Potholes are quite a nuisance to car owners, pedestrians, and even property owners due to a number of valid reasons and concerns associated with them. Regardless of where they appear and the state of their condition, they alone serve as the primary cause of people taking a trip to their local auto repair shop, hospital, or even a construction contractor. In short, neglecting potholes complicates the lives of parking lot owners and car owners and results in harm. So, if you are a business owner who has seen their parking lot become home to numerous potholes, we suggest you take immediate action and make the necessary repairs as soon as possible. Here are five of the most important reasons why repairing potholes in parking lots should be at the top of your list:

PREVENT DAMAGE TO VEHICLES

Imagine yourself looking left and right trying to find a place to park in and “BAM!” - you are greeted with the sound of a wheel dipping into a pothole as you cringe in the understanding of what you are going to deal with when you get out of the car. Potholes are the bane of all vehicles regardless of their size and condition. If you thought that they are only dangerous when a car wheel collides with them on the road especially at high speed, you are wrong. Parking lot potholes are as dangerous as open road potholes. They can damage your car’s suspension to the extent that it could become immobile, forcing you to replace the tire if the pothole was deep enough to cause steel-belted tire deformities. As you can see, potholes cause a lot more trouble than just spilling your choice of beverage all over yourself.

REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURIES

Also, potholes pose a serious threat to unsuspecting pedestrians, drivers, and passengers who just might happen to stumble upon it while passing by or getting out of their cars. Some potholes are so small yet dangerous because they are almost unseen by one until someone trips over them. Needless to say, if a person steps in accidentally into the pothole, they can fall or sprain his/her ankle due to an unanticipated change in surface. In some instances, if the fall is at an awkward angle, it could also cause damage to other parts of the body as well. So, always watch your step, especially if you know for sure that the parking lot is not in the best condition.

AVOID BOTTLENECKS

Yes, if your parking lot has numerous potholes, especially deep and wide ones, it could result in the area in and around the parking lot suffering from bottlenecks, especially during rush hour and peak times. A lot of problems may arise because of this, including but not limited to the increase in the number of fender benders, disgruntled and frustrated drivers, and driver complaints. The constant traffic problems may also cause visitors to reconsider their options and switch to another parking lot.

IMPROVE CURB APPEAL

Having a fully functional parking lot, which is in tip-top condition and free of such hindrances may also improve the value of the adjoining property, such as the building, shopping mall, or any other commercial or residential space. Apart from that, it will give the property a finished look and speak volumes about how well the owner maintains the place. At the end of the day, having a property with a pothole-free parking lot will be able to fetch a far greater price as compared to one which is not that well-maintained.

SIGN OF A MAJOR PROBLEM

Potholes serve as a sign of a far more serious problem than it seems. At times, a lot of underground piping and cables get damaged due to a number of reasons. This damage may weaken the upper surface layer resulting in the formation of a pothole on that spot. What many people don’t realize is that even if they get this patched up, the reason behind it persists and will result in the pothole reappearance sooner or later. If this pothole was caused by a broken water pipe, the next time a heavy object passes over that spot may result in the entire area caving in and, ultimately, the extensive damage to both property and life. So, make sure to ask your contractor to check for such damages before patching up the asphalt.