Pothole season is expected to make an early debut in Western and Central New York this year. Cracked and crumbling pavement creates ideal conditions for potholes to form. Moisture seeps into these cracks, causing them to expand and contract with freeze-thaw cycles. Over time, pavement deteriorates, and the weight of passing vehicles eventually causes it to form potholes. This year’s harsh winter and extended cold temperatures have taken their toll on area roads, leading to an earlier-than-expected pothole season.

Potholes can cause significant damage to a vehicle’s tires, alignment, suspension, and shocks. Every month, AAA responds to thousands of tire-related calls across Western and Central New York. Nationwide, AAA handles millions of such requests each winter and spring. Although AAA doesn’t track roadside assistance specifically for pothole damage, it’s clear that many calls during this time are due to vehicles hitting potholes. Tire-related requests make up about 10 to 14% of AAA emergency road service calls each month.

“While we’ve been inundated with requests to service dead batteries this year amid the cold spell, we expect to see more tire-related issues due to potholes now that temperatures are warming up,” said AAA Fleet Manager Jeremy Harrington. “This winter’s harsh conditions could make for an early and rough pothole season.”

In 2023, a AAA survey found that nearly 2 in 10 drivers had to get their vehicles repaired after hitting a pothole. Researchers estimated that pothole-related damage increased by 57% nationwide.

The average vehicle repair cost for pothole damage in 2022 was $406, and with automotive parts and repair costs rising, potholes are certainly even more costly this year. Some drivers undergo multiple pothole-related repairs each season, underscoring the urgent need to repair America’s roadways.

How to Save Your Car and Your Wallet from Pothole Damage

Check your tires, including tread depth, tire pressure, suspension, and alignment

• Tread depth—insert a quarter into the tread groove with Washington’s head upside down. If you can see the top of Washington’s head, start shopping for new tires.
• Tire pressure—check this at least once a month before driving, when the tires have been at rest and are not hot. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door.
• Suspension and alignment—look for changes in vehicle handling, excessive vibration, or uneven wearing of tires, all indications of a problem with the suspension, like alignment or shocks.

Keep your eyes on the road.An alert and cautious driver is less likely to hit a pothole

• Scan the road ahead for potholes and, if it’s safe to do so, drive around any in your path.
• Standing water or puddles may disguise a deep pothole. Avoid driving through standing water when possible, but if you can’t, drive through slowly.
• If you can’t avoid a pothole, reduce your speed safely and avoid braking abruptly, particularly as you go over the pothole. Striking a pothole at higher speeds increases the chance of knocking the wheels out of alignment, affecting the steering, and bending or even breaking suspension components.

If you hit a pothole, pay attention to any new or unusual noises or vibrations. If you detect something is off with your vehicle, take it to a trusted repair facility for a full vehicle inspection as soon as possible.

Provided information

New and increased point values for serious driving infractions took effect in New York on Monday, February 16, under changes announced by the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Many serious violations now carry a higher number of points, and some infractions that previously had no points assigned now receive significant point totals. In addition, the length of time points remain on a driver’s record has been extended, increasing the likelihood that drivers who accumulate multiple serious violations could face suspension or, in some cases, permanent revocation of their license.

“Unfortunately, AAA research shows that risky driving behaviors like distraction, speeding, and driving while impaired contribute to tens of thousands of traffic deaths each year,” said Elizabeth Carey, Director of Public Relations at AAA Western and Central New York. “We are hopeful the new point values for serious violations will send a strong message to bad drivers that they should change their behavior, thereby saving lives.”

Impaired Driving: The maximum point value for a single violation is now 11 points. Any alcohol- or drug-related conviction or incident — including refusal to submit to a roadside chemical test — now carries the full 11 points. Previously, these violations did not carry any points. Additionally, accumulating four alcohol- or drug-related convictions or incidents will lead to the permanent revocation of a driver’s license.

According to the New York State DMV, as published in the State Register, the need for this measure is underscored by the fact that one in five convicted impaired drivers in New York is a repeat offender, and 44 percent of fatal crashes statewide involve alcohol or drugs.

Unlicensed Operation and Speeding: Aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, meaning a person drove while their license was suspended or revoked, will now result in 11 points. Previously, there were no points assigned to such a violation. Also, a conviction of speeding more than 40 miles per hour over the speed limit will result in 11 points, but this was the case prior to the new point values.

School Buses: Emphasizing the need to protect the most vulnerable road users, children, the State Register notes that the points for passing or overtaking a stopped school bus have increased from five to eight. This applies only to school bus tickets issued by law enforcement (not bus cameras). From 2020 through 2024, more than 9,000 school bus tickets were issued in New York State.

Bridge Strikes: An over-height vehicle violation or bridge hit previously resulted in no points; under the new regulations, eight (8) points will be assigned. In 2024, there were 350 bridge-hits statewide, primarily downstate.

Additional Changes: Leaving the scene of a personal injury crash now carries a penalty of five points, up from the previous three. Facilitating the aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle, meaning someone loaned their vehicle to a person with a suspended or revoked license, has jumped from no points to five. Engaging in a speed contest or race has also increased from no points to five.

Driving Records: Under the new regulations, points will remain on a driver’s record for 24 months, up from 18. Previously, a person who accumulated 11 or more points within an 18-month period was deemed a persistent violator and was subject to a license suspension or revocation. The State Register says increasing the timeframe from 18 to 24 months allows the DMV to review a longer period of operation, during which administrative action can be taken against a persistent violator, and will result in a 40 percent increase in drivers classified as persistent violators.

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On Friday, February 6, Ogden Town Supervisor Mike Zale and Ogden Highway Superintendent Doug Case joined Monroe County town and village highway superintendents, state representatives, industry partners, and community advocates at the Ogden Highway Garage to call for increased Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) funding. CHIPS funding is essential to helping local governments maintain safe roads, bridges, and other critical infrastructure without placing an added burden on local taxpayers.

“Local roads are not optional infrastructure. They are how people get to work, how school buses run, and how emergency services respond,” said Ogden Town Supervisor Mike Zale. “CHIPS is the backbone of local highway funding in New York State, but flat funding does not keep up with rising costs for fuel, materials, equipment, and labor.

“Without proper funding, towns like Ogden and many others across the state are forced to delay repairs, absorb unavoidable costs, or shift the burden onto local taxpayers. Towns are on the front lines, directly accountable to residents, and we need funding that reflects the real-world costs of maintaining our roads efficiently,” concluded Zale.

Investments in CHIPS support far more than just roads. They help towns and villages maintain bridges, drainage systems, and essential equipment, ensuring transportation networks remain reliable for both residents and businesses. Strong CHIPS funding also ensures that communities throughout Monroe County and across New York State have safe, dependable infrastructure for everyday life.

“With the rising costs of highway and infrastructure projects, it was more important than ever to make this funding a top priority to ensure the stability and safety of our community. I hope our rally demonstrated the strong bipartisan support for funding local roads and highways through the CHIPS program and sent a clear message to Albany that increased funding should be nonnegotiable in the state budget,” said Ogden Highway Superintendent Doug Case.

“Investing in CHIPS is a smart investment in jobs, local economies, and long-term growth,” said Assemblyman Josh Jensen. “This is about fairness and common sense. Inflation has driven construction costs up by nearly 70 percent—yet CHIPS funding has stayed flat. A $250 million increase is not optional, it’s essential. Without it, communities across New York will fall further behind, and taxpayers will pay far more down the road.

“Thank you to Parma Highway Superintendent Jim Christ, Ogden Highway Superintendent Doug Case, and Ogden Town Supervisor Mike Zale for their collaboration to make this rally possible,” concluded Jensen.

Provided information and photos

Assemblyman Steve Hawley recently commented on the Department of Motor Vehicles’ (DMV) announcement of new Gold Star Family license plates. The new plates will give qualifying family members a meaningful way to honor the service and sacrifice of their fallen loved ones and will be offered alongside the existing Gold Star Mothers license plate.

Assemblyman Hawley’s bill, A.2334, has long supported efforts to waive registration fees for Gold Star parents and family members who apply for commemorative plates. He welcomed the unveiling of the new plates and thanked DMV Commissioner and former state Assembly colleague Mark Schroeder for his work in making them available to Gold Star Families across New York. Hawley also said he plans to amend his bill to ensure the DMV includes this new plate when waiving registration fees for eligible Gold Star Families.

Qualifying family members can order the new plates now by visiting https://dmv.ny.gov/plates/gold-star-family.

“I’m proud to see the DMV take this important step supporting our state’s Gold Star Families and my legislation and providing them with another way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” said Hawley. “One of my goals as an assemblyman has been to ensure these plates are accessible and affordable for qualifying families. This announcement marks real progress, and I look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Schroeder and my colleagues in Albany to make sure Gold Star Families will be able to obtain these plates for no registration fee.”

Provided information. Photo from the DMV.