported that the average cost of a pothole-related insurance claim at
Santam, South Africa’s largest insurer, ranged from R20,000 to R25,000.
These claims typically involved significant impact, often requiring the replacement of multiple tyres, repairs to bent rims, and, in some cases, suspension refurbishments.
No one deliberately drives into a pothole, but avoiding them isn’t always easy. Heavy traffic may prevent you from steering clear, or you might find yourself on a road so riddled with potholes that dodging one just means hitting another.
A recent video circulating on social media highlights a massive pothole – dubbed a "sinkhole" by some – on the busy M7 highway near the Main Road offramp.
Aerial footage captures the extent of the damage as a truck drives through the pothole, showing just how unavoidable it can be in certain situations. Fortunately, the driver managed to maintain control, preventing a potential accident.
Watch the video below – courtesy of Instagram.
Driving cautiously and staying alert to road conditions can help you navigate South Africa’s pothole-ridden streets more safely.
DSC Attorneys shares these tips:
Be aware of your surroundings and look out for hazard warning signs.
Be extra vigilant on roads used by heavy vehicles.
Always drive cautiously on wet roads, during rain, and when it’s dark.
If you can’t avoid a pothole, hold the steering wheel tight, apply the brakes before you hit the pothole and then ease off.
HOW TO LISTEN TO EAST COAST RADIO
- Listen to East Coast Radio on the FM (frequency modulation) spectrum between 94 and 95 FM on your radio.
- Listen live to ECR by clicking here or download the ECR App (iOS/Android).
- Listen to East Coast Radio on the DStv audio bouquet, channel 836.
- Switch to the audio bouquet on your Openview decoder and browse to channel 606.
- Listen to us on Amazon Alexa.
Follow us on social media:
Image courtesy of Instagram