ON THE RADAR
A Smoother Ride with CAA Worst Roads
Bad roads can damage your car. Find out why and learn how the CAA Worst Roads campaign can help.
By Waheeda Harris
PHOTO: KREIDE68/ADOBE STOCK
POTHOLES, DEBRIS, CONSTRUCTION, cracked pavement — these all contribute to poor roads, making them hazardous to both drivers and their vehicles. In a recent survey of CAA Members, 85 percent of respondents expressed concern for the current state of our roads. A rough drive and the sound of damaged road surfaces underneath your tires can be concerning, and the actual damage to your car can be costly. Here’s what those poor roads are doing to your vehicle:
DEBRIS, LOOSE GRAVEL AND EXCESSIVE SALT
Driving with that rough layer between your tires and the pavement can be dangerous. It reduces traction, can cause skidding and creates problematic driving conditions. It can also damage the car’s paint finish and pit or crack the windshield.
POTHOLES
After winter’s freezing temperatures, spring roads are often in disrepair, with cracks and craters that are no friend to your vehicle’s suspension, alignment, tires and wheel rims. At slower speeds, a pothole can dent a rim or warp a tire; at higher speeds, it can cause a tire blowout. If your car’s frame rides low, potholes can also damage critical components on the underside of your car such as the oil pan, axle or muffler.
UNEVEN SURFACES
Ruts and uneven road surfaces may not seem significant — until you hit that transition point at a significant speed. The rough road can make your tires pull to one side, making it challenging to steer. Long-term, the constant vibrations and pulling can affect wear and tear, from causing alignment issues to advanced tire wear.
“Still, many roads remain in need of repair, and CAA will continue advocating for increased transportation infrastructure funding and prioritization of road-safety improvements across the province.”
In Ontario, over half of the CAA Members surveyed say roads across the province are getting worse over time. And there’s even more proof of dissatisfaction, with 78 percent of Members venting about the state of roads in their community to spouses, friends and co-workers. Help get those roads fixed by nominating them in CAA’s Worst Roads campaign.
Since 2003, this campaign has influenced change and led to repaving and repair work on many of those roads nominated. In November of 2024, the City of Windsor announced $19.5 million in funding for the reconstruction of University Avenue West, which has been on the Southwest Regional list for the last four years.
Still, many roads remain in need of repair, and CAA will continue advocating for increased transportation infrastructure funding and prioritization of road-safety improvements across Ontario. In 2024, CAA Members participating in the CAA Worst Roads campaign nominated 2,000 roads from 145 municipalities.