The continuous rainy weather in Los Angeles since the end of 2016 is prompting a substantial increase of potholes, a natural underground cavity formed by the erosion of rock. The number of potholes in L.A. has reportedly been doubled.
L.A.’s Bureau of Street Services announced that it has received 60 submissions of new potholes in a day on average over the last eight days. That is essentially a 100 percent increase compared to the same period last year when the number of submissions remained at around 30 to 33 per day on average.
Potholes on a rainy day obviously poses are far greater danger. The cloudy weather makes it harder for drivers and pedestrians to identify the potholes.
Case in point, car accidents have been occurring more frequently than usual in recent weeks.
Unity Auto Body Repair told the Korea Daily that at least 10 percent of its customers are ones who were involved in an accident caused by a pothole.
“Driving over a pothole can damage a car’s suspension,” said a Unity employee.
The battle against potholes has been one of L.A.’s chronically costly traffic problems.
L.A. County Building and Safety has repaired about 2,100 potholes a year on average. Those who find potholes are encouraged to report via smartphone app MyLA311. For drivers whose vehicles were damaged due to a pothole can file a claim for compensation on claims.lacity.org.
Between Dec. 7 and Dec. 14, two potholes in Koreatown on Third Street and Hover Street and Fourth Street and Western Avenue were repaired.
By Koo Hyun Chung
