A new study by QuoteWizard has ranked Nashville as having the worst pothole problem in the entire nation.
Each state’s pothole-related complaints and repairs were analyzed by the online auto insurance comparison platform and received a ranking. The group used Google search statistics to rank each area with a search index average which represents the number of queries in a particular state or location compared to other states.
Nashville ranked first on the list of worst U.S. cities for pothole damage with a search index average of 57. Spokane, Washington ranked second on the list with a search index average of 50 while Yakima, Washington ranked third on the list with a search index average of 49.
QuoteWizard also ranked states based on worst pothole damage, where Tennessee placed ninth on the list with a search index average of 29. Michigan ranked first on the list with a search index average of 44. Indiana and Rhode Island were next on the list both with search index averages of 41.
The state of Tennessee has long history of struggle with the management and regular repair of potholes.
In January, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced a $3.3 million plan to repair potholes on state highways, citing damage from back-to-back winter storms, as previously reported by The Tennessee Star.
Then in June, TDOT announced a new hotline for drivers to report potholes as part of the ongoing effort to battle potholes on Tennessee roadways. TDOT said Tennesseans can call 833-TDOTFIX (836-8349) to report potholes and other roadway maintenance related issues.
“We all know it’s been a terrible year for potholes and here at TDOT we are always looking for ways to improve our customer service,” TDOT Commissioner Butch Eley said at the time. “For the citizens, this hotline will give them another convenient way to report maintenance problems on our interstates and state routes. For TDOT, this centralized way of receiving, processing, and tracking information will enhance our operations.”
According to QuoteWizard, a few ways drivers can best protect their cars from potholes include:
- Properly inflate tires to minimize pothole damage
- Drive on sufficient tires with deep tread grooves
- If a pothole is unavoidable, slow down, keep their foot off the brake pedal, and try to straighten the steering wheel before impact.
In addition to calling 833-TDOTFIX (836-8349), Tennesseans can go online at https://www.tn.gov/tdot/maintenance/maintenance-request.html to report potholes and other roadway maintenance related issues to TDOT.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
