Learner driver gets two years, does this seem harsh to you?
Discussion
SpeedMattersNot said:
It will soon be required by law, to be taught by a qualified driving instructor. I think that would be for the best.
I'm surprised it hasn't already happened. Not sure what the law is in other countries but I learnt to drive in Italy 30+ years ago and it was a requirement then. Maybe the EU will bring in such legislation...
hman said:
There should be a CBT required for learner car drivers in just the same way as it is required by law for learner motorcyclists.
Some variant of this. An hour or two of off road tuition somewhere to make sure you know which pedal is which and can operate the steering before you get the provisional licence.It sounds like the husband was fairly negligent to me.
The trouble is, there is no other way to learn to drive than doing so, and who honestly can say that in learning to drive they never bunny hopped, panicked or lost control of the car. I was teaching my girlfriend to drive for a while, and she did all of the above, and backed into a post.
The thing is she can then drive for 20 miles without putting a wheel wrong, as though she's been doing so for years. Then totally botch parking, miss gears or go back to novice in the blink of an eye.
The real mistake was the choice of time and place for this, but I believe I many years ago, my girlfriend a few months ago, and everyone else who has ever learned to drive a car has at some point been a moments panic or a stroke of bad luck away from some kind of tragedy.
The trouble is, there is no other way to learn to drive than doing so, and who honestly can say that in learning to drive they never bunny hopped, panicked or lost control of the car. I was teaching my girlfriend to drive for a while, and she did all of the above, and backed into a post.
The thing is she can then drive for 20 miles without putting a wheel wrong, as though she's been doing so for years. Then totally botch parking, miss gears or go back to novice in the blink of an eye.
The real mistake was the choice of time and place for this, but I believe I many years ago, my girlfriend a few months ago, and everyone else who has ever learned to drive a car has at some point been a moments panic or a stroke of bad luck away from some kind of tragedy.
If I did the same thing with a gun, ie picked it up and shot someone because I didn't know how to use it, it would be the same thing.
So many people have complete disrespect and ignorance for how dangerous a car can actually be.
I think that 2 years is not enough and that the boyfriend is also partly responsible.
In my opinion this does nothing to demonstrate the need for proper tuition, it was just two idiots in a car who had complete lack of judgement. Anybody normal drives their learner to an old track or something where using the gears, brakes and accelerator can be properly explained (if it's needed).
On a separate note, I can't believe that people can be driven round in cars for years before they start driving and not know a) how the car works b) how to navigate around. I think some people must just be blinkered all the time.
So many people have complete disrespect and ignorance for how dangerous a car can actually be.
I think that 2 years is not enough and that the boyfriend is also partly responsible.
In my opinion this does nothing to demonstrate the need for proper tuition, it was just two idiots in a car who had complete lack of judgement. Anybody normal drives their learner to an old track or something where using the gears, brakes and accelerator can be properly explained (if it's needed).
On a separate note, I can't believe that people can be driven round in cars for years before they start driving and not know a) how the car works b) how to navigate around. I think some people must just be blinkered all the time.
Finlandia said:
Ganglandboss said:
SpeedMattersNot said:
For another example...why are people allowed to change their own wheel on a car, but arn't allowed to re-wire a plug in their own house? It's hillarious!
Who told you that?Einion Yrth said:
GetCarter said:
That's just daft!
I would imagine it's largely ignored too.Completely off topic, but when I first moved to Sweden, at my first new job we weren't allowed to change light bulbs, they had to be changed by a certified electrician that was hired to do all that sort of stuff. Bonkers!
I believe it has to do with a very strong control by the unions, do not try to take the job of another man.
Back on topic again then
Finlandia said:
Einion Yrth said:
GetCarter said:
That's just daft!
I would imagine it's largely ignored too.Completely off topic, but when I first moved to Sweden, at my first new job we weren't allowed to change light bulbs, they had to be changed by a certified electrician that was hired to do all that sort of stuff. Bonkers!
I believe it has to do with a very strong control by the unions, do not try to take the job of another man.
Back on topic again then
They sent them off to the training centre who used to oversee our apprentice scheme and they were taught about electrical safety and safe use of hand tools etc. With regards to lamping, they were allowed to do anything accessible from a 2 metre stepladder. Anything higher and they would write 'refer to technicians' on the work order and it would be passed to us.
One day a porter managed to get a shock from a light fitting. It was a fluorescent luminaire - a typical office light that sits in the ceiling grid. The insulation had become brittle and cracked, and he caught the back of his hand on a bare copper wire. The mard b
d immediately went on the sick and had about a month off work. His compensation payout was rumoured to be in the region of £10,000.Back on topic, I do not believe she should have been jailed but I think her husband should have been. Even if the blame should lay with the learner, look at this: http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/dri...
A qualified driver goes through an unmarked junction without stopping and kills a motorcyclist. He receives a 12 month custodial sentence. The woman's accident appears to be purely due to inexperience, which you cannot blame her for. The bloke in Scotland cannot use that excuse.
This woman got behind the wheel of the car legally. I am inclined to agree with the suggestion that you should have to have received a set amount of tuition with a professional instructor before being allowed to be supervised by a partner/parent etc.
Years ago, a mate of mine passed his test when he was 18 but didn't get a car or even drive until he was 23. He bought himself a battered VW Polo. We noticed it had been in a collision and he told us he crashed it through the fence of an old people's home. The road he did it on was a quiet residential cul de sac - you'd have to be an utter moron to do what he did and we took the piss relentlessly.
A couple of years later, I heard the truth. Another mate was going out with a girl whose older brother was a mate of ours and he got a different version of events. It seems it was actually her who was driving. It seems the lad with the Polo had been giving her driving lessons (her dad was a psychopath who wouldn't let her have lessons until her older brother started learning). Fortunately nobody was hurt and it only took a new fence panel, concrete slab and a little TLC to a shrub to repair the damage.
It is quite worrying that a lad with little more than a month's driving experience was legally able to take a new driver on the road in a vehicle without dual controls. If there had been a child on the pavement, the situation could have been a lot worse.
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