Hit the kerb in car :(

[Edasseri]

I’m a fairly new driver. I passed my test in may and it took me a while to get my confidence up to drive to work. I was ok popping to my local shops but was quite worried about driving this new, bigger car in case I bumped it or misjudged something. I persevered and I’m fine now, however driving to work this morning I hit a kerb (only at low speed, I was setting off from traffic lights) but the tire is flat and needs someone to come out and look at it to repair/change.

Just looking for reassurance or handhold really because I feel like my confidence is knocked now. I’m scared in case I do it again. Feel like I don’t want to drive it again which I know is dramatic lol

It happens.

But would be good for you to understand why.
Did you just misjudge the distance? Or where you distracted or trying to squeeze trough a gap?

I did this when newly qualified (brand new tyres too lol) and haven't done it since, try not to let it put you off, it's always difficult in a newish car, no-one was hurt and the car will be fine.

You could always try some manoeuvres in an empty car park if you're worried about doing it again.

I did this randomly when I'd been driving somewhere between 5 and 10 years, on a corner I drive nearly every day. Got a puncture and all.

These things happen, don't let it knock your confidence and get back out there.

I did this a couple of years ago, on a road that I drive on every single day. Not a new driver either - I had passed my test nearly 10 years earlier! Burst the tyre and was stranded at the side of the road for a couple of hours waiting for recovery and also heavily pregnant at the time!

It’s scary at the time but it happens OP, don’t let it knock your confidence! I’m now extra careful every time I drive past the same spot and I’m sure you will have learnt from it too!

I've been driving over 30 years and an advanced driver, so some would say I should know better. I kerbed one of my wheels the other day. It happens.

Really, don't worry about it.

I did as well. It is upsetting but it happens

There was a massive lorry next to me in the right hand lane, coming into my lane a bit so I moved over without realising the kerb was so high and so close to my left hand side

Thanks everyone! I’m sorry it’s also happened to you but at the same time I’m glad it’s not just me and it’s fairly common

I've done it a few times over the years. Also found the car I have now a lot bigger so I sometimes misjudge parking next to the kerb. I brought a tyre inflater from Amazon. It's very handy. Sometimes you can just bump a bit of air out.

I actually failed my first driving test for clipping the kerb like this, it was mortifying.
Spacial awareness was the aspect of driving I struggled with most. I'm much better now but at the time I recognised that I needed to concentrate harder and be more cautious if room was tight or there was any obstruction. If I'm honest I've also stuck to smaller cars for that reason (not suggesting you need to go that far though!).

Oh good god, I can't even count how many times I've curbed my car. Especially when I first got it and was still learning how wide it was. You were just unlucky with the tyre. I've only ever had one flat and that was a nail.

I didn't actually notice until I thought it felt weird on the corners. I'd been belting along at 50mph with it completely flat and had no idea. Drove it to the tyre place, they laughed at me and changed it, it was fine.

You'd be surprised how much abuse they can take. Don't think twice, it was an accident and instinct is to avoid other vehicles not curbs. These things happen especially when a new driver. We've all done it. Just learn and move on.

I am the same, and would have preferred a smaller car but I share it with my boyfriend and he didn’t want a small one. It’s probably not the best for a first time driver tbh, but so far I’ve been driving around in my own for just over a month and this is my only incident. It was the lorry next to me that put me off. Maybe in hindsight I should’ve waited behind it because there clearly wasn’t enough room for me to fit in the gap. Makes me feel like I can’t drive and shouldn’t have passed though, I just feel a bit shit now

Youll do way more than that on your driving journey. Its all learning

I do it all the time OP & I’ve never had a flat tyre though maybe I’ve just been lucky! I go through phases where I keep doing it & then don’t do it for ages again. I think you were unlucky with your tyre.

All drivers make mistakes. Just learn from it.
Don't beat yourself up. You know what happened, you know what you could do differently.
Don't let it knock your confidence. The most dangerous drivers on the roads are ones lacking in confidence, because they tend to do silly things.

This wasn't silly - it was a mistake that every driver has made.

Thank you! This does actually make me feel better even though I don’t want to do more than that 😂 everyone says you learn to drive once you pass. And I’m still trying to learn how wide the car is! But it’s going to cost £240 for someone to come out and change the tire so I could’ve done without this lesson ha

I've done it too, despite driving 20+ years. But, do learn how to change a tyre. Not just to save the call out fee, but to know that if you can't call someone, you can do it for yourself.

It's just an adjustment. Bigger cars aren't that much harder really, you just have to get used to them. My driving instructors car handled like the bloody Titanic and I could park that bitch like a boss. The. I got my teeny little car and I couldn't park it for toffee! Watching me in a car park was hilarious, treating this little car like it was 8 times bigger than it actually was.

The more you drive it, the better you'll get. The higher driving position will make it easier too.

I know.. unfortunately we didn’t have a spare one. I said to the guy on the phone we don’t have one and he said a lot of cars these days don’t come with them anymore

You'll be fine. I was going to say, get some annual breakdown recovery sorted out, there will be a spare in the boot, if you get covered they will come and change to the spare, then you can go to Kwik Fit when it suits. Loads of different companies doing it and you tend to get what you pay for, but they can all change a wheel. Unless it's a new car when it might be covered. But if there's no spare in there, can't be done. Though I think the breakdown people will still tow you to the nearest tyre place so it can be sorted.

Enjoy driving, the freedom it gives is so valuable.

I did this in a courtesy car, despite it being much smaller than what I was used to driving! Unfortunately we're only human and misjudge things sometimes.

Yes this. You should have held back but you have recognised it and it's not a mistake you'll make again.

At least it's only a tyre. Expensive but not as expensive as the whole side of your car and an insurance claim as a new driver.

I learned the importance of indicators early on. I was on a motorway that merged with another and tried to pull in from what had been slow lane and misjudged the speed of those in the next lane (fast lane of the other motorway). Thankfully I signalled and the driver inside me beeped so aborted just in time.

I've never forgotten it or repeated it so don't be too hard on yourself.

I havnt burst a tyre but I curbed all the alloys in my brand new car. Iv been driving for 12 years!

Dont beat yourself up about this OP ❤️

I’ve been driving for nearly fifty years and I’m a pretty confident driver in any vehicle, in fact I’m the main driver if DH and I go anywhere. I can still misjudge and bump the kerb.

A flat tyre is a nuisance but it happens. It’ll probably never happen to you again.

I’ve been driving for years. Drove my new car home and scraped the alloy on the front wheel against the kerb 😩 my mum managed to do all four of
hers over the years!