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

@Edasseri you just don’t sound confident but what do I know? You know better than me!

I passed my test 32 years ago. I had never hit anything... Until last year.

I parked on a large and quiet car park. I waited for my son. It was hot so I had my car door open.

He got in the car. I pulled my driver's door closed and drove forwards merrily.

My car door wasn't shut properly so as I drove it flew open and absolutely twatted a parked car!

I have driven without a crash for 15 years. Touch wood!

I have hit many kerbs. Twice in the last week actually after a year of driving this new car with no incident.

Shit happens. Your fine.

Don't worry about it, I've destroyed a tyre getting too close to a petrol pump (they were like elastic bands and easy to kill) and recently managed to kerb my new car's wheel on a higher than anticipated kerb - I wasn't happy with myself for that one!

My DD did it when she was learning to drive and was so down on herself but in reality it was dark and the kerb had a bend in it that was hard to see as it was overgrown by grass. It blew the (quite new) tire and we had to call for breakdown assistance at 10pm. I made sure she drove home afterwards so she wouldn’t lose her confidence.

A friend who has been driving for decades cheered her up by sharing her story of kerbing a hire car and blowing out the tire while on holiday in France. It was the D Day landing anniversary and they were standing on the side of the road in embarrassment as hundreds of elderly veterans gawked at them and then Emmanuel Macron’s motorcade sailed by.

Oh, everybody does that, it's all normal. You'll scrape the paintwork at some point, as well. I've been driving a car for 15 years and kerbed it a few weeks ago - no puncture, luckily!

I've clipped the curb a couple of times. So has DH. It happens, especially on narrow or unfamiliar roads. You just got unlucky that it caused damage.

I've been driving for 10 years with no issues at all. Then I did this twice in 2 weeks, got a flat both times.

Don't worry, it happens!