When approaching a pothole, what is the recommended action?

When approaching a pothole, slowing down and maneuvering around it if it is safe to do so is the recommended action for several important safety reasons. Reducing speed allows you to maintain better control of the motorcycle, which is crucial when navigating potential hazards on the road. A controlled speed enables you to assess the situation clearly and decide on the best path to avoid the pothole without risking your balance or stability.

Maneuvering around the obstacle, when possible, helps you avoid the impact that could lead to tire damage, loss of control, or even a crash. The key is to ensure that there is a safe way to navigate around the pothole. If the road is clear, this action helps to minimize risk and maintain safety for both you and other road users.

While there may be situations where a pothole could be small enough to ignore, this approach can still lead to unexpected consequences, particularly if the road conditions change or if other vehicles are in close proximity. Similarly, swerving quickly or increasing speed can drastically increase the likelihood of an accident, as these maneuvers can affect your balance and handling, making it difficult to react appropriately to other traffic or obstacles.