Keep an eye on your hubcaps

Photo credit: John Dunn | A vehicle hits a water-filled pothole at New York Avenue and Mill Dam Road in Huntington.

Potholes are eating Long Island cars at an alarming rate.

A harsh winter has left already poorly surfaced roads even more cratered, and governments don't have the staff and budgets to both repair streets and clear snow. Asphalt plants don't even start making hot asphalt until March or April, leaving temporary cold patches the only option.

This endless freeze-thaw cycle will likely result in a few more months of potholes that motorists have no way to avoid, no matter how much they swerve. So what can be done other than replacing tires, rims and axles?

One idea is to outline potholes in fluorescent neon paint, making them visible even at night. It won't fix them, but at least drivers will have a chance.

If money is a problem, consider selling naming rights. Last year, a town in Germany allowed individuals to sponsor potholes, printing the person's name on it after it was filled.

In 2009, KFC paid to patch holes in Louisville's roads in return for the right to etch "Refreshed by KFC" in temporary street chalk. This is a public-private partnership with a positive, immediate impact.

The circumstances are tough and the solutions are few, but someone must have a better idea. We need to fix the potholes before we are all driven mad. And broke.