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Mark your calendars for January 15 because it's time to celebrate National Pothole Day! While most of us associate potholes with annoying, bumpy roads, this day actually has a fun and interesting history. It was created by The UK Pothole Action Group in 2019 to raise awareness about the issue of potholes and encourage local authorities to take action in fixing them. And let's be honest, who doesn't love a smooth drive without any pesky potholes? So let's come together on this day and appreciate the importance of well-maintained roads.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1905</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Pothole Experiment</div><div class='timeline-text'>Early 20th century road builders begin experiments to find materials and techniques that would decrease the formation of potholes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1921</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Federal Aid Road Act</div><div class='timeline-text'>The US Federal Aid Road Act is passed, beginning federal assistance on a large scale to the State highway agencies for highway construction, including addressing road maintenance and potholes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1950s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Post-WWII Infrastructure Boom</div><div class='timeline-text'>Massive public infrastructure projects following the World War II includes extensive road building, which unfortunately leads to a new wave of pothole challenges.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2001</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Innovations in Pothole Repair</div><div class='timeline-text'>New technologies are developed to enable cold weather pothole repairs, making it possible to fix roads in all seasons.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2015</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Advent of Pothole Reporting Apps</div><div class='timeline-text'>First smartphone apps are launched that allow public to report potholes to local authorities, encouraging community participation in road maintenance.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2019</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Inauguration of National Pothole Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>The UK Pothole Action Group establishes National Pothole Day on January 15 to raise awareness about the issue and advocate for local authority action.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Fill a pothole</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spend the day filling potholes in your neighborhood or city. Not only will this help improve the roads, but you'll also feel a sense of accomplishment.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Report potholes to the city</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a drive around your city and report any potholes you see to the appropriate department. This helps bring attention to the issue and can lead to quicker repairs.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Have a pothole-themed party</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite friends over for a pothole-themed party where everything from the food to the decorations is centered around potholes. You can even have a contest for the most creative pothole dish!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Donate to organizations that fix potholes</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Find local organizations or charities that work to fix potholes and donate to their cause. You can also volunteer your time to help with repairs.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a social media campaign</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spread awareness about the pothole problem by creating a social media campaign. Share pictures of potholes in your area and use hashtags like #NationalPotholeDay to get others involved.</p></div></div>
<div class='whywelove-item'><div class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 class='whywelove-title'>Promotes Road Safety</h3><p class='whywelove-text'>National Pothole Day serves to increase awareness about road safety. Potholes not only cause discomfort during drives but they can also damage vehicles and cause accidents. By focusing attention on these hazards, the day aims to make our roads safer for all users.</p></div></div><div class='whywelove-item'><div class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 class='whywelove-title'>Encourages Civic Participation</h3><p class='whywelove-text'>The day encourages citizens to report potholes to their local authorities. Such civic participation not only helps in getting the potholes fixed faster, but it also promotes a sense of responsibility among the citizens towards their community.</p></div></div><div class='whywelove-item'><div class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 class='whywelove-title'>Supports Local Economy</h3><p class='whywelove-text'>Big or small, pothole repairs create jobs and stimulate the local economy. Contractors, workers, and suppliers all benefit when roads are maintained or repaired. Thus, National Pothole Day indirectly contributes to the local economies by encouraging roadway repair and maintenance.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Potholes are formed by water, traffic, and the freeze-thaw effect</h3><p class='facts-content'>When water seeps into the cracks in the road and then freezes and expands, it causes the asphalt to break apart, initiating pothole formation which is then worsened by heavy traffic.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Potholes can cause significant vehicle damage</h3><p class='facts-content'>Driving over potholes can lead to punctured tires, bent wheels, damaged suspensions, and misaligned steering.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Pothole-related repairs cost drivers billions annually</h3><p class='facts-content'>According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), pothole-related car repairs cost U.S. drivers $3 billion dollars a year on average.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>There are different methods for pothole repair</h3><p class='facts-content'>Common methods include throw-and-roll, semi-permanent, spray-injection, and full-depth roadway replacement — each type varying in cost, time required, and durability.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>National Pothole Day raises awareness about highway safety</h3><p class='facts-content'>Celebrated on January 15, this day aims to bring attention to the role that infrastructure investment plays in pothole prevention and the importance of maintaining our roads for safety and efficiency.</p></div></div>
National Pothole Day is celebrated on January 15 every year. In 2024 National Pothole Day will occur on a Monday.
2023
Jan 15
Sunday
2024
Jan 15
Monday
2025
Jan 15
Wednesday
2026
Jan 15
Thursday
2027
Jan 15
Friday
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