Poor roads and potholes cause worry among Bahrain drivers

TDT | Manama                                                                      

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Julia Cassano

Residents and daily commuters are sore over the dilapidated condition of various roads, notably in Budaiya, Juffair, and Manama, and the poor maintenance of the roads could result in severe damage to commuters' vehicles.

These roads, which are used by thousands of commuters daily, are extremely damaged with potholes due to a lack of upkeep and repair. And not only do potholes cause disturbances or annoyance when driving, but they can also cause severe road accidents and damage vehicles.

Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Chetan Mhatre, manager of a leading automotive company in the Kingdom, said that potholes and uneven roads can affect commuters’ vehicles quite badly. Moreover, the extent of the damage depends on the speed at which you are running over the potholes as well as their size.

“Colliding with the potholes may also result in the loss of wheel caps, damaged tyres, damaged wheel rims, and damaged suspension components,” he explained.

He also noted that when driving on uneven roads, out-of-wheel alignment may occur, which substantially impacts the wear and tear of tyres.

“Frequently driving on uneven roads causes more wear and tear on a car’s tyres, meaning that residents will regularly have to change their tyres.”

Though these are only minor issues that can occur due to improper infrastructure, Chetan also noted that uneven and unkempt roads could cause severe road accidents. And although the vast majority of car accidents are caused by human error, a significant number occur due to poor road conditions.

“Holes in the road can puncture tyres, bend wheels, and impair suspensions, which more often than not, could lead to a serious accident,” he said.

Furthermore, vehicle damage from a pothole could cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and crash into another car, an object, or pedestrians. Citizens and residents are urging authorities to take appropriate action to develop better roads to ensure safety for all in Bahrain.