Today, the Calder Freeway claimed my beloved car as its latest victim.
My wheel looks like a can opener has torn into it. I’m sad and to be honest, just like my rim, I’m feeling ripped off.
You see, I’ve just realised I’m at least $1000 out of pocket and its not even 9am.
As a resident of regional Victoria, a pothole strike on my car has seemed inevitable in recent weeks, but I’ve been vigilant.
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I scan the road ahead for damage, I dodge and swerve. I slow down and switch lanes. I avoid the freeway altogether in favour of the country roads of the Macedon Ranges (there’s simply fewer potholes, you see).
I’ve even swapped out of my sports hatch for the farm ute on occasion – it’s more forgiving and cheaper to repair.
This morning, I opted for the heated seats in the Hyundai. Big Mistake.
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I slowed down through the ongoing roadworks, down to 40km/h past the road workers doing their best to patch up years of neglect. I picked my way through the new potholes which have sprung open overnight, wishing I’d opted for the back roads instead.
My Waze app alert shows “pothole ahead.” Again.
The road ahead is clear, but then suddenly it’s not
I’m travelling in the left-hand lane. It has two potholes, one in front of my left wheel, the other in front of my right. I slow, but it is too late. Which hole do I hit? I choose to shift the car to the right. And that’s the biggest mistake of the day.
The right front alloy strikes the hole. There’s a monumental thump, my soul leaves my body and I wait for the tyre pressure warning to come on. Surely it’s my turn to make *that* call to the RACV.
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As luck would have it, the tyre light stayed off.
My wheel alignment seemed OK. I got to my destination and jumped out to survey the aftermath. I’m gutted. The wheel looks like a write off. I show my husband, a mechanic, the damage.
He’s not surprised, this is an issue workshops like ours in regional Victoria have been dealing with for months, but things have accelerated in the past few weeks.
Just last week I quoted repairs on a customer’s car. He’d hit a pothole in the dark, damaging tyres, rims and suspension components. His prospective bill ran into the thousands.
Other customers come in shaking, they’ve hit a pothole and are worried they’ve caused damage.
We’re inspecting cars, carrying out wheel alignments, quoting more shock absorber replacements, reporting damaged tyres, worn ball joints and replacing control arms. Traditionally these are wear and tear items, but it sure seems like there’s more wear and tear than usual.
Will I be compensated for today’s damage?
Based on recent reports in the Herald Sun, I’ve got a better chance at tonight’s Powerball.
Just 23 drivers out of 1809 drivers had their pothole claims paid out in the past two financial years. 2 per cent.
Then there’s the issue of the threshold for damage being so high – for the 2026/2027 financial year, the threshold amount is valued at $1681.
Even if I get my claim accepted, I’m going to be out of pocket for the first $1681. If I’m one of the anointed 2 per cent, VicRoads will only pay the difference above that amount.
So it looks like I’ll be $681 better off making an insurance claim, and paying my $1000 excess.
$1000 out of pocket and a likely premium increase because our state has below par roads.
No wonder so many Victorian motorists are feeling aggrieved.
Eight days ago, the state government ordered a review of its pothole compensation scheme after the Herald Sun revealed it was rejecting virtually all claims.
Eight days later, the road network claimed my car.
Eight days ago, the new Roads Minister Paul Hamer said, “We need to improve the state of our roads … I drive on the roads a lot, and I always have a look out for the conditions of our roads.”
Today this Victorian motorist pleads, Minister, you must fix our roads.