When motorists are out driving, they often encounter a variety of bad and dangerous road conditions such as ruts, icy roads, and potholes. It is essential to remain alert and take notice of bad road conditions when your drive. Here are some helpful tips to protect yourself and avoid accidents:

1. Ruts usually do not cause an overwhelming amount of damage to your car, but they can cause you to lose control of your car. If you lose control you are at a much greater risk for crashing into something. Crashes are what cause damage to both the car and the driver.

2. Icy roads are also a massive hazard to drivers. There are many accidents that happen due to cars slipping on icy roads. If the roads are icy, it is best to avoid driving at all. However, if it is absolutely necessary to drive, make sure you drive slowly and carefully by leaving a large amount of space between yourself and the car in front of you.

3. Watch out for potholes. If you see a pothole, keep your hands firmly on the wheel and slow down as much as possible. If you hit a pothole too hard, it can throw your car’s alignment off. In addition, it is common for potholes to cause a lot of damage to steel-belted tires, which can cause drivers to lose control of their car.

It is not always possible to foresee bad road conditions. This makes it essential to practice defensive driving. In addition, sign up with a roadside assistance program that will come to your aid if there is an emergency or you get stuck on the side of the road.