A part of my soul dies at the mere sound my car makes every time it plunges into the rocky terrain of Ohio University’s roads.
South Green Drive, in particular, feels like a minefield, with four massive potholes in a 10-second span. Yes, I took a stopwatch out and timed myself driving at 25 mph.
Each impact reverberates through my tires, up into the suspension, and quite frankly, it’s doing more damage than I’d like to admit. It’s bad for my tires, it’s bad for my wheels, and it’s wreaking havoc on the entire vehicle.
Let’s take a moment to address how there are four enormous potholes within a few seconds of each other on South Green Drive. How is it that campus roads have been left in such a state of disrepair? These are not minor inconveniences, they’re hazards. When drivers have to swerve into other lanes to avoid potholes, it creates unnecessary risks and makes the roads far less safe for everyone.
My grievances don’t stop there. The constant swerving around these craters completely disrupts what should be a smooth ride. Instead of comfortably cruising through town, I’m bobbing and weaving like a boxer, trying to avoid damaging my car even more. Sometimes, it’s unavoidable—you’ll miss one pothole only to slam into another. The entire driving experience becomes stressful, not to mention unsafe.
According to McConnell and Associates, a pavement and repair company, potholes form when water seeps into small cracks in the pavement. Then, when the temperature drops, that water freezes and expands, putting pressure on the surrounding asphalt. This causes the pavement to crack, creating a void beneath the surface. As temperatures rise, the ice melts, leaving a cavity. Add the weight of passing vehicles, and the weakened asphalt collapses, forming a pothole.
This freeze-thaw cycle only accelerates the damage. As the roads endure more cycles, the potholes deepen, widen and multiply. And as the potholes worsen, they put more strain on vehicles driving over them. My tires, suspension, and alignment are all taking a beating. Every time I drive, I know it’s shaving a little more life off my car.
It’s not just about wear and tear, though. Hitting a pothole the wrong way could lead to a flat tire, bent rims or even worse damage. And let’s not forget the safety issue. Dodging potholes forces drivers to make sudden, unpredictable movements, increasing the risk of accidents. What should be a simple drive down the street turns into an obstacle course where drivers are forced to navigate around hazards that shouldn’t be there in the first place.
It’s time for OU to take road maintenance seriously. We’ve been dodging these problems—literally—for far too long. These potholes aren’t just inconveniences; they’re risks to our vehicles and our safety. The roads are in disrepair, and every day that passes without action makes the situation worse.
My car—and everyone else’s—deserves better.
Fix the damn roads.
The Pest is a satirical column and does not reflect the views of The Post.
