A little extra tip. Release the brakes an instant before you hit the hole (or bump). This frees the suspension to absorb the impact properly without also having to cope with the braking forces. It will feel less harsh and possibly do less damage on those occasions where you have to hit a hole.
Nice tip, it applies to any motorsports involving suspension and I first learned this on mountain bikes, breakjacks a.k.a. Anti-rise is the name for it (if I'm not mistaken) and it applies to speedbumps aswell as far as I know.
Sounds just like Queensland. If you see a car swerving all over the place, the driver is attempting to avoid potholes; if it is going straight, the driver must be drunk.
Thank you, Richard, for all of your hard work. I am an American living in the UK, and I struggled to find a driving instructor that would take me on board as a student. Because of that, I watched most of your videos to help me prepare over the last few months. I like how your teaching style is so clear, easy to understand and realistic. I passed the first time with 2 minors. The morning of my test, I watched your reverse bay parking videos and that was the maneuver I got and I did it with ease. I can say with certainty that it’s because of your channel, I passed. Even though it’s “just” a driving test, there was a lot riding on it for me (freedom!). I can’t thank you enough for what you do, you’ve helped so many people and I am definitely one of them. Cheers.
I've been having issues with potholes recently, as I've needed to travel to different places with more of them. This video was very well timed, and very helpful!
Whenever you drive down an unfamiliar road you should take it easier than you would on a familiar road it will help you avoid potholes and other hazards you might not be aware of.
Hey Richard! I came here today to say a massive thank you! I moved to the UK last year and needed to pass a driving test here. I watched some of your video and totally got the idea of the exam and what is being assessed. Took no extra lessons, and today I passed with 0 minors!!! (on a second try but anyway). I cannot express how grateful I am for your approach, sense of humor and your devotion to what you do. I consider it our common achievement :) wish all the best to you in the future 🤗
The state of the roads here are completely and utterly inexcusable. I had my tyre blown up just after coming out of hospital at 3:30 am a couple months ago. Not to mention I’ve had wheels bent multiple times. (which council refused to pay for) Sometimes can’t avoid them in order to be safe. Great video!
I passed my test first time today with 1 minor! Wanted to say thank you! My instructor recommend that I watch your channel outside of lessons, and they have helped me massively!! Thank you conquer driving 😃
As a born cynic I reckon potholes are a win, win, win for government finance - Win 1 - the obvious saving on maintenance, Win 2 - savings in cost of speed limit enforcement unless you want a broken suspension, Win 3 - 12% tax on all the increased insurance premiums that come from ignoring Win 2.
Great video! In all my time driving, That's the first time I've seen that steering wheel method to avoid potholes. Over time I've just gotten used to the width of my car and subconsciously know where the car is going to be approaching potholes and things. To better judge the width of the car, I use my legs by putting my right leg against the door and my left against the centre console. Reference point of the right wheel then basically being where my right leg is, and my left leg to show roughly the middle of the car.
Thank you for all your videos, watched them religiously and was able to pass my test first time 3 minors with no driving lessons at all! Huge props to the effort you put in to help people like me save time and money, thanks again Richard
I have heard that you may be asked to identify the pothole which caused the damage. Low profile tyres may lead to damage to the alloy wheels (over time we had three which needed to be replaced on one of our cars with these tyres), however although potholes and poor road surface were likely to have been the problem, we were advised that we could not claim as there needed to be a specific incident which caused the damage.
I never thought about the steering wheel as a reference like this, very interesting. I am used to using my foot as a reference. My outer foot is basically on the tire. I find it easier to 'feel' where my body is on the road.
Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge and expertise with us! I finally passed after doing lessons on and off for years. Will continue watching now I’ve passed for extra help and advice. All the best!
Driving at night in the pitch black down country roads after a heavy rain, is damright dangerous! my work means i have to do this on a daily basis and glad it's not my own car being battered by these hidden pot holes!
I just passed my test! Thank you Richard, you helped myself and many others with each video you post - During the test I may have been a nervous wreck but I stayed safe and legal. I want others to remember that is all that matters, so as proof ill mention that i went the wrong way at a round about TWICE... due to being unable to swap lanes, DONT be unsafe. it's ok to go the wrong way
Good tip i have been trying to avoid pothole but kept hitting them but will be using your tip from now on. Also pot holes on round about or junctions where it is impossible to avoid is a joke and road conidtions is getting worst too.
Tomorrow is my driving test and I’m hoping for the very best been watching your videos for a while now thanks Collinwood I should be back here with a wonderful news 🙏🙏🙏
omg this is super useful! I just did many times that potholes on my 1olock and I still hitting it every single time so in the end i just move completely out of the lane to avoid it, now i know this, i know what to do! thanks Richard!
@@melgrant7404 Some modern cars have truly insane cost for suspension spare parts. And if the hit is bad enough to bend the attachment points of the suspension parts, it will only get more expensive. As an example of insanely expensive parts, did you know that modern BMW cars have headlights that cost about 3500 USD per side. And if you have BMW laser headlights on X5, the replacement cost is closer to 5000 USD per side. That makes zero sense to me but BMW owners are still buying those cars - I would rather vote with my wallet and avoid getting such expensive crap because you might get unlucky and have a hit from a stone fling from the tire of another car.
Years ago in Kent, I hit a pothole and blew a tyre. changed tyre, gently drove back into the pothole, photographed the wheel alongside the days newspaper. Sent photo and letter to the council. Pothole was quickly filled in and their reply was that it had been filled in 10 days prior, which would have been before the date on the newspaper.
Had my second driving lesson today. Was surprised that my instructor got me to do a bit of motorway driving already, but all went well and was under control so wasn't too worried. Was met with one driver reversing out of a Chinese takeaway place quickly straight in front of me but managed to spot it and brake in time.
Your videos have been a fantastic aid in my 'learning to drive' journey. I'd like to thank you very much as I passed today and I can't say it wasn't thanks to these videos, so thank you!!
Thanks Richard for sharing your valuable time and knowledge It helps a lot. Today I passed the test and I watched this channel videos outside my lessons that helps passing my test 😊
Thanks for all the effort you put into your videos, Richard. I've been watching you since starting my lessons and I passed first time with just two minors, in part due to all the great nuggets of advice in your vids! Keep up the great work!
Some Clacton potholes stretch from 9-3 on the steering wheel, especially if driving from the shopping village towards Reedlands farm shop on the roundabout to the new estate.
One more advice from a pothole evasion expert: if you can't completely avoid hitting pothole, try to make sure you only go in the pothole with one side of your vehicle. Dropping a single wheel at a time is way, way less damaging to your suspension and/or wheels compared to dropping both forward (or rear) wheels simultaneously. There's like an order of magnitude difference.
@@melgrant7404 if you can't - you can't. Just make sure you do it as slow as possible. But, and here goes one more advice : ) , make sure you aren't entering a pothole while braking hard. Brake as long as you possibly can, but as you're about to hit the hole - release the brakes. Entering the pothole while the weight of your car is shifted forward and your forward suspension is already half-compressed is a nice recipe to damage your wheels, suspension or both.
I've recently gotten a Mazda6 and discovered that it has 19-inch wheels with low profile tires. It has very little protection against potholes, so I have to be more cautious about rough roads and potholes. Which does make driving more engaging, which I do like but do always have me concerned about my wheels condition every time I drive.
I'm in Australia. The place I encounter most of the potholes is on rural roads where the speed limit is 100kmh (62 mph), one lane in either direction and a soft shoulder. The issue in this situation (while freezing temperatures can be an issue in my specific part of the country) it is more likely the pothole is caused by the shoulder getting washed out followed by heavy vehicle loading which can cause the tarmac to ripple as HGV's try to stay as near to the left. This means the potholes are almost always on the left side of the lane and in clusters.
The biggest thing I would advise is avoid areas where water has pooled because its either a big dip in the surface or an outright pot hole most of the time. Its so common for people to get caught out by pot holes that were hidden by water. Also try to stay out of the gutter and if nothing is coming the other it may be well advised on some the more battered country roads to drive right down the middle until you have to move for another vehicle. Be alert and pay attention out there.
I love the big tall pseudo-offroader looking all tentative about the flooded road, only to have the small hatchback confidently trundle through and show the way. I can't say I blame them - they clearly observed what was happening to your car and optimised their route. One thing to add - when driving through water, if safe to do so then consider driving in the middle (crown) of the road. Because of the camber, the centre of the road is usually higher than the sides, so the water isn't so deep. Know where the engine air inlet is for your car though - some cars have inlets that are very low down and almost any level of water can cause it to be drawn into the engine, which can cause the engine to seize with hydraulic locking. This can write off your car.
Apart from the weather, another possibility for some small maintenance jobs being done by the Council is that they tend to clear up minor items towards the end of the tax year, as they can’t carry forward a surplus across the April 5/6 boundary. In the main, precepts for sorting out their budget are done around January each year, so in the next couple of months, they have a reasonable idea of how much to do. The ‘Collection Fund’ is not like a normal bank account, in effect. Quite complex to understand, but look it up under Local Government Association If you want the rationale.
hello! i'm from Poland and we of course have different rules on driving test, but your videos really helped me understand driving and I passed the test without any problems or stress. So thank you Sir🫡 Keep helping
Plod pulled me over a couple of weeks ago and breathalysed me (blew zero), only reason for the stop I can think of was either they were bored or I kept changing position to avoid potholes.
When i first passed my test over 40 years ago i used to get stopped regularly, sometimes 2 or 3 times on the same night, and it used to royally piss me off. However, now we have a police force who rely on ANPR cameras and "safety cameras" I haven't been stopped for years, at least 20. The problem with camers is all they know is whether your car is taxed and insured, a camera doesn't know if you're 3 times over the drink drive limit, a camera doesn't know if you've just snorted an ounce of charlie, a camera doesn't know if your car has 4 bald tyres, a camera doesn't know if your 15 year old son has decided to go joyriding with his mates. I never thought I'd say this but we need to go back to real coppers who instinctively know if there's a reason why they should stop your car.
Regarding claiming compensation for pothole damage - most councils will only grant compensation if the pothole had been reported to them already at the time of the accident, so please do report potholes that you see - you're not only helping make the roads better, you're also making it more likely that someone will get compensation.
In South Africa, the ANC have spent little or no money on roads that we no longer avoid potholes but rather the tarmac. Don't want our vehicles to taste paved roads as they will see so little of them it will make them "sad".
This is a fantastic video, I've been watching the channel ever since I started my driving lessons a year or so ago 😎 I've passed my driving test on February 12th and I've had a month+ before I actually started driving again, and this video has come in very handy as the roads down here in Swansea can be pretty rough in places! So having a handy little guide to dealing with them is going to save me from potential punctures or additional wear on the suspension. 😄 Thank you for your excellent educational driving content, it's taught me alot of things which has improved my day to day driving 🫶
I absolutely hate potholes, there’s several roads that are so bad I try my best to avoid them. Other roads I try to learn where the worst ones are so I can go round them. There’s also one drain cover nearby that’s very much like a pothole.
My Car driving test is finally booked for 12:28pm on Friday 20 September 2024 at Mitcham (London) Let’s hope nothing happens to my test slot.. i still have bad experiences in taking a uk driving test.😢 i only gotten the confirmation email at 6.54 am 😂 i was so confused on where this was.😅 Thought i given wrong email for example. It’s a massive relief to have a test date in as my phone isn’t allowed to book a test slot.😮 The private road (free to drive on) on Mayfield road Croydon is the worse you will ever see Richard. So many potholes... Nice video Thank you for knowledge of what to do in a driving test and good knowledge of flood water. 7:13 the car behind followed your lead Follow you to learn what to do It was interesting for this video.
On the point of slightly faster = smoother ride: I don't know how often people encounter cattle grids, but I've found that going over them at, say, 20mph or less can result in a very bumpy ride. But taking them at 40mph (if it's possible) makes for a much smoother feel.
Would be nice if you could do a new video about car length awareness, something we could train in an empty parking lot or wide area, like places some water bottles on this markings, and driving around it or something similar.
Lots of potholes in my area.there are two at the moment. Both deep one near the middle of the road and on the other side just after the middle line of the road making it that you have nowhere to drive except for going onto the opposite side which cant be done for safety reasons. Just avoiding them at the moment until its fixed.i know you are explaining how to drive around them but when you have two deep ones close together one near the middle of the road and one immediately the other side of the middle line of the road and on a blind bend you cant drive around it .slowing down is the only option in this case.
I think you've stumped me in the first half. At a guess, one of those cul de sacs off Layer Road. The second part is easy: Gosbecks Road. My car is very familiar with those damn things. The last part is Paxmans Avenue? (Shrub End has always been the natural home of the pot hole, but the holes on Gosbecks road and the roundabout at Berechurch Hall Road are at another level atm.
The place where I live there are so many bolt holes. I wouldn't be able to avoid them driving ☹️. Also please can you do a video on Speed bumps? and how to approach them so you go over them as calming as possible. There are loads where I live and I am sure i will have to go over them on my test. By the way your films are great and very helpful 👍
As a fellow Eastern European I must admit it’s sadly true. In my country, they even take it into account on the driving test when marking “awareness of the road condition”!
My local test centre is in an industrial estate, whose roads contain some of the biggest potholes I've ever seen. You'd think outside the test centre would be the first place they fill in holes!
What really gets me is that the government makes money through VAT on all the repairs caused by their incompetence at maintaining our roads. And don't start me on why we pay ever increasing costs on road tax!
I have a EU drivers licence, so am used to my steering wheel on the left and driving on the right. I am scared stiff on small roads that I am hitting another care coming directly towards me. What used to be an automatic knowing where I was on the road, has gone. I have lost the nerve to drive. Would be able to come up filming some tips for foreign drivers. That tip about where your wheels on looking at the steering wheel is fantastic, but can you help any further?
A little extra tip. Release the brakes an instant before you hit the hole (or bump). This frees the suspension to absorb the impact properly without also having to cope with the braking forces. It will feel less harsh and possibly do less damage on those occasions where you have to hit a hole.
Very true, I should have mentioned this.
Nice tip, it applies to any motorsports involving suspension and I first learned this on mountain bikes, breakjacks a.k.a. Anti-rise is the name for it (if I'm not mistaken) and it applies to speedbumps aswell as far as I know.
In the UK we used to drive on the left of the road, now we drive on what's left of the road.
😂
Clever 😅
😂😂
Sounds just like Queensland. If you see a car swerving all over the place, the driver is attempting to avoid potholes; if it is going straight, the driver must be drunk.
I passed my driving lesson, but I still love to watching your videos ❤
Ditto
I'm pretty sure you can't fail a "lesson" lmao
@@brianuuuSonicReborn Oh you can, for sure :D
same here!
With driving you are always learning. Every day there is something new.
Thank you, Richard, for all of your hard work. I am an American living in the UK, and I struggled to find a driving instructor that would take me on board as a student. Because of that, I watched most of your videos to help me prepare over the last few months. I like how your teaching style is so clear, easy to understand and realistic. I passed the first time with 2 minors. The morning of my test, I watched your reverse bay parking videos and that was the maneuver I got and I did it with ease. I can say with certainty that it’s because of your channel, I passed. Even though it’s “just” a driving test, there was a lot riding on it for me (freedom!). I can’t thank you enough for what you do, you’ve helped so many people and I am definitely one of them. Cheers.
That's really great to hear. Thank you for being so generous, I wish you the best of luck on the road.
The fact this needs to be a video shows the state the UK currently is in.
What?
Oh you'll hate driving in anything Latin America!
Canada too
Fr. It’s ridiculous. I had to replace a whole tyre because of a pothole. Such a pain
Come to Babrru, Albania
Thanks for this video. Too many potholes on the road lately and is alarming.
And they never get filled in ☹️
I've been having issues with potholes recently, as I've needed to travel to different places with more of them. This video was very well timed, and very helpful!
Whenever you drive down an unfamiliar road you should take it easier than you would on a familiar road it will help you avoid potholes and other hazards you might not be aware of.
@@gravemind6536 I do. I can normally spot potholes etc quite quickly, it's the avoiding that needed work!
I passed my practical test today (1st time) and your videos have been a major contributing factor to my success. Thanks for all your videos!
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Richard, I passed my test over 50 years ago, but still enjoy and learn from your informative videos. Well done!
I passed my test on my second try today with no mistakes, i would like to thank you because i watched a ton of your videos before my test
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
I passed my test first time with two minors today thanks to binge watching your videos. Thank you so much🙏
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
very helpful video! Potholes are definitely getting bad around me at the moment
Hey Richard! I came here today to say a massive thank you! I moved to the UK last year and needed to pass a driving test here. I watched some of your video and totally got the idea of the exam and what is being assessed. Took no extra lessons, and today I passed with 0 minors!!! (on a second try but anyway). I cannot express how grateful I am for your approach, sense of humor and your devotion to what you do. I consider it our common achievement :) wish all the best to you in the future 🤗
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
I passed driving test August 2022 videos are great. Potholes are one of my big bug bears since passing.
Yes! I need this video so badly, Herefordshire's roads are as cratered as the surface of Mercury
Fr. Essex is just as bad too
@@georgia.newman 😢 I wish something would get done about it
@@georgia.newmanI can confirm this is hugely true!
The state of the roads here are completely and utterly inexcusable. I had my tyre blown up just after coming out of hospital at 3:30 am a couple months ago. Not to mention I’ve had wheels bent multiple times. (which council refused to pay for)
Sometimes can’t avoid them in order to be safe. Great video!
I passed my test first time today with 1 minor! Wanted to say thank you!
My instructor recommend that I watch your channel outside of lessons, and they have helped me massively!! Thank you conquer driving 😃
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
I like this man, he is better than my former driving instructor. You videos assists me much. We also drive on left side (Kenya).
This is a perfectly timed video! My driving test is in colchester in 2 days and there are way too many potholes at the moment 😂
Literally discussed the number of potholes on local roads with my dad-in-law who doesn’t live in the UK today. Useful.
As a born cynic I reckon potholes are a win, win, win for government finance -
Win 1 - the obvious saving on maintenance,
Win 2 - savings in cost of speed limit enforcement unless you want a broken suspension,
Win 3 - 12% tax on all the increased insurance premiums that come from ignoring Win 2.
Win 4 extra VAT on car repairs
Great video!
In all my time driving, That's the first time I've seen that steering wheel method to avoid potholes.
Over time I've just gotten used to the width of my car and subconsciously know where the car is going to be approaching potholes and things.
To better judge the width of the car, I use my legs by putting my right leg against the door and my left against the centre console. Reference point of the right wheel then basically being where my right leg is, and my left leg to show roughly the middle of the car.
Thank you for all your videos, watched them religiously and was able to pass my test first time 3 minors with no driving lessons at all! Huge props to the effort you put in to help people like me save time and money, thanks again Richard
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
I have heard that you may be asked to identify the pothole which caused the damage. Low profile tyres may lead to damage to the alloy wheels (over time we had three which needed to be replaced on one of our cars with these tyres), however although potholes and poor road surface were likely to have been the problem, we were advised that we could not claim as there needed to be a specific incident which caused the damage.
Binge watching your videos currently. They're very helpful. Thanks.
I never thought about the steering wheel as a reference like this, very interesting. I am used to using my foot as a reference. My outer foot is basically on the tire. I find it easier to 'feel' where my body is on the road.
Amazing water pothole ! Excellent video. Good tip for motorcyclists also …
Glad they have fixed that roundabout!
Never thought of using the steering wheel to align the car. Seems quite useful and I'll be sure to use that in future.
Thankyou! I needed this! I also need a video showing how close you can get to things without hitting them 😅
I would love that as a EU driver as well.
I passed nearly 3 years ago and I still enjoy watching these videos
Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge and expertise with us! I finally passed after doing lessons on and off for years. Will continue watching now I’ve passed for extra help and advice. All the best!
Driving at night in the pitch black down country roads after a heavy rain, is damright dangerous! my work means i have to do this on a daily basis and glad it's not my own car being battered by these hidden pot holes!
I just passed my test! Thank you Richard, you helped myself and many others with each video you post - During the test I may have been a nervous wreck but I stayed safe and legal. I want others to remember that is all that matters, so as proof ill mention that i went the wrong way at a round about TWICE... due to being unable to swap lanes, DONT be unsafe. it's ok to go the wrong way
That's great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Good tip i have been trying to avoid pothole but kept hitting them but will be using your tip from now on. Also pot holes on round about or junctions where it is impossible to avoid is a joke and road conidtions is getting worst too.
Tomorrow is my driving test and I’m hoping for the very best been watching your videos for a while now thanks Collinwood I should be back here with a wonderful news 🙏🙏🙏
Good luck.
All the best for tomorrow. Remember, you *know* how to drive; you're merely demonstrating that fact to someone other than your instructor.
Good luck, you can do it!
Best of luck look forward to hearing how you got on.
@@simonmeadows7961 I love this thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏
Passed my driving test 3 weeks ago potholes are my new favourite thing to hate. 😂
omg this is super useful! I just did many times that potholes on my 1olock and I still hitting it every single time so in the end i just move completely out of the lane to avoid it, now i know this, i know what to do! thanks Richard!
I hit a water filled pothole. Caused £3k of suspension damage. Council paid.
That's outrageous cost.
@@melgrant7404 Some modern cars have truly insane cost for suspension spare parts. And if the hit is bad enough to bend the attachment points of the suspension parts, it will only get more expensive.
As an example of insanely expensive parts, did you know that modern BMW cars have headlights that cost about 3500 USD per side. And if you have BMW laser headlights on X5, the replacement cost is closer to 5000 USD per side. That makes zero sense to me but BMW owners are still buying those cars - I would rather vote with my wallet and avoid getting such expensive crap because you might get unlucky and have a hit from a stone fling from the tire of another car.
Years ago in Kent, I hit a pothole and blew a tyre. changed tyre, gently drove back into the pothole, photographed the wheel alongside the days newspaper. Sent photo and letter to the council. Pothole was quickly filled in and their reply was that it had been filled in 10 days prior, which would have been before the date on the newspaper.
Had my second driving lesson today. Was surprised that my instructor got me to do a bit of motorway driving already, but all went well and was under control so wasn't too worried. Was met with one driver reversing out of a Chinese takeaway place quickly straight in front of me but managed to spot it and brake in time.
Your videos have been a fantastic aid in my 'learning to drive' journey. I'd like to thank you very much as I passed today and I can't say it wasn't thanks to these videos, so thank you!!
Thanks Richard for sharing your valuable time and knowledge It helps a lot. Today I passed the test and I watched this channel videos outside my lessons that helps passing my test 😊
Your channel is such a great discovery. I’ve been binding this for a couple days now! Can’t wait to pass my test.
Thanks for posting. Already buckled 2 wheels this year due to low profile tyres. Never had issues before, the UK is going downhill fast.
You're the only instructor I've found to make it all so simple, god bless you
Mr. Richard is a brilliant car Instructor and RUclipsr, your content always helps 👍
Many thanks 🙏
Passed my theory test today with full marks! Getting closer
Congratulations on passing!
@@ConquerDriving thanks!
Thanks for all the effort you put into your videos, Richard. I've been watching you since starting my lessons and I passed first time with just two minors, in part due to all the great nuggets of advice in your vids! Keep up the great work!
That's great to hear! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Thank you Richard for the very informative lesson
Richard I had my test today and passed with many thanks to you and your videos❤
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
Some Clacton potholes stretch from 9-3 on the steering wheel, especially if driving from the shopping village towards Reedlands farm shop on the roundabout to the new estate.
One more advice from a pothole evasion expert: if you can't completely avoid hitting pothole, try to make sure you only go in the pothole with one side of your vehicle. Dropping a single wheel at a time is way, way less damaging to your suspension and/or wheels compared to dropping both forward (or rear) wheels simultaneously. There's like an order of magnitude difference.
If there is another one close the other side you can't avoid having two wheels involved.
@@melgrant7404 if you can't - you can't. Just make sure you do it as slow as possible.
But, and here goes one more advice : ) , make sure you aren't entering a pothole while braking hard. Brake as long as you possibly can, but as you're about to hit the hole - release the brakes. Entering the pothole while the weight of your car is shifted forward and your forward suspension is already half-compressed is a nice recipe to damage your wheels, suspension or both.
@idioluh5838 thanks for the info.
I've recently gotten a Mazda6 and discovered that it has 19-inch wheels with low profile tires. It has very little protection against potholes, so I have to be more cautious about rough roads and potholes. Which does make driving more engaging, which I do like but do always have me concerned about my wheels condition every time I drive.
I'm in Australia.
The place I encounter most of the potholes is on rural roads where the speed limit is 100kmh (62 mph), one lane in either direction and a soft shoulder.
The issue in this situation (while freezing temperatures can be an issue in my specific part of the country) it is more likely the pothole is caused by the shoulder getting washed out followed by heavy vehicle loading which can cause the tarmac to ripple as HGV's try to stay as near to the left. This means the potholes are almost always on the left side of the lane and in clusters.
Hit a nasty one in my Audi 2 weeks ago..
This is so needed.
The biggest thing I would advise is avoid areas where water has pooled because its either a big dip in the surface or an outright pot hole most of the time. Its so common for people to get caught out by pot holes that were hidden by water. Also try to stay out of the gutter and if nothing is coming the other it may be well advised on some the more battered country roads to drive right down the middle until you have to move for another vehicle. Be alert and pay attention out there.
This video is so helpful, thank you so much, you can probably use 11 o’clock and 1 o’clock to park next to the left and right side kerb. 🙃
Super helpful Richard, thanks. I know it's not the main point of this channel but I really like your car review videos. I hope you'll do more of them!
I love the big tall pseudo-offroader looking all tentative about the flooded road, only to have the small hatchback confidently trundle through and show the way. I can't say I blame them - they clearly observed what was happening to your car and optimised their route.
One thing to add - when driving through water, if safe to do so then consider driving in the middle (crown) of the road. Because of the camber, the centre of the road is usually higher than the sides, so the water isn't so deep. Know where the engine air inlet is for your car though - some cars have inlets that are very low down and almost any level of water can cause it to be drawn into the engine, which can cause the engine to seize with hydraulic locking. This can write off your car.
Apart from the weather, another possibility for some small maintenance jobs being done by the Council is that they tend to clear up minor items towards the end of the tax year, as they can’t carry forward a surplus across the April 5/6 boundary. In the main, precepts for sorting out their budget are done around January each year, so in the next couple of months, they have a reasonable idea of how much to do.
The ‘Collection Fund’ is not like a normal bank account, in effect. Quite complex to understand, but look it up under Local Government Association If you want the rationale.
hello! i'm from Poland and we of course have different rules on driving test, but your videos really helped me understand driving and I passed the test without any problems or stress. So thank you Sir🫡 Keep helping
The key is just to slow down a bit, that gives you time to take avoiding action.
Plod pulled me over a couple of weeks ago and breathalysed me (blew zero), only reason for the stop I can think of was either they were bored or I kept changing position to avoid potholes.
When i first passed my test over 40 years ago i used to get stopped regularly, sometimes 2 or 3 times on the same night, and it used to royally piss me off. However, now we have a police force who rely on ANPR cameras and "safety cameras" I haven't been stopped for years, at least 20. The problem with camers is all they know is whether your car is taxed and insured, a camera doesn't know if you're 3 times over the drink drive limit, a camera doesn't know if you've just snorted an ounce of charlie, a camera doesn't know if your car has 4 bald tyres, a camera doesn't know if your 15 year old son has decided to go joyriding with his mates. I never thought I'd say this but we need to go back to real coppers who instinctively know if there's a reason why they should stop your car.
Oh, how we need this video in Barbados
Regarding claiming compensation for pothole damage - most councils will only grant compensation if the pothole had been reported to them already at the time of the accident, so please do report potholes that you see - you're not only helping make the roads better, you're also making it more likely that someone will get compensation.
In South Africa, the ANC have spent little or no money on roads that we no longer avoid potholes but rather the tarmac. Don't want our vehicles to taste paved roads as they will see so little of them it will make them "sad".
Agreed. Once upon a time, we used to drive on the left of the road. Nowadays, we are used to drive on what's left of the road 😂
In the DA run areas the roads are far better than they are in the UK.
This is a fantastic video, I've been watching the channel ever since I started my driving lessons a year or so ago 😎
I've passed my driving test on February 12th and I've had a month+ before I actually started driving again, and this video has come in very handy as the roads down here in Swansea can be pretty rough in places! So having a handy little guide to dealing with them is going to save me from potential punctures or additional wear on the suspension. 😄
Thank you for your excellent educational driving content, it's taught me alot of things which has improved my day to day driving 🫶
That's really great to hear! Thank you for watching!
Love these videos, but at the moment you miss the first one. Then hit the other 17. 😂😂
When I was learning to drive, my instructor said he coiuld always tell which of his pupils had their own car - they avoided the potholes!
I absolutely hate potholes, there’s several roads that are so bad I try my best to avoid them. Other roads I try to learn where the worst ones are so I can go round them. There’s also one drain cover nearby that’s very much like a pothole.
My Car driving test is finally booked for 12:28pm on Friday 20 September 2024 at Mitcham (London)
Let’s hope nothing happens to my test slot.. i still have bad experiences in taking a uk driving test.😢
i only gotten the confirmation email at 6.54 am 😂
i was so confused on where this was.😅
Thought i given wrong email for example.
It’s a massive relief to have a test date in as my phone isn’t allowed to book a test slot.😮
The private road (free to drive on) on Mayfield road Croydon is the worse you will ever see Richard. So many potholes...
Nice video
Thank you for knowledge of what to do in a driving test and good knowledge of flood water.
7:13 the car behind followed your lead
Follow you to learn what to do
It was interesting for this video.
Potholes around me are a nightmare. I live in Huddersfield, which apparently has one of the highest density of potholes per mile!
On the point of slightly faster = smoother ride:
I don't know how often people encounter cattle grids, but I've found that going over them at, say, 20mph or less can result in a very bumpy ride. But taking them at 40mph (if it's possible) makes for a much smoother feel.
Would be nice if you could do a new video about car length awareness, something we could train in an empty parking lot or wide area, like places some water bottles on this markings, and driving around it or something similar.
thank you. very useful and helpful
The roads in essex are a disgrace and there is no chance the councils will ever had enough money to fix them
Ikr. I got a tyre destroyed by a pothole and they refused to pay for the new one too even after I claimed twice 🙄
Passed first time today 🎉🎉 your videos helped me soo much. Big thanks to you ❤
That's fantastic news! Thank you for watching and congratulations on passing!
There are really too many terrible roads here, hope the gov spends money correctly on what we need.
6:00 cattle grids are a good example of that - you don't see many these days, but going slightly faster is smoother!
If icy or wet make sure your wheels hit them straight with 0 turn or you will crash
Lots of potholes in my area.there are two at the moment. Both deep one near the middle of the road and on the other side just after the middle line of the road making it that you have nowhere to drive except for going onto the opposite side which cant be done for safety reasons. Just avoiding them at the moment until its fixed.i know you are explaining how to drive around them but when you have two deep ones close together one near the middle of the road and one immediately the other side of the middle line of the road and on a blind bend you cant drive around it .slowing down is the only option in this case.
My instructor will appreciate me watching this video 😂😂
Nice tip, thank you
I think you've stumped me in the first half. At a guess, one of those cul de sacs off Layer Road. The second part is easy: Gosbecks Road. My car is very familiar with those damn things. The last part is Paxmans Avenue? (Shrub End has always been the natural home of the pot hole, but the holes on Gosbecks road and the roundabout at Berechurch Hall Road are at another level atm.
Can you make a video about the differences between driving a petrol car Vs a diesel car.
The place where I live there are so many bolt holes. I wouldn't be able to avoid them driving ☹️. Also please can you do a video on Speed bumps? and how to approach them so you go over them as calming as possible. There are loads where I live and I am sure i will have to go over them on my test. By the way your films are great and very helpful 👍
This video may help: ruclips.net/video/C9UcWDfXt6U/видео.htmlsi=IvKqu6YTsk1sEep-
i look as to where my headlights are on my bonnet, and where thise are are where my wheels are as they are above the wheels roughly
As an east European, this is one of the first skills you develop
As a fellow Eastern European I must admit it’s sadly true. In my country, they even take it into account on the driving test when marking “awareness of the road condition”!
Can you do judging speed bumps please in a next video sometimes I can get over them perfectly but then sometimes I can’t 😂
Start at 10mph and adjust as necessary. This video may help: ruclips.net/video/C9UcWDfXt6U/видео.htmlsi=m9EuPVVCar7pEGx6
The roads are not only damaged by frost but constant flooding.
How do you not slot into reverse when going into 1st gear?
My local test centre is in an industrial estate, whose roads contain some of the biggest potholes I've ever seen. You'd think outside the test centre would be the first place they fill in holes!
Excellent
Great lesson! Does the 11, 1 o'clock method also apply to SUV when sitting position higher than sedan?
Such good tips! bloody legend
It does. Thank you
Not easy on a dual carriageway with traffic at 70mph. I'm amazed they leave them there considering the dangers.
What really gets me is that the government makes money through VAT on all the repairs caused by their incompetence at maintaining our roads. And don't start me on why we pay ever increasing costs on road tax!
thanks, it was useful.
We all know Weir lane is an exciting drive!!
I have a EU drivers licence, so am used to my steering wheel on the left and driving on the right. I am scared stiff on small roads that I am hitting another care coming directly towards me. What used to be an automatic knowing where I was on the road, has gone. I have lost the nerve to drive. Would be able to come up filming some tips for foreign drivers. That tip about where your wheels on looking at the steering wheel is fantastic, but can you help any further?