http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/News/General_News/0,,1369-1372-2094_2295735,00.html
Pothole insurance 'a must' in SA
28/03/2008 08:59
Your car could be seriously damaged by potholed and poorly maintained roads and you may not even know it before you're faced with a costly repair bill.
Buckled rims and gashed tyres could be the least of your concerns given the dangerous road conditions your vehicle has to navigate every day.
"An increasing number of motorists are only discovering the kind of faults directly attributable to poor roads during scheduled services," said Gary Ronald, corporate affairs manager of AA South Africa.
According to the AA, tyres, shock absorbers, suspensions, wheel bearings, coil springs, hub assembly, upper and lower wishbones, bushes and steering racks are typical components that could be damaged by potholes.
"That's an alarming state of affairs given the potential danger of failures like wheel bearings, tyres and steering racks," concludes Ronald.
"Further to the possible mechanical dangers or failures, it could also compromise the roadworthiness of your vehicle without you even knowing it," said Corinne de Villiers, general manager of AA Insurance.
"The danger of this is that motor insurance policies exclude cover if the insured vehicle is found to be unroadworthy. As a result there is a clear responsibility on you as an owner and driver to constantly check your car's roadworthiness. This is especially relevant the older a car gets."
And while certain agencies, including AA's own motor vehicle insurance policies, issue insurance cover for pothole damage, the damage may not warrant a claim or the claim could unnecessarily affect your no-claim or cash-back bonus.
"It is important to know that certain situations are uninsurable such as flat tyres and damage caused by wear and tear.
"Therefore, we recommend that South Africans consciously adopt a cautious and responsible way of driving.
"This can be done by driving at the correct speed, slowing down when you see potholes or driving around them, by trying to avoid routes that you know have potholes and by familiarising yourself with roads that are in good condition," concluded de Villiers.
