One major reason that is believed to cause road accident is the nature and condition of roads and the questionable maintenance practices and schedule that are in place for proper upkeep of roads and highways. This is an important factor which needs to be seriously considered by the governmental, regulatory and all others concerned with surface transport if we are to control the spate of accidents that take place on our roads.


The safety conditions on our roads all across several countries is appalling, to say the least. Most of the roads in many developing countries are infested with hundreds of potholes that can be termed as potential death traps for mostly cyclists and two wheeler riders. Most of these roads are major, busy and only roads connecting several inhabitations. In the absence of effective and timely maintenance several accidents occur.


Potholes could well be one of the major cause of road accidents in this country. They are definitely instrumental for many accidents to occur. This cause is often overlooked and not mentioned because the other reason attributed for road accidents such as carelessness of drivers and over speed straightaway construed as major reasons.


Many times we notice vehicles moving in a zigzag manner on roads. On a closer look it is possible to understand that these vehicles are either avoiding the potholes are moving around them. In potholes infested roads, we often see drivers trying as much as possible to dodge these potholes as they drive along.


Sometimes in an effort to dodge a pothole, they drivers find themselves in the lane of an oncoming vehicle and this sometimes results in a crush. When this happens the onlookers and regulators relate it to carelessness and rash driving by the driver. They fail to take notice of the poor and appalling condition of the roads that is to be blamed in the first place for mishaps.  


Another instance where a pothole can cause accidents is, when a driver who is not familiar with a road, speeds on it. He may be driving within prescribed speed limits but when he encounters sudden potholes, he or she is shocked and is forced to maneuver the vehicle appropriately to avoid breakdown and damage to the vehicle apart from hindering the movement of other vehicles on road..


There is also the instance where a driver who is not familiar with a pothole-infested road all of a sudden sees a pothole in front of him and because he is speeding, cannot do without bumping his vehicle in the potholes. In a case like this, the tyre can burst or the driver can loose his balance and the result can be a fatal accident that can take away innocent lives.


Monsoon and sudden flooding of roads could be the cause for potholes, though poor laying standards, and over usage of the road by heavier vehicles can be other causes.