The most effective protection is preventive: keep every tire correctly inflated and free of damage, look well ahead, leave room to react, and treat standing water as a possible hidden pothole. When a pothole or object cannot be avoided, reduce speed without a dangerous swerve; for a pothole, AAA advises releasing the brakes and straightening the steering immediately before impact. Afterward, check for pressure loss, visible tire or wheel damage, new noise, vibration, pulling, shaking, an off-center steering wheel, or warning lights.
Your own unsecured cargo can also become road debris. Tie down and cover anything you carry so it cannot drop, shift, leak, or escape. The sections below explain the specific checks and decisions that reduce risk without promising that any tire, guard, or accessory can make a car pothole-proof.
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Why potholes and debris damage vehicles
A pothole loads the tire and wheel suddenly, then transfers force into the suspension and steering. Loose objects can puncture or cut a tire, strike bodywork, or make a driver brake or swerve into another hazard. AAA director of automotive engineering Greg Brannon summarizes the mechanical risk this way: “When a vehicle hits a pothole with any kind of force, the tires, wheels and suspension get the brunt of the impact, and fixing any of those items is pricey.”
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Prepare the car before you encounter a hazard
Check pressure when the tires are cold
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends checking every tire, including the spare, at least monthly when cold. “Cold” means the vehicle has not been driven for at least three hours. Use the pressure printed on the driver-door label or in the owner’s manual, not the maximum pressure molded into the tire sidewall.
Keep a tire-pressure gauge in the vehicle. A digital tire pressure gauge for cars is a practical choice because it gives a direct reading at the roadside, but the gauge does not prevent an impact or repair damage. Check pressure before a long trip and whenever the car has been sitting long enough for a cold reading.
Inspect tread and sidewalls
Walk around the car and look for cuts, cracks, bulges, scrapes, and irregular wear. NHTSA says a tire is not safe once its tread reaches 2/32 inch and advises replacing tires with physical damage or irregular wear. Damage on the sidewall deserves particular caution because that area flexes heavily and is not repaired like a simple tread puncture.
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Understand what the TPMS light can and cannot tell you
A tire-pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is a useful warning system, not a substitute for a gauge. NHTSA notes that the light generally comes on only after a tire is significantly underinflated. A tire can therefore be losing pressure—or have been set incorrectly—before the warning appears. If the light illuminates after a road impact, stop somewhere safe and check the tires rather than assuming the sensor itself is the only problem.
Make the inspection routine easy
- Check all four road tires and the spare on the same monthly schedule.
- Use the vehicle’s recommended pressure for the current load and driving conditions as stated by the manufacturer.
- Look for tread wear, cuts, cracks, bulges, scrapes, and unusual wear patterns.
- Carry a working pressure gauge so a suspected leak can be checked immediately.
Scan early and create time to react
Look far enough ahead to identify broken pavement, objects, stopped traffic, and changes in lane position before they are directly in front of the car. Reduce distractions and leave a following gap that gives you time to slow smoothly. If the vehicle ahead passes over something, do not assume the lane is clear; the object may have moved or a pothole may still be hidden.
Treat puddles as concealed potholes
AAA advises avoiding puddles when possible because standing water can hide a deep pothole. If a puddle occupies the lane and there is no safe alternative, assess the surrounding traffic first and reduce speed without an abrupt steering or braking move. Water can also obscure the edge of a damaged section, so keep the car pointed where you intend to travel.
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Do not trade one hazard for another
A sudden lane change can put the car beside another vehicle, onto a shoulder, or into oncoming traffic. Before attempting to dodge a pothole or object, check mirrors and the space beside and ahead of the car. The safest action is the one that preserves control and keeps you out of surrounding traffic, not necessarily the one that avoids every piece of damaged pavement.
What to do when a pothole is unavoidable
- Assess the lane. Check mirrors and nearby traffic before considering any lateral move. Do not swerve blindly.
- Reduce speed progressively. Ease off the accelerator and brake smoothly while the vehicle is traveling straight. Avoid a stomp on the brake pedal or a sharp steering input.
- Choose control over a last-second dodge. If there is no clearly safe path around the hole, keep the car in a controlled line rather than entering another lane or the shoulder unexpectedly.
- Release the brakes just before the impact. AAA’s pothole guidance advises releasing the brakes and straightening the steering immediately before the tire reaches the hole. This is intended to keep the suspension in a more neutral position; it is not permission to accelerate or to ignore traffic.
- Continue only if the car remains normal. Once clear, find a safe place to stop and inspect the vehicle if the hit felt hard or anything about the car’s behavior has changed.
The exact maneuver cannot be separated from speed, traffic, visibility, and the pothole’s location. Personal safety and maintaining a stable vehicle take priority over avoiding a single impact at the last possible moment.
How to decide what to do about road debris
Road debris includes anything that has fallen, broken loose, or been left in a travel lane. A driver may be tempted to make a dramatic avoidance maneuver, but the object, lane, speed, and available escape space determine whether that move is safer than continuing on a controlled path. There is no universal instruction to hit debris, and there is no universal instruction to swerve: make the decision only after checking the traffic picture.
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Use a controlled decision sequence
- Identify the object and its position. Determine whether it is in your lane, moving, or likely to be struck by another vehicle.
- Check the escape space. Look for vehicles beside you, a shoulder, a median, pedestrians, or a second object. Do not move into a space you have not verified.
- Brake smoothly if there is room. A controlled reduction in speed gives more time without creating a sudden loss of stability.
- Avoid abrupt steering. If the only way around the object requires a blind swerve or crossing into traffic, maintaining control may be less dangerous than the evasive maneuver.
- Afterward, inspect the car. Even an object that appears minor can damage a tire, wheel, underbody, or exhaust component.
What the national estimates show
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety’s 2025 research brief estimated the following United States averages for 2018–2023. These are modeled estimates, not a direct count of every crash; the brief used national crash databases and adjusted possible debris events using an in-depth review of Michigan reports. Differences in state coding and reporting can affect the totals.
| Measure | Estimated annual average | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Road-debris crashes | 53,287 | United States, 2018–2023; AAA Foundation estimate published in 2025 |
| Injuries | 5,467 | United States annual average for the same study period |
| Deaths | 72 | United States annual average for the same study period |
| Injuries involving a vehicle that crashed while avoiding an object | 25% | Share of estimated debris-related crash injuries in the 2018–2023 analysis |
| Deaths involving a vehicle that crashed while avoiding an object | 49% | Share of estimated debris-related crash deaths in the 2018–2023 analysis |
Those percentages explain why a blind swerve can be dangerous: some of the worst outcomes occur during the attempt to avoid an object. They do not describe every road or every object, so use them as a reason to evaluate traffic and escape space rather than as a command to strike debris.
What to check after hitting a pothole or object
A vehicle can remain driveable while carrying hidden tire, wheel, alignment, suspension, or exhaust damage. AAA recommends a visual inspection, a pressure check for leaks, and attention to new sounds and handling changes. Stop in a safe location before inspecting; do not stand in a live lane or place yourself where approaching traffic cannot see you.
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Follow this roadside sequence
- Move out of traffic if possible. Use a safe shoulder, parking area, or other protected location. If the car cannot be moved safely, remain in the safest available position and seek assistance.
- Look at each tire and wheel. Check for a visible bulge, cut, scrape, bent-looking wheel, or other fresh damage. Do not continue on a tire that appears structurally damaged.
- Measure pressure. Compare each affected tire with the vehicle’s recommended pressure. A sudden drop suggests a leak even if the tire still looks inflated.
- Listen and feel during a cautious repositioning. New noise, vibration, shaking, pulling, or an off-center steering wheel indicates that the car needs attention. Do not perform a high-speed test drive to “see if it clears.”
- Arrange a qualified inspection. A tire professional or experienced mechanic can examine the tire and wheel and determine whether alignment, suspension, or exhaust components were affected.
Symptoms that should end the trip
- Visible tire bulge, cut, severe scrape, or a wheel that appears damaged.
- Rapid or unexplained pressure loss.
- A new vibration, shaking, grinding, or other noise.
- Pulling to one side or a steering wheel that is no longer centered.
- A warning light that appears after the impact.
These signs do not identify a specific failed part by themselves. They are reasons to stop safely and obtain professional advice. A mechanic may find damage to tires or wheels, alignment and suspension parts, or—after a severe hit—exhaust components.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Protect other road users by securing your own load
NHTSA says drivers are responsible for securing anything carried by the vehicle that could separate and create a road obstacle. Cargo should not be able to drop, shift, leak, or escape. This applies to items inside an open bed, on a roof or trailer, or in any arrangement where movement could put the load into traffic.
Load-security procedure
- Choose restraint points. Use tie-down points intended for the vehicle or carrier rather than improvised parts that can pull loose.
- Distribute and stabilize the load. Place heavy items so they cannot roll or slide, and keep the load within the carrier’s stated limits.
- Tie down every item that could move. Tighten cargo tie-down straps and check that hooks, buckles, and anchor points are fully engaged.
- Cover loose material. A cargo cover helps contain items that could be blown or shaken out, but it does not replace tie-downs.
- Recheck before departure. Walk around the vehicle and verify that nothing can leak, shift, or escape. Recheck after loading changes or a stop on a long trip.
NHTSA states that all 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws concerning unsecured loads. Penalties and exact requirements vary by state, so check the rules where you drive rather than assuming one standard applies everywhere.
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Useful equipment—and what it can and cannot do
| Item | Best use | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Digital tire pressure gauge for cars | Checking cold pressure monthly, before trips, and after a suspected impact | Measures pressure; it does not prevent pothole or debris damage |
| Cargo tie-down straps | Holding carried items so they cannot drop, shift, leak, or escape | Only effective when matched to suitable anchor points and correctly tightened |
| Cargo cover | Containing loose material in a bed or carrier and reducing the chance of items blowing out | Supports, but does not replace, proper tie-downs |
A portable air compressor may help some drivers add air, but the cited safety guidance specifically emphasizes carrying a pressure gauge. Select replacement tires, suspension parts, underbody protection, or other vehicle-specific equipment only after checking manufacturer compatibility and getting qualified advice. The available evidence does not establish a universal guard or tire that protects every car from road debris.
What pothole repairs may cost
AAA’s article on pothole damage, updated in April 2026, cites an average pothole repair cost of $406. That is an AAA estimate, not a guaranteed or current price for every vehicle, location, or type of damage. A minor tire issue, bent wheel, alignment problem, suspension repair, and severe underbody damage can have very different prices. Get a diagnosis before approving parts, and do not use the $406 figure as a quote for your car.
A practical routine for everyday driving
Before the trip
- Confirm that tires have been checked on the manufacturer’s recommended schedule and that no damage is visible.
- Make sure the pressure gauge is in the vehicle.
- Secure and cover any load that could become road debris.
- Adjust distractions before moving and leave enough following space to see the road surface.
While driving
- Scan beyond the vehicle immediately ahead for broken pavement, puddles, and objects.
- Assume a puddle may conceal a pothole.
- Check surrounding traffic before changing lanes to avoid a hazard.
- Slow smoothly and avoid a blind swerve or abrupt braking maneuver.
After a hard impact
- Stop in a protected location when it is safe to do so.
- Inspect the tires and wheels and check for pressure loss.
- Pay attention to new noise, vibration, pulling, shaking, an off-center steering wheel, or warning lights.
- Arrange an inspection when any of those changes appears, even if the car still moves under its own power.
Key takeaways
Good tire condition gives the vehicle its best chance of absorbing a rough surface without a preventable failure. Early scanning and a following gap reduce the need for last-second decisions. When avoidance is unsafe, controlled speed and steering are more important than a dramatic maneuver; for an unavoidable pothole, release the brakes and straighten the steering just before impact as AAA advises. Finally, inspect after a hard hit and secure every load so your vehicle does not create the next road hazard.
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