Badly composed asphalt could lead to weak roads and, eventually, potholes. While potholes vary in size, they don't have to be giant to pose a problem for drivers, so choosing proper insurance is important. The CBC reported recently that the city of Saint John had to pay nearly $2,000 dollars to drivers for pothole-related vehicle damage.

As the source notes, this is just a fraction of the number of claims submitted over the past year, which adds up to more than 200. That's because Saint John, like other Canadian cities, only has to pay for damages if it can be proven that the potholes were the result of neglect. This can make car insurance in Saint John and elsewhere a necessity to cover drivers, especially after storms and bad weather have worn down the roads.

The properties of the asphalt used for pavement impacts how long and how stable it will be. A separate article from the CBC, published earlier this month, quotes chemistry professor Simon Hesp on some of the additives that can dilute the effectiveness of this material. He said that some recycled materials can lessen the pavement's durability and hurt the road. 

"A few years ago we found out that maybe 50 percent of the asphalt cement in Ontario has traces of used motor oil in it," he said. "So pretty much we find all sorts of things that we never knew about, and that shouldn't be in there."

Even though some Canadian communities are taking action to enforce better asphalt usage, drivers still have to watch out when passing over​ roads that could be more prone to deteriorate and pose dangers to their vehicle. Get a free car insurance quote today by contacting Fundy Mutual.