Driving test idea - has this been touched on?
Discussion
I’ve wondered for some time now why the government doesn’t introduce mandatory driving tests for all drivers to be taken every 5 years or so. Firstly I think it would reduce the amount of accidents on the road, secondly it will create more jobs for examiners and thirdly if you had to pay for the test, a large amount of the money could go into road funding for better roads.
I know it would be a pain in the arse (although I don’t think a test every 5 years would upset too many people!) but the amount of people I see on the road on my daily commute who struggle with the most basic of driving skills is scary. Things like being in the right lane for roundabouts, giving way to your right, using indicators, sticking to speed limits, forcing out bad habits basically.
Maybe it could be set that you have a 1 month period where you have to take your test and if you fail your license gets taken away immediately until the examiners think you’re capable of driving safely. They could also have a record of your driving convictions and if you’ve had any previous accidents. This will also go for or against you during the test. So if someone had been in accidents and had speeding convictions, the examiner would perhaps test the driver more stringently.
Any thoughts on this idea?
I know it would be a pain in the arse (although I don’t think a test every 5 years would upset too many people!) but the amount of people I see on the road on my daily commute who struggle with the most basic of driving skills is scary. Things like being in the right lane for roundabouts, giving way to your right, using indicators, sticking to speed limits, forcing out bad habits basically.
Maybe it could be set that you have a 1 month period where you have to take your test and if you fail your license gets taken away immediately until the examiners think you’re capable of driving safely. They could also have a record of your driving convictions and if you’ve had any previous accidents. This will also go for or against you during the test. So if someone had been in accidents and had speeding convictions, the examiner would perhaps test the driver more stringently.
Any thoughts on this idea?
Sounds good to me - Also include Motorway driving. I'm not allowed to drive a 16 tonner on the road without the necessary training, so why should someone who has been given a couple of laps of the local council estate be allowed to drive at 70 MPH on a busy motorway. Would get rid of all those who sit in the middle lane on a nearly empty motorway.
Dupont666 said:
Would piss me off, cost me a lot of money every 5 years and would have to take time off work to do test.... no... bad idea....
Because you're time is worth more than the potential of saving lives?A better test to begin with, including night and motorway driving. Then retests every 10 years until 50/60 years old. Then its once every 5 years, with a up to date eye test and proof of glasses (if required).
Chuck in some more advanced skills into the test and we're set.
Edited by illmonkey on Monday 19th January 11:40
A good idea, but I'd favour simply watching those who are driving and picking up those who fall below the required standard.
A job that could be done by the police, in marked and unmarked cars.
In fact, I think this was done, up until some time ago. Can't think why it stopped ...
Oli.
A job that could be done by the police, in marked and unmarked cars.
In fact, I think this was done, up until some time ago. Can't think why it stopped ...
Oli.
illmonkey said:
Dupont666 said:
Would piss me off, cost me a lot of money every 5 years and would have to take time off work to do test.... no... bad idea....
Because you're time is worth more than the potential of saving lives?A better test to begin with, including night and motorway driving. Then retests every 10 years until 50/60 years old. Then its once every 5 years, with a up to date eye test and proof of glasses (if required).
Chuck in some more advanced skills into the test and we're set.
Edited by illmonkey on Monday 19th January 11:40
Dupont666 said:
illmonkey said:
Dupont666 said:
Would piss me off, cost me a lot of money every 5 years and would have to take time off work to do test.... no... bad idea....
Because you're time is worth more than the potential of saving lives?A better test to begin with, including night and motorway driving. Then retests every 10 years until 50/60 years old. Then its once every 5 years, with a up to date eye test and proof of glasses (if required).
Chuck in some more advanced skills into the test and we're set.
Edited by illmonkey on Monday 19th January 11:40
I'm all for it, if only they'd make something like this happen
There are roughly 35 million driving licenses in the UK. If those 35 million had to take 2 tests every 10 years, that’s 70 million tests, which is 7 million tests a year which equates to £245m a year in driving tests if they were priced at £35. If £5 of those tests end up in the governments fund for roads that’s £35m a year to improve our crappy roads. Not only that but it will also get rid of people who can’t drive and make those who have bad habits more likely to lose them. It will sharpen up people’s driving.
P.S. I hope my maths is correct!
P.S. I hope my maths is correct!
JJCW said:
Dupont666 said:
illmonkey said:
Dupont666 said:
Would piss me off, cost me a lot of money every 5 years and would have to take time off work to do test.... no... bad idea....
Because you're time is worth more than the potential of saving lives?A better test to begin with, including night and motorway driving. Then retests every 10 years until 50/60 years old. Then its once every 5 years, with a up to date eye test and proof of glasses (if required).
Chuck in some more advanced skills into the test and we're set.
Edited by illmonkey on Monday 19th January 11:40
I'm all for it, if only they'd make something like this happen
As said; a retest every five years would be just too expensive. Much better to make the test a 'proper' test to start with.
Keep the test as is, then, have another test after 6 months. This second part of test would take in motorway driving and, perhaps night driving. If the student fails this part of the test then they must pass a retest within the next 6 months. If they then fail again they are off the road forever.
Agree with a retest for over 65's.
Keep the test as is, then, have another test after 6 months. This second part of test would take in motorway driving and, perhaps night driving. If the student fails this part of the test then they must pass a retest within the next 6 months. If they then fail again they are off the road forever.
Agree with a retest for over 65's.
ytrebil said:
There are roughly 35 million driving licenses in the UK. If those 35 million had to take 2 tests every 10 years, that’s 70 million tests, which is 7 million tests a year which equates to £245m a year in driving tests if they were priced at £35. If £5 of those tests end up in the governments fund for roads that’s £35m a year to improve our crappy roads. Not only that but it will also get rid of people who can’t drive and make those who have bad habits more likely to lose them. It will sharpen up people’s driving.
P.S. I hope my maths is correct!
Given the UKGov's predeliction for inventing non-jobs,P.S. I hope my maths is correct!
I'd have thought that they would have jumped at the chance
to charge us more and employ some more folks.
Even if the re-tests got rid of the worst 1% of drivers,
it would be a very good thing. I'd happily pay let's say
fifty quid a re-test every five years.
Add on mandatory sections for motorway, night and skid pan even
better.
Training, training, training.
Pistonheader in "more tax for motorists" shocker!
Any money raised would just go into the pot to be spent on public transport subsidy or diversity awareness think tanks or whatever. And do we really want more civil servants just for the sake of it?
Will it reduce accidents? Maybe - do we have a lot of evidence that accidents are caused by (for instance) people not shuffling the wheel in the approved manner?
Thing is, the most dangerous drivers on the road are people who have recently passed a driving test. Doesn't stop them driving like twunts now, why would it work five years later? It may be that the average 40 year old hasn't taken a test in the last 20 years, but he's still a better and safer driver than the average 20 year old who passed one in the last two years.
I don't think the problem is that people couldn't drive well enough to meet the basic driving test standard for 40 minutes every five years. The problem is that they choose not to drive that way the rest of the time. I don't think retesting them would actually achieve anything.
Any money raised would just go into the pot to be spent on public transport subsidy or diversity awareness think tanks or whatever. And do we really want more civil servants just for the sake of it?
Will it reduce accidents? Maybe - do we have a lot of evidence that accidents are caused by (for instance) people not shuffling the wheel in the approved manner?
Thing is, the most dangerous drivers on the road are people who have recently passed a driving test. Doesn't stop them driving like twunts now, why would it work five years later? It may be that the average 40 year old hasn't taken a test in the last 20 years, but he's still a better and safer driver than the average 20 year old who passed one in the last two years.
I don't think the problem is that people couldn't drive well enough to meet the basic driving test standard for 40 minutes every five years. The problem is that they choose not to drive that way the rest of the time. I don't think retesting them would actually achieve anything.
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff