A driving instructor in Nottingham has raised concerns about student safety as road conditions continue to deteriorate across the city.
The educator, who operates under the title ‘Learn with Moy’, has spent 16 years teaching driving in the area but describes the current state of local roads as among the poorest in the nation.
He explained that potholes tend to persist for extended periods, with surrounding road damage worsening before any repairs are carried out. The situation has left him pessimistic about achieving smooth road surfaces in the future.
The instructor, a Bakersfield resident, contends that beginner drivers are disproportionately affected by road defects. While these learners have not previously struck curbs, he frequently must take corrective action to ensure their safety.
Although he makes an effort not to circumvent test routes because of road damage, many other instructors choose to avoid certain areas.
The 53-year-old maintains regular contact with fellow local driving teachers through online platforms, exchanging information about particularly troublesome sections of road.
He identifies Vale Road, Station Road and Gunthorpe Road as some of the most severely affected routes in Nottingham.
For some learner drivers, potholes create problems beyond simple tyre damage. He shared an account of a pupil who encountered a pothole during a driving test, resulting in a tyre burst and test termination.
He noted that new drivers face heightened vulnerability to road defects, especially during wet weather when accurately gauging pothole depth becomes more challenging.
Some students relocating from regions like Portsmouth have expressed shock at Nottingham’s road conditions.
Local residents continue to voice daily concerns about pothole issues throughout the city. Recent reporting by Nottinghamshire Live examined Vale Road, where social media users described a bus making a dangerous maneuver to avoid road damage.
One local resident observed that repairs involve filling holes with tarmac without proper compaction, causing material to dislodge onto pathways when vehicles pass. They noted that even minimal contact with uneven road surfaces can cause pedestrians to fall.
The instructor worries that declining road conditions may increasingly affect the safety and confidence of new drivers throughout Nottingham.
Nottinghamshire County Council revealed plans in March to invest £122.5 million in the highways network during the 2026/27 financial year, marking the initial phase of what it describes as an ambitious infrastructure program.
