Something we are all subjected to when we drive is problems caused by bad roads. Depending upon where you live, there is going to be the likelihood of running over a pothole that damages your car. What do you do when you have damage caused by an old road?
Insurance companies will usually cover something you run over on the road, like potholes, if you have collision coverage. This is not the same as coverage for other natural elements that harm your car, like bad weather. You would need to have comprehensive coverage for an event such as this.
We’ll cover what states in the U.S. have the oldest and most damaged roads and whether the government is doing anything to improve the infrastructure around the nation. We’ll also go more in-depth about what you can do to drive safer on older roads, what to avoid when driving in these areas, and whether off-roading should be avoided.
The Overall Condition of Roads in the U.S.
President Joe Biden has recently tried to address the poor conditions of roads in the country by signing into law a bill that will contribute over $100 billion to road repairs. To effectively use the money, it’s vital to decide which areas of the country are affected by these poor road conditions the most.
The worst road conditions are in states such as Delaware, Hawaii, and South Carolina. Why do these states have poor roads? Hawaii’s roads are nearly impossible to keep maintained because of the risk of volcanic eruptions. Often when a volcanic eruption happens in Hawaii, it sets back infrastructure and damages roads for years to come.
For Delaware and South Carolina, the main culprit behind the amount of poor roads is a long period of years in which there has been a lack of funding earmarked for road repair. Bad road conditions have also been exacerbated by an increasing number of vacationers as well as new residents flocking to these two states.
Conditions such as cracking, potholes, and faded lines on the highway are some of the most dangerous issues drivers have to contend with in states like the ones mentioned. While the money from the government will help in the short term, road work is a chronic issue in need of constant attention even after repairs.
Sometimes it’s up to each state government rather than the federal government to repair their own roads. Many of the states with road issues are on the poorer end of the financial scale. Mississippi, Arkansas, and West Virginia are examples of states with poor roads and not enough money to fix them.
There’s also the issue of which states have more rural roads. These roads are not traveled as often. Sometimes these roads aren’t well-paved, and they are potentially more dangerous for drivers to travel on. They are not well maintained, and many of the poorer states in the country have a higher percentage of rural roads.
States with more interstate highways and freeways often prioritize fixing these roads rather than rural ones. Damage to freeways could ruin commerce and truck deliveries throughout the country, so it is definitely important to keep them up.
At the same time, many people do most of their daily driving on rural roads. It would be beneficial for states to find a happy medium between budgeting for highways and rural roads.
What will insurance cover?
Because damage from old roads is so common in the U.S., it’s important to think about how you will repair your car. Auto insurance should cover most of the damage caused by old roads, but only if you have collision coverage.
Your basic auto liability insurance coverage is not going to cover the damage caused by potholes, objects on the road, or other similar obstacles. This is similar to how liability coverage will not take care of any damage caused by weather, trees, or other natural disasters that harm your vehicle.
While collision coverage is always more money, it is well worth it if you know you live in an area with bad roads. States like the ones listed above are going to put you at higher risk of damaging your vehicle on an older road. You should get this additional auto insurance coverage to plan ahead for it.
Damage that may not be covered by any type of insurance coverage is general wear and tear from driving on poor roads. What this means is if there are minor scratches on your car, or the paint starts going bad because of dirt and gravel, there’s really no way to prove to an insurance company this was caused by the poor roads.
How can a driver be careful on bad roads?
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out how to drive on bad roads and keep your car safe. When you’re driving, you often have no control over the situation, but there are certain tricks and creative ideas that will allow you to protect your vehicle.
If you are someone who goes off-roading often, this may not be the best strategy for keeping your car in good condition. These off-roading routes are often unpaved roads and not as well maintained. People who live in farming areas and rural towns are going to be at higher risk of having to drive on these types of roads.
Try to stay on the main roads, even if there is more traffic. While the conditions of these roads might also be poor or damaged, they are better than the off-road conditions.
If you see a pothole on the road, slow down and try to avoid it. This isn’t always possible, but a lot of potholes and cracks are on backroads where you’re able to maneuver and change your direction better than on the highway.
The government understands roads in the U.S. need a lot of work. In the meantime, make sure you have the appropriate policy with your auto insurance company to cover any damages you suffer. Use your driving skills to try and avoid what you can on the old roads. Everything else is really out of your control.
About the author:
Shawn Laib writes and researches for the insurance comparison site, QuoteInspector.com. He wants to help people understand the risks of driving on old roads and what they can do to avoid these problems.