Driving instructor introduces lessons on how to avoid potholes

By Elizabeth Hunter via SWNS

A driving instructor has become the first to introduce "pothole avoidance lessons" after seeing students left "extremely anxious" by them.

Matthew Worthington, 35, says he's seen the pothole situation worsen in recent months.

He is now coaching his students on how to confidently and safely approach the road defects - after losing four tires at a cost of around £400.

Matthew, of Paisley, Scotland. said: ''The roads have always been terrible – but in the last six months or so, they’ve been getting extra bad.

"The students are really nervous – some of them are wanting to avoid certain areas because of the potholes and they’re extremely anxious.

"What started happening is that people were swerving around potholes without any thoughts of safety.

"They weren’t checking their mirrors when they were moving over, and there could be a car or a cyclist right next to them – it’s getting really dangerous.

"I know where a lot of the potholes are, but sometimes there will be a new one and they’ll hit it – and it really shakes their confidence, even if they’re an advanced driver that’s almost at test level.

"They almost take a step backwards and become apprehensive.

"It definitely has a negative effect on the lesson.

"I’ve spent between £300-400, plus the time where I’ve had to cancel lessons because I’m getting tires fixed."

Matthew's pothole avoidance lessons involve thorough conversations about how to safely approach potholes, as well as the potential dangers involved.

He believes that this should be a "day one" conversation to ensure students can maneuver over and around uneven road surfaces calmly.

"It’s all about pre-planning," said Matthew.

"There’s a lot more planning going on than there would be for a normal drive, because you’ve got this added assault course of potholes.

"I go into depth – we have a chat at the side of the road before lessons about the dangers of potholes.

"This is something that I’ve started implementing from day one – if I start teaching a brand new driver, the ‘how to avoid potholes’ conversation comes in quite quickly.

"If you do have to go through a pothole, keep a firm grip of the steering wheel.

"It’s better to hit it square on than to try and avoid it and go through at an angle – you can get your tire blown out.

"Look for darker patches in the road or random patches of water – there could be a pothole under that water.''