Drivers call for motorway training
Many feel nervous and don't know how to behave...
Most feel nervous...
According to an NOP Automotive poll for National Motorway Month, however, most don't read the Highway Code. The survey also revealed a lack of basic safety knowledge. Only 19 per cent of motorists know about the two second rule - the safe, recommended gap between a car and the one in front. In average traffic and fine weather conditions that gap should be two seconds. Fifty eight per cent of people think the gap should be six seconds.
The group whose members initiated National Motorway Month -- RAC Foundation, Auto Express Magazine, IAM and BSM -- said they were concerned about the potential problems this causes for those driving on motorways, because of the large number of motorists who have never received any motorway training.
The survey found that 86 per cent of motorists support compulsory post-test motorway driving training for every newly qualified driver, suggesting that many motorists feel that they would benefit from extra tuition on the motorways.
Is driver training the solution?
Practicing driving on a motorway with a qualified instructor could in many cases help nervous motorway drivers. The group is calling for the Government to conduct a consultation exercise on the possibility of compulsory post-test driver training for all newly qualified drivers.
There have always been some practical problems with this idea. For newly qualified drivers in remote rural areas of the country with no access to motorways this could mean a lengthy journey before they even catch a glimpse of a motorway. However the survey shows that support for the proposal is just as high from drivers in regions without motorways (85 per cent support) as elsewhere.
Currently about 17 per cent of drivers take a Pass Plus course after passing their test. This course includes driving in town, in all weathers, on rural roads, at night, on dual carriageways and includes a motorway driving session.
Some insurance companies offer discounts on car insurance to inexperienced drivers who have undertaken the Pass Plus course. The National Motorway Month group advocates that more drivers should take the Pass Plus course and bigger incentives should be introduced in terms of insurance discounts for motorists who do so.
Other survey results
- 93 per cent of people in Granada region support compulsory post-test motorway training, compared to 79 per cent of people in Tyne Tees - support for the idea was also high in the three areas with the poorest access to the motorway network (89 per cent in the West Country, 85 per cent in Anglia and 84 per cent in Scotland).
- 27 per cent of motorists in the Meridian region knew the two second rule compared to seven per cent of people in the West Country.
- 74 per cent of people in the West Country, 69 per cent of people in Harlech and Granada regions thought the recommended gap was six seconds.
- 49 per cent of people in Wales have never looked at their Highway Code since passing their test compared to 29 per cent in Anglia region.
- 16 per cent of people in West Country regularly look at their Highway Code compared to no-one in Anglia, and only one per cent of people in Granada and Yorkshire regions.
- 35 per cent of Vauxhall drivers and 32 per cent of Renault drivers look at their Highway Code more than once a year. This is compared to only seven per cent of Peugeot drivers.
- 28 per cent of over 65s have never looked at their Highway Code since passing their test.
Comment
Edmund King, Executive Director of the RAC Foundation said: “It is worrying, but perhaps not surprising, that only four per cent of drivers regularly look at their Highway Code. It is vital that motorists do not become complacent when it comes to driving. Perhaps we need more direct ways to remind motorists of the rules of the road including more use of variable signs and leaflets at motorway service areas.
“Drivers of any age have a responsibility to ensure that they are up to the job. If in doubt a driver should take up voluntary retraining. As motorway driving involves manoeuvring at speed, it is not surprising that 86 per cent of motorists would like to see compulsory post-test motorway driving training for all newly qualified drivers. We would urge the Government to consider the training needs of motorists on motorways carefully.”
berkorich said:
Just adds weight to the comments in the forum recently that lack of driver education is a major problem. Why aren't gantry signs given over to useful messages like 'Keep left unless overtaking' or 'Keep your distance' instead of the completely fatuous rubbish like 'Think - don't phone when driving' that we get now.
Or even worse the "watch your speed one" of late - like we haven't heard this messgae before???
Motorways look rather straight and featureless, but there is loads of things we can tell you about them that one-day could become very useful. We also deal with a section of the motoring population that can not physically drive on a motorway due to their suffering from a psychological problem. This may make the ignorant snigger, but to those that suffer from this debilitating condition the problem is very real, humiliating and very limiting in terms of their freedom.
Make no mistake. Motorways are very dangerous places and some knowledge about this type of road is invaluable.
Julian Smith
Ride Drive Limited
Feeling relaxed is so important when driving. I know people who passed who were still not confident they could drive, even though they had passed a test. That is just plain wrong.
I think that anxiety when driving builds up and problems and fears are much worse than they really are.
Clearly something at test stage needs to be done for both motorway driving AND for people who *can* pass a test but still can't drive in a relaxed manner!
Dave
A motor way isn’t much different really. Hell the M11 is only two lanes until you get to Stansted.
The one thing I can’t understand is why do some people just sit in the middle lane doing 50- 60 and seem oblivious to what’s going on around them?
These are the people that NEED re-educating, and in most cases are happy to use motorways and dual carriageways.
Ref: joining -seems ppl reluctant to alter their speed to those on the m-way and think it's the other way around.......wish I had a sign sometimes: 'When did you last read the
Highway Code?' Education. education, education........
The two second rule? -ever driven on a French autoroute?? More like the two centimetre rule, and they don't let up in the rain either!!
Drive safely!
keng said:
The one thing I can’t understand is why do some people just sit in the middle lane doing 50- 60 and seem oblivious to what’s going on around them?
I recently heard a young chap honestly state that the middle lane was for 'cruising at a steady speed' and that he would never venture into the 'slow lane'!!
He could only have passed his test within the last year, but he really believed what he was telling us!
Driver training? Oh
Driving down the M5,on several occasions when overtaking in the middle lane,faster cars approaching me from behind would not use the(always empty)outside lane to overtake me!!
They would sit in lane 2 behind me and when i had completed my overtaking and moved back in,then they would rush past!?!Eh???
peteff said:
I don't like the ones who think you have to slow down or move over to let them on at sliproads. It's not always possible to do it and they should filter in not try to force you over.
Equally irritating are those morons who refuse to move over to let you in off a slip road (...or even accelerate to block you off!!) even when the lanes to the right are completely empty. That, and the problem the last poster experienced, is MLM mentality gone mad.
I don't understand the problem with the 2 second rule, etc (which should apply, in normal conditions, to travel on any road not just motorways) - its basic information which should have been taught by the instructor and embedded in the memory. This kind of stuff is after all easier than remembering exact braking distances.
Even if it was a case of passing your normal test and then being scheduled to go back a month later (by law) for motorway tuition, it's better than leaving people to their own devices if they're unhappy or nervous about it.
peteff said:
I don't like the ones who think you have to slow down or move over to let them on at sliproads. It's not always possible to do it and they should filter in not try to force you over.
Oh, and the ones who do 40mph all the way down the slip road, forcing you to join traffic doing 20-30mph more than you.
WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S A SLIP ROAD AND NOT A F
G JUNCTION?!?!?!?! AAAAAAAAAAGGGGHHH!! Middle lane and outside lane HOGS should know that the middle and outside lanes are there for OVERTAKING. Once the overtaking move has been done, you go BACK in the left hand lane again.
The inside lane is NOT the slow lane. The mkiddle lane is NOT the cruising lane.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhh, it's hopeless!
jazzyjeff said:
Equally irritating are those morons who refuse to move over to let you in off a slip road (...or even accelerate to block you off!!) even when the lanes to the right are completely empty.
I do agree, but the person joining is obliged to fit in; the person already on the road is being polite if they move over. Subtle difference.
V8 Archie said:
I'm not sure how a compulsory post-test lesson could be policed effectively without withholding the license until the lesson has been completed. I can see lots of resistance to that approach - especially in areas that are fairly remote from motorways.
Build more motorways!
No one think this comment is slightly worrying? When was the last time the rules of the road changed? Why would regularly reading it make it better?
Its not like you have to go back to school regularly, or Professionals have to re-do their degrees regularly. Why should we need to re-read the highway code regularly to remember it?? I'd be more worried that people have to keep reading it as that means they can't remember what is in it........
Rob
V8 Archie said:
I'm not sure how a compulsory post-test lesson could be policed effectively without withholding the license until the lesson has been completed. I can see lots of resistance to that approach - especially in areas that are fairly remote from motorways.
I was thinking of some sort of partial licence, perhaps.....maybe with some sort of short-term expiry date which would render it useless without having completed the motorway training. Any renewal on such an expiry would require the motorway lessons first. Just an idea.
As for areas being fairly remote, I can't really see that as being a good excuse for anyone living there, even though you're right in saying that some people would get moody about it.
I don't often have to do emergency stops, but it doesn't mean I shouldn't have practiced it. Same applies to motorway driving IMO.
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