What road traffic law would you introduce?
Discussion
I was thinking (ranting...) the other day that if I were in charge (
) and could introduce one new road traffic law, it would be to allow a left turn at red traffic lights when safe to do so.
Overall, I can see very few reasons not to transplant the "Right turn on red" law (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn_on_red) from the USA etc. to here. For comparatively little cost (i.e. signs put up at the minority of junctions for which a left on red would be unsafe), we could avoid people sitting pointlessly at red traffic lights, which in turn would speed up traffic flows, reduce pollution, reduce stress and generally benefit all road users. Even better, it would be relatively safe to introduce, as folks who were unaware of the new law would just continue to stay put at a red light when turning left.
What law would you introduce?
) and could introduce one new road traffic law, it would be to allow a left turn at red traffic lights when safe to do so.Overall, I can see very few reasons not to transplant the "Right turn on red" law (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turn_on_red) from the USA etc. to here. For comparatively little cost (i.e. signs put up at the minority of junctions for which a left on red would be unsafe), we could avoid people sitting pointlessly at red traffic lights, which in turn would speed up traffic flows, reduce pollution, reduce stress and generally benefit all road users. Even better, it would be relatively safe to introduce, as folks who were unaware of the new law would just continue to stay put at a red light when turning left.
What law would you introduce?
Periodic retests for all driving licence holders. Doesn't have to be a full test, as for a learner looking for a full licence - it can be a shortened test.
First retest to be 1yr after losing the L-plates.
Then after another 2yrs (so 3yrs from first pass), then 5yrs (8yrs from first pass), then every decade until age 70, 75, 78, 80, then every year.
Fail, and you can re-take the full learner test within two months.
Fail that, and you're back on L plates - and, when you pass and regain your full licence, you're back to the start of the retest schedule.
And, yes, the driver pays a fee that ensures the costs are covered.
First retest to be 1yr after losing the L-plates.
Then after another 2yrs (so 3yrs from first pass), then 5yrs (8yrs from first pass), then every decade until age 70, 75, 78, 80, then every year.
Fail, and you can re-take the full learner test within two months.
Fail that, and you're back on L plates - and, when you pass and regain your full licence, you're back to the start of the retest schedule.
And, yes, the driver pays a fee that ensures the costs are covered.
Woody John said:
Indicators fitted mandatory on all German marques.
Distance sensors fitted to all German marques to ensure they stay minimum 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front.
Black box fitted to all German marques.
Like Vauxhall for instance?Distance sensors fitted to all German marques to ensure they stay minimum 2 seconds behind the vehicle in front.
Black box fitted to all German marques.
I'd introduce re-testing every 5 years or so, not a full driving test but a skills update. That way people would need to be better drivers and properly crap ones could be weeded out, while normal people would have a reason to think about their driving more.
TooMany2cvs said:
Periodic retests for all driving licence holders. Doesn't have to be a full test, as for a learner looking for a full licence - it can be a shortened test.
First retest to be 1yr after losing the L-plates.
Then after another 2yrs (so 3yrs from first pass), then 5yrs (8yrs from first pass), then every decade until age 70, 75, 78, 80, then every year.
Fail, and you can re-take the full learner test within two months.
Fail that, and you're back on L plates - and, when you pass and regain your full licence, you're back to the start of the retest schedule.
And, yes, the driver pays a fee that ensures the costs are covered.
As the current L-test is just 40 mins long I'm not sure what value would be derived from a shortened test. To present any driver with a reasonable range of potential hazards I think it's already at the margins.First retest to be 1yr after losing the L-plates.
Then after another 2yrs (so 3yrs from first pass), then 5yrs (8yrs from first pass), then every decade until age 70, 75, 78, 80, then every year.
Fail, and you can re-take the full learner test within two months.
Fail that, and you're back on L plates - and, when you pass and regain your full licence, you're back to the start of the retest schedule.
And, yes, the driver pays a fee that ensures the costs are covered.
Add to that current lead times for L-tests I think resources are at full stretch already (notwithstanding the funding).
caiss4 said:
As the current L-test is just 40 mins long I'm not sure what value would be derived from a shortened test. To present any driver with a reasonable range of potential hazards I think it's already at the margins.
Perhaps.caiss4 said:
Add to that current lead times for L-tests I think resources are at full stretch already (notwithstanding the funding).
With the income coming in, they can increase the number of test centres and the number of examiners.I would like to see the rules changed to make indicator lights clearly separate from other lights. Indicators hidden in the centre of brake lights and front indicators so swept around the side of the car and swamped by DLRs. The person driving a German car may as well not bother indicating.
TooMany2cvs said:
caiss4 said:
As the current L-test is just 40 mins long I'm not sure what value would be derived from a shortened test. To present any driver with a reasonable range of potential hazards I think it's already at the margins.
Perhaps.TooMany2cvs said:
caiss4 said:
Add to that current lead times for L-tests I think resources are at full stretch already (notwithstanding the funding).
With the income coming in, they can increase the number of test centres and the number of examiners.caiss4 said:
To respond to that I'd need to understand whether the current testing environment is self-funding and I have no idea. To ask a sizeable proportion of the population to stump up say £50 for a reduced test every year/3 years/5 years etc to keep their licence may or may not mean that additional examiners and facilities could be viable but my experience suggests that is unlikely.
Probably not but you would hope that there would be a reduction in accidents, and so lower costs to emergency services,NHS, fewer jams,etc, through increasing the skill levels of drivers,and hopefully weeding out the idiotsIncrease the speed limit for artics on the motorway, and make manufacturers add a "push to pass" system to bypass the governor regardless of what limit has been set by the owner.
They can stop incredibly well nowadays and making sure it was possible for them to overtake in less than five minutes would make the roads much less congested.
They can stop incredibly well nowadays and making sure it was possible for them to overtake in less than five minutes would make the roads much less congested.
Dixy said:
I would like to see the rules changed to make indicator lights clearly separate from other lights. Indicators hidden in the centre of brake lights and front indicators so swept around the side of the car and swamped by DLRs. The person driving a German car may as well not bother indicating.
I like this one, I don't know what happened with light regulations but indicators are a bit of a joke in a lot of cars, small, or made not noticable if brake lights or headlights are on. Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff