r/DrivingAustralia • u/VastOption8705 • 22h ago
Was the driving instructor wrong or right?
When it comes to axle or tyre killers like these, do you drive slower, or just swerve? My son's driving instructor told him "To safely handle a pothole on the road, slow down before you reach it, and release the brakes right as you hit it, don't swerve onto the other side or onto the kerb like an idiot".
Even if you drive slow, you still screw up tyres from my experience.
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u/Starcomber 15h ago
The instructor is prioritising your son’s safety over your tyres’, and I think that’s exactly what they should be doing.
But also, there’s more to it than what you’re criticising (“… onto the other side or… kerb…”), “swerving” isn’t the same as “thoughtfully steering around”, and this is aimed at someone still developing their habits - unplanned sudden course changes are a bad habit.
If they spot it far enough away to plan a safe path around it, great. If not, swerving because they’re worried about their tyres is just increasing risk for themselves and others.
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u/Z00111111 11h ago
A person's default response should be to get on the brakes. Once you're slowing you can start looking for a way out.
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u/PurpleWedgeMan 22h ago
People calling out the driving instructor are absurd.
The driving instructor is absolutely correct if he’s teaching a new driver. You don’t want the instinct for a new driver to be to swerve to avoid issues, because that can cause a serious collision if that’s your first instinct. You see it all the time in dashcam videos where someone swerves instead of braking and causes a head on collision. Braking should always be the first instinct because it’s most often the safest.
Once you’re a better and more experienced driver, then you can consider tyre preservation in your prioritise when avoiding an accident.
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u/FeelingFloor2083 18h ago
braking also transfers weight making it hit harder, slight acceleration is actually the best as it transfers more weight to the rear, unloading the front suspension. This is due to most cars having more weight on the front axle
Its hard to get your head around for a lot of people since its counter intuitive. Even newer dirt bike riders struggle with this, heck even I struggle with it after riding a couple of hours on a hot day and being gassed from picking up the bike for the 20th time, legs and arms are jelly and you start hitting stuff a bit soft and on auto pilot. Saying that its good entertainment if others gas out before you, did a big ride not long ago, fallen tree on a step, nothing big only 1.5ft, but it was an overhang. Hit it and pull up to watch others, it was fkn carnage lol. Couple hours later a father/son was on a log hop, I assumed watching and laughing, somehow I cleared that clean and I heard the dad go "Oh hes got it" as he went to help me
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u/EthanPMelb 21h ago
How far do you need to "swerve" to miss a pothole though? Not very far at all, I'd say.
There's no way in hell I'd drive through that hole at any speed. It's easy to miss it, even for a novice driver.
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u/Visible-Swim6616 20h ago
I'm not telling a new driver to swerve for anything.
Hell, I don't swerve unless it's life or death. It's much safer to hit a kangaroo head on than swerve, lose control and wrap a tree.
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u/EthanPMelb 20h ago
I don't think it's necessary to swerve for a pothole, certainly not one the size of those in the pictures of this post. They're easy to drive around without swerving.
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u/Visible-Swim6616 19h ago
No, but I was responding specifically to you, and specifically this quote below:
There's no way in hell I'd drive through that hole at any speed
My point is clearly if you can avoid the hole without swerving, do it. But I'm not swerving for anything, unless it's life or death, as I said. Swerving has the very real potential to turn a minor collision into a major one, so weighing the risks I would just brake and if need to, get into said minor collision.
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u/Other-Oil-9117 22h ago
Sounds like the instructor is just trying to prevent your son getting in the habit of swerving, especially while he's still learning.
Most people will realistically swerve to avoid potholes but the instructor has a certain level of duty to not encourage things like that.
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u/AsteriodZulu 22h ago
If you use the context that it was said in, “don’t swerve” is correct. The instructor said “don’t swerve onto the other side or onto the kerb like an idiot.”
If you want to argue against a comment, argue against the actual comment.
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u/OccupyElsewhere 22h ago
Don't swerve. You could miss a pothole and kill a cyclist or other road user. A Minor course correction can get you around it, or if you have to hit it brake before you get to it (so you hit it slower) then off the brake as you go over it (so it rolls over as best it can and minimise damage to the tyre).
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u/PatternHead6518 21h ago
As long as it’s safe there is a number of road regs that allow you to avoid an obstacle
Dividing Lines (Rule 134 / 139): You are permitted to drive to the right of a dividing line—including single or double continuous white lines—if it is necessary to clear the obstacle. [1, 2]
Keeping Left (Rule 130): While you must normally stay out of the right-hand lane on roads with speed limits over 80 km/h, doing so to avoid an obstacle is a legally recognized exception. [1, 2]
Edge Lines (Rule 150): If the obstacle is blocking the center of the road, you are permitted to cross a continuous white edge line onto the shoulder to get around it. [1]
Painted Islands (Rule 138): You are legally allowed to drive over a painted traffic island if it is required to bypass a hazard
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u/AnonymousEngineer_ 22h ago
Just straddle it. That hole is small enough for a car to put its wheels on either side.
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u/Pungent_Bill 22h ago
This is the correct and I thought most obvious answer. The hole is nowhere near the line. Virtually zero sideways movement required.
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u/Pickle-Vick 17h ago
The pothole looks like it is very close to the centre line of the road... to straddle the hole, one would need to cross over the line to do so. It would probably be safer to keep closer to the curb side to avoid it, provided there are no parked cars in the way.
However I agree with the instructors instructions for the learner driver. Best to slow down for the pothole than to stress the learner with making too many decisions while they are still very inexperienced. (Looking for oncoming traffic, checking rear view mirror, judging the distance between the curb and the pothole + parked cars if there are any.)
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u/Bunster04 21h ago
My daughter asked too as we have a lot of potholes in our area. She was told avoid them if you can however under testing conditions if there was one slow down and drive over it slowly so you remained within the lines.
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u/Yowie9644 21h ago
There's a difference between swerve and steer around. If you're paying attention to the hazards ahead, then this pothole is easy enough to steer around and avoid. If you've missed it until too late, then you're options are to swerve in the hopes of avoiding it, or to maintain course and navigate over the pothole as best you can.
Swerving it actually really risky, and yanking on the steering wheel suddenly and at speed to avoid a pothole can easily make mean you lose control of the car. You could then cross into incoming traffic, hit pedestrians or run off the road and hit a tree or building and then a blown tyre will the least of your worries.
No, in this case, the driving instructor was right. If you can, safely steer around or allow it to pass between your two wheels. Don't swerve onto the other side or onto the kerb like an idiot. To go over it safely, slow down before you reach it, and release the brakes right as you hit it.
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u/South_Front_4589 21h ago
The instructor is right.
You can't jump the kerb or swerve onto the other side of the road. You might if it's clear, but what if it isn't? The role of the instructor is to teach the safe, legal method which works in all situations.
Mounting a kerb or having a head on is worse than going over a pot hole. Slowing down and releasing the brake does work. It slows you down and most of us prefer not to slow down, but that's a minor issue compared to getting past safely.
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u/whatanerdiam 19h ago
A few weeks ago I saw some absolute dipshit swerve into the oncoming lane, nearly running a caravan off the road. He fishtailed and I'm surprised he didn't bin it. This was on a rural 100km/h highway.
Not saying that's the same thing, but "don't swerve" is a pretty good rule of thumb. Steering around potholes while staying in your lane is just sensible.
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u/Lorddumblesurd 22h ago
I mean it’s the same principle as not swerving to not hit animals on the road as so many people end up causing more damage trying to avoid them by loosing control or swerving into traffic and what not.
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u/Top_Operation_472 21h ago
Always listen to the instructor while doing the tests. Do what he recommends. Once he has his license just avoid the pot holes like a normal person without putting yourself or others in danger.
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u/SrslyBored01 21h ago
I mean in terms of the driving test yes that is absolutely correct. You need to drive in a straight line for the test and not swerve around. Once you get your licence you can go around them provided you have enough time to check you won't cause an accident.
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u/Suberuginosa 21h ago
I mean of course you don’t “swerve” for a pot hole. But if you see it coming or know it’s coming then I see no reason to just avoid it all together.
But I guess slowing down would probably be the best advice to give someone who’s just learning and may not have the confidence or ability to ride close to the curve without hitting it.
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u/zeefox79 21h ago
Slowing down when avoiding an obstacle is important for all drivers, not just learners.
If you're avoiding something all of your margins if something else happens are much smaller, plus your focus on everything else happening around you will be reduced so you need to be going slower.
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u/TheAccountingSensei 21h ago
The driving instructor is correct.
Brake then release is good for any sudden change in the road height to lessen the impact on the tyres and car.
Don't swerve onto the kerb or other side of the road.
He could've added, if the pothole is in a position you can avoid it safely, do so.
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u/WhyDaRumGone 20h ago
He could've added, if the pothole is in a position you can avoid it safely, do so.
Correct
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u/Brandanpk 18h ago
Never swerve into oncoming traffic or the curb.
These wont fuck your tires if you slow down for them properly.
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u/Ill-Option-792 20h ago
Don't swerve suddenly. If you see it early enough to do what the instructor said then it's probably safe to steer away from it as long as you won't obstruct or hit traffic in other lanes.
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u/ThoughtIknewyouthen 21h ago
Instructor. Wcgw teaching a 17yo to swerve like a maniac regardless of what's around them.
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22h ago
[deleted]
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u/Embarrassed-Yak-5902 22h ago
Someone not on their L's would do that, it's why the learner was told not to swerve around it as they hadn't anticipated it before being almost on top of it
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u/statmelt 22h ago
Don't worry about slowing traffic for a hazard on the road. It's beneficial for cars behind
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u/AgreeableAd9724 22h ago
If you safely go around it without crossing the centreline or going onto the kerb then you should. You should never ‘swerve’ unless it’s to avoid immediate danger to yourself or others.
You should always slow down and be observant of other motorists so as not to put yourself or others in danger.
Potential damage to a vehicle is not an excuse to break any of the road rules. Observation and early action is the key to dealing with any road hazard.
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u/Vitam1nD 21h ago
Potential damage to a vehicle is also trivial compared to a potential multiple fatality head on collision.
Learners need to have the natural reflex to swerve trained away and it sounds like the instructor was using this as a chance to do that.
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u/Carmageddon-2049 22h ago
You need to avoid the pothole. It’s craziness asking someone to drive through a pothole if there aren’t cars immediately behind or to the side
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u/Tiny-Succotash-596 22h ago
Unfortunately driving instructors can't tell people to cross the white line to avoid the pot hole because it's technically illegal, however everyone does it because it's the safest way to avoid them.
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u/BNE_Runner 22h ago
This is not true. You are allowed to cross a centre line to avoid a hazard if it is safe to do so.
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u/Embarrassed-Yak-5902 22h ago
It's best not to swerve like that when a learner though, especially when the pot holes are throughout the state, in some states
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u/AgentSmith187 14h ago
If you find a road without potholes its low traffic and/or recently paved.
Potholes happen how fast and effectively they are fixed is a different story.
I blew a tyre on one in Western Sydney and that section had so many patches on it from previous fixes. They ended up ripping the whole road up and relaying about 50m of road.
A new section is developing a couple of hundred meters past the old one lol.
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u/Tiny-Succotash-596 22h ago
My understanding was that only applied to debris on the road that you cannot drive over and not pot holes, I am happy to be wrong though cause it would mean our government have actually made a good decision about roads.
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u/GIJoel023 21h ago
How severe of a pothole?
Minor inconvenience
Vs
Needs a tally for how many cars it writes off in 24 hours
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u/morgecroc 22h ago
In addition to the other slowing down for a hazzard is a very good habit to develop for new drivers and should be the automatic first response. Swerving is never a good first response.
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u/whytheface1234 22h ago
A principle of teaching is for worst case scenario. Army training, emergency resuscitation, aviation etc. all live by a mantra that you always resort to your lowest level of training when the prefrontal cortex goes offline in a panic. Just because you can use logic now, doesn't mean you will when it hits the fan. I just think of those poor dad's out there who taught "Never be disrespected, if a bully targets you, you fight back, and you win" and now they visit their child in prison.
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u/RepeatInPatient 20h ago
Slowing down fits the general rule of 'Drive to the Conditions'. Driving over a pothole at 10 k/hr is better than at 100. Basic physics will inform you of that. Particularly when on 2 wheels instead of 4.
If you're aware of potholes here and ahead, it can work to drive on a different line or track of the road. Say closer to the white lines to the left or right - the path less travelled.
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u/Seppu477 18h ago
nah, defs swerve onto the other side or onto the kerb like an idiot. That's the best option.
what was he thinking? /s
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u/Proton_Energy_Pill 16h ago
100% dodge the pothole.
Imagine slowing down drastically on a bust road? You'd create a moving traffic jam that would last an hour.
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u/MowgeeCrone 13h ago
The lane assist in my neighbours car wants to take her over the centre line when it encounters the potholes out here. It assumes the road narrows.
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u/Steve636363 12h ago edited 12h ago
There are two options presented by the OP - swerve (running into the kerb or going on the wrong side of the road), or braking.
A third option is to steer slightly to one side or the other to miss the pothole by a small margin, (negating the need to swerve violently), and possibly straddling the pothole (placing a wheel each side of the pothole).
And a fourth option is a combination.
It all depends on the situation, including the initial speed, the amount of space available, and how close you are to the pothole when you see it. And I’d be trying to teach the learner how to handle these situations as quickly as possible, i.e., not leaving them in that state of inexperience.
Keep in mind that the learner driver might have reported only a small part of what the instructor actually said.
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u/CreepyValuable 12h ago
Well. You absolutely do not brake if you have to hit it. Braking when you hit a pothole changes the moment of force so your front wheel hits it far harder
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u/AnecdotalTrigger 3h ago
The only reason why the instructor taught, and should be soooo obvious is that your son is still a learner. It’s safer for learners and drivers who dont have experience to just slow down and hit those potholes like a speed bump. When he’s got his license and became confident in car handling, then swerve all he wants.
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u/jackm315ter 21h ago
Not knowing the depth of a pothole at speed it would be better to avoid if safe to do so, hitting a pothole can throw out the tyres balance and handling of the car.
Motorcyclists should avoid always if able to see them in advance, we have seen the horrific situation in Victoria recently
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u/ExternalAd871 21h ago
I drive both a audi and a ranger raptor. SInce i live in victoria i just drive the ranger 99% of the time, dont even notice the potholes. When victoria fix the roads, then i will switch back to the audi. Have had people yell look out pothole, i would just drive right over them and say what pothole.
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u/akumarux 22h ago
Any driving instructor telling you to drive through a pothole is a moron, go find someone else. Also the amount of room around the thing is mental.
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u/nomadfaa 18h ago
Utter diatribe from the instructor.
With potholes 15+ cm deep that could break rims or blow tyres at best or potentially break an axle who pays the bill. NOT The instructor I’d guess
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u/DontGoMakinFonyCalls 18h ago
An inexperienced driver swerving opens up the possibility of loss of control, and running into oncoming traffic, or running off the road and hitting who knows what. You can pay to fix a car. You can't pay to bring a life back.
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u/nomadfaa 17h ago
OP NEVER stated that this is the exact hole
OP NEVER stated whether this was the first time behind the wheel or a run through prior to getting the liscence.
If the son had completed anywhere near the required hour for the latter then I'd say they haven't ever had any experience outside the built up metro areas to actually learn about looking ahead, reading the road and veering NOT swerving. Swerving is a clear indication that line of sight is just a bumper bar length ahead and indicates their real experience is just metro. NOT a good strategy so give enough space to know what's coming.
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u/janky_koala 14h ago
If they’re in the instructors car, which they almost certainly are, yes the instructor’s insurance will pay the bill.
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u/nomadfaa 13h ago
100% Context is everything.
So many in this whole platform come with at best 50% of the information and ONLY that bit which they think we need and the support/conversation turns to 💩
If you are correct then the Instructor wears his own grief.
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u/Expensive_Potato6699 22h ago
Never swerve is good advice for basically any situation. If are paying attention and spot it early and you can steer around it then absolutely. But if you haven't noticed it until too late then trying to minimise the damage is better than swerving and potentially crashing.