How Back Roads in Frederick County Damage Your Car (and What to Inspect After Rural Driving)

When it comes to potential damage to our vehicles, many people think of accidents involving other vehicles to be the main culprit. It follows, then, to expect an accident and its related vehicle damage to be more likely to occur in areas with greater volumes of traffic, such as busy intersections.

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However, recent data out of Frederick County shows the opposite to be true here locally: Despite their lower traffic volumes, rural roads in Frederick County come with more overall risks to both vehicle integrity and personal safety than their higher-traffic-volume counterparts.

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This is mainly due to the fact that rural roads aren’t typically maintained at the same rate as roads in areas with higher volumes of traffic. This lack of maintenance results in uneven grading, worsening potholes, and other road hazards that cause costly vehicle damage, while significantly increasing driving safety risks.

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Distracted driving is also a major factor in rural Frederick County accidents. In a recent year, it was found to be the cause of 60.9 percent of fatalities on rural roads and 60 percent of serious injuries. In many cases, potholes and other road hazards are hidden and can’t be avoided, but paying attention at all times certainly increases the odds of avoiding them.

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A damaged car is also more likely to fail. This article discusses specific aspects of rural roads that cause damage to vehicles and signs of damage to look for. However, if you suspect that your vehicle has been damaged, it’s best to bring it in for a professional inspection to help guarantee your safety. 

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Commercial drivers especially can expect better results from OEM parts and regular safety inspections, according to one local law firm representing stranding liability cases.

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But First, the Safety Risk: A Quick Look at the Numbers

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Costly repairs due to vehicle damage and dangerous roads are one thing, but serious injuries and death are another. 

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Every year, injuries due to motor vehicle accidents on rural roads alone cost Marylanders over $4.6 million in medical bills. 

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Despite accounting for just 15 percent of Frederick County’s total vehicle miles traveled, the county’s rural roads saw more than 25 percent of accidents involving serious injuries or death in recent years, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT’s) 2022 “Zero Deaths” initiative. 

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Whereas fatal and serious non-intersection vehicle crashes represent just 2.4 percent of accidents throughout the county, on rural roads the rate more than triples, to 7.5 percent. Instead of involving other vehicles, these accidents involve hidden road hazards like potholes and uneven grading.

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Another recent trend is the rise in serious repercussions from distracted driving for young people. In 2018, just one young person died or experienced serious injuries after an accident caused by distracted driving. That number rose to four in 2020.

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Common Causes of Vehicle Damage on Rural Roads 

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Vehicle damage can be costly to repair, but doing so can be life-saving. Here, we take a look at common causes of vehicle damage on Frederick County’s rural roads, as well as signs indicative of this damage.

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Uneven Road Grades

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Roads with uneven surfaces, i.e., higher in one area and lower in another, made of gravel, etc., are more common in rural areas. This rough driving can wear out your vehicle’s suspension more quickly, including shocks, springs, ball joints, struts, and control arms. For example, ball joints wear twice as fast on gravel roads as they do on paved roads.

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What to Look For: Steering wander, or your vehicle pulling to the left or right when driving straight, and possibly involving a “loose” steering wheel.

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Gravel Roads

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Although gravel can be thought of as a component of uneven road grades, it deserves its own category as something to keep in mind regarding vehicle safety.

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“Washboard gravel,” known to hinder vehicle braking power, was found to be involved in 823 high-injury crashes, including eight fatalities, on Frederick Pike alone in one recent nine-month period.

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Hidden gravel washouts cause additional risks. Washouts are known to damage lower control arms on front-wheel drive (FWD) sedans especially, with 2012-2017 Honda Civics particularly susceptible to damage to the cushions (“bushing”) surrounding suspension joints.

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Washboard gravel and washouts are of particular concern at the start of spring, with gaps in gravel road maintenance occurring over the winter months.

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Narrow and/or Winding Roads

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Narrow rural roads are particularly dangerous, with twice the risk of rollover compared to non-rustic roads. Again, this is often associated with uneven road grade (caused by subgrade erosion) but is also due to drop-offs, sharp curves, and undercut edges. Subgrade erosion isn’t always visible to road inspectors.

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In one recent year, rollovers due to sharp curves and drop-offs on Northwestern Pike in Frederick County resulted in 39 injury accidents and five fatalities.

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Edge failures and narrow road alignment were also responsible for 135 crashes on Bryants Nursery Road between 2015 and 2020.

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Farm Access Spurs

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Hidden farm access spurs on rural roads result in undercarriage strikes that can tear CV boots and cause other damage to drive axles, the exhaust system, fuel lines, and more.  

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What to Look For: Check CV boots (the accordion-like sleeves on the axle) for rips, cracks, or splits. Per MDOT’s “Zero Deaths” initiative, all-wheel drive (AWD) Subaru Foresters were particularly susceptible in recent years.  

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Potholes

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For many drivers, nothing is as aggravating as hitting a pothole by surprise. It can come with hidden, escalating damage and costly repairs.

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In 2020, the Maryland Rural Road Study found that potholes on rustic, gravel roads exceeded 4-inch depths, capable of cracking alloy wheels. 

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One recent year saw 63 injury accidents and three fatalities caused by potholes and/or debris on I-81 in rural parts of Frederick County. Another 28 injuries and two fatalities occurred due to these same road hazards on Northwestern Pike that year.

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What to Look For: Wheel spoke separation can indicate wheel cracks. MDOT’s “Zero Deaths” also advises checking tire pressure before trips, as well as scanning your vehicle’s underbody for damage caused by potholes, which can cascade to alignments.

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Frost Heaves

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When water under roads freezes and melts, expanding and contracting, it can cause bumps, dips, and other uneven road surfaces known as frost heaves.

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Hitting frost heaves with your car can result in misaligned wheel bearings and other damage. Reports out of Montgomery County show that rustic low-volume-traffic areas, including Riggs Road, are particularly susceptible.  

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Here to Help

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Whether you’re in need of a safety inspection, a tow, or vehicle repairs, we have the experience and expertise to help.

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