Dani Jones’ car was damaged by potholes on the Goulburn Valley Hwy near the Tatura Kyabram exit.
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More than 600 people have shared their stories of blown tyres, damaged vehicles and repair costs measured in the thousands, all caused by potholes on regional roads.
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The Goulburn Valley Hwy has been a hotspot for damage, and was named among the most dangerous roads in north-east Victoria in the RACV’s My Country Road Survey.
Dani Jones shared a dashcam video of her car striking potholes in low visibility conditions near the Tatura Kyabram exit.
Two tyres, two rims and the wheel bearings on one side were damaged, and the control arms may need to be replaced, potentially costing over $6000.
Multiple people witnessed numerous vehicles pulled over at the same time.
On Thursday, July 2, Bradley Boon saw between 10 and 14 cars with flat tyres near Wahring.
On Friday, July 3, Carla Diretto passed eight cars that had stopped in a 20-minute period on her way home from Melbourne to Cobram.
Ms Diretto has needed to replace two tyres in two weeks, costing her $600.
On the same afternoon, Kassie Dwyer counted eight cars and two trailers with blown tyres between Nagambie and Katamatite.
Ben Apache Cummings hit a pothole near Kialla that he could not see due to glare from oncoming traffic.
The impact destroyed a tyre and was forceful enough to switch on the wipers and indicator.
As Mr Cummings was changing to his spare, another car damaged a tyre on the same pothole.
On his way back to Seymour, Mr Cummings counted nine vehicles on the side of the highway.
“It's getting beyond a joke and something needs to be done before someone is seriously hurt,” he said.
On Saturday, July 4, Maddie Aylett was driving with her two young children when she hit a large pothole near Murchison on tyres that were only four weeks old.
Jennifer Breguet nearly lost control of her car due to a pothole between Nagambie and Shepparton, and blew her third tyre in two months from the Goulburn Valley Hwy.
On a previous occasion, Ms Breguet hit a pothole in her mother’s car that damaged the rim and potentially the front end.
Ms Breguet is $2500 out of pocket, which has put her under financial stress as an aged pensioner.
Bridgette Fennell blew a tyre near Arcadia and was told by an RACV technician that they had attended four vehicles the previous night, which had all been damaged by the same pothole.
“As a nurse, my first thought was that a pothole like this could easily cause a motorcyclist to lose control and be seriously injured or worse,” Ms Fennell said.
Tracie Harrision hit a pothole in the same area.
“We are driving at risk, won't be long until someone will unfortunately lose their life,” Ms Harrison said.
Drivers can report road hazards to VicRoads on 131 170.
Deb Clinch had to replace her tyre after hitting a pothole on the Goulburn Valley Hwy near Kialla.
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Amanda Collett provided a photo of this pothole filled with water, obscuring its depth.
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Imma Glass’ granddaughter learnt to change a tyre after a pothole strike on the Goulburn Valley Hwy.
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