Recognize the road treatment before you react to the loose stones

  • Temporary signs for loose gravel, fresh oil, chip seal, seal coat, or reduced speed.
  • Dark binder on the pavement with a visible layer of small stone aggregate.
  • Construction or sweeping vehicles working ahead or nearby.
  • Other vehicles throwing small stones from their tires even at moderate speed.
  • A change in steering feel or road noise as the tires move onto loose material.

Drive so your tires disturb as little aggregate as possible

  1. 01
    Slow down before the treated section

    Use the posted temporary speed or a lower safe speed for conditions. Braking hard after you are already on loose stone can reduce available grip and throw more aggregate.

  2. 02
    Increase the gap to the vehicle ahead

    Extra distance reduces the chance of following directly in a stream of stones from another vehicle’s tires and gives you more room for gradual speed changes.

  3. 03
    Avoid unnecessary passing

    Driving side by side can put your doors, windshield, and the other vehicle directly in the path of stones thrown outward from tires.

  4. 04
    Use smooth steering and acceleration

    Abrupt inputs can break traction on loose aggregate and fling stones behind the vehicle. Let the tires roll through the surface rather than spinning or scrubbing across it.

  5. 05
    Wait for clean pavement before resuming normal speed

    Loose aggregate can continue beyond the visible construction crew. Accelerate only when the roadway is clearly stable and normal speed is appropriate again.

A few small chips are different from a new vibration or pressure loss

Fresh chip seal can make a vehicle sound much louder underneath because stones strike the wheel wells and lower body. That noise usually decreases once you leave the loose surface, but a hard impact can still damage a windshield, tire, wheel, underbody panel, or sensor cover.

At the next safe stop, look for a spreading windshield crack, fresh tire cut or bulge, pressure warning, loose splash shield, or unusual vibration. Cosmetic specks on lower paint are frustrating, but a tire or glass problem deserves priority before the next Interstate-speed leg of the trip.

Safety check

Do not stop in the active work zone just to inspect paint chips

If the vehicle still steers normally and there is no pressure warning, fluid leak, major glass crack, or other immediate safety symptom, continue to the next safe turnout, parking area, or exit before inspecting the car. If a tire rapidly loses pressure, visibility is compromised, or the vehicle becomes unstable, slow smoothly and follow normal roadside-emergency procedures instead.