Brake - Petitioning Parliament for Young Driver Restrictions
Discussion
Dunno if there is another thread on this but thought I should bring it to the attention of PH if not so we can have our usual shake heads and mutter / blind fury rant at them.
http://www.brake.org.uk/gdl2011campaignsummary
Essentially they're petitioning parliament to change the way new driver licences are gained and the whole way it works for new (young) drivers.
To paraphrase it:
Minimum learning period of a year before you can even take your theory test.
Minimum of 10 hours professional driving tuition in a dual control car.
Minimum age of accompanying drivers raised to 25.
Registration of approved accompanying drivers.
New classification of 'Novice Driver' for those who have passed their test within the last 2 years.
Novice drivers should be allowed to drive unsupervised, but there should be certain restrictions on their driving, including:
Novice drivers should only carry passengers who are younger than 25 under supervision. Parents who are novice drivers and need to carry their own children should be exempted.
Novice drivers should not be permitted to drive at night, for the recommended period of 11pm-6am, unless supervised or travelling directly from home to work or school.
Novice drivers should have a zero tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml blood[5].
Novice drivers should not drive on motorways.
Additionally Novice drivers should be restricted in the size of engine they can drive.
Any driving offences, or failure to comply with the restrictions on ‘novice’ drivers during this period, should result in automatic disqualification.
Novice drivers should be required to take a further 10 hours of professional tuition, during which they must drive on motorways and at night.
Novice drivers should be required to pass a second driving test at the end of the two year period to help ensure safe driving on all types of roads.
Now to me some of those bits make a bit of sense but so much of it is too draconian that it'll destroy the chances of anyone under the age of 20 getting any sort of job that requires them to commute by car or drive as part of the job especially if its night shift or unusual hours.
Additionally I can't see how they could enforce this when they aren't even able to enforce the amount of laws out there now like seatbelts, modifications, insurance etc. Also I've hightlighted the completely MAD exemption they've put in - a small child is about the MOST distracting thing you could put in a car.
I now open the floor to the ranting...
http://www.brake.org.uk/gdl2011campaignsummary
Essentially they're petitioning parliament to change the way new driver licences are gained and the whole way it works for new (young) drivers.
To paraphrase it:
Minimum learning period of a year before you can even take your theory test.
Minimum of 10 hours professional driving tuition in a dual control car.
Minimum age of accompanying drivers raised to 25.
Registration of approved accompanying drivers.
New classification of 'Novice Driver' for those who have passed their test within the last 2 years.
Novice drivers should be allowed to drive unsupervised, but there should be certain restrictions on their driving, including:
Novice drivers should only carry passengers who are younger than 25 under supervision. Parents who are novice drivers and need to carry their own children should be exempted.
Novice drivers should not be permitted to drive at night, for the recommended period of 11pm-6am, unless supervised or travelling directly from home to work or school.
Novice drivers should have a zero tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml blood[5].
Novice drivers should not drive on motorways.
Additionally Novice drivers should be restricted in the size of engine they can drive.
Any driving offences, or failure to comply with the restrictions on ‘novice’ drivers during this period, should result in automatic disqualification.
Novice drivers should be required to take a further 10 hours of professional tuition, during which they must drive on motorways and at night.
Novice drivers should be required to pass a second driving test at the end of the two year period to help ensure safe driving on all types of roads.
Now to me some of those bits make a bit of sense but so much of it is too draconian that it'll destroy the chances of anyone under the age of 20 getting any sort of job that requires them to commute by car or drive as part of the job especially if its night shift or unusual hours.
Additionally I can't see how they could enforce this when they aren't even able to enforce the amount of laws out there now like seatbelts, modifications, insurance etc. Also I've hightlighted the completely MAD exemption they've put in - a small child is about the MOST distracting thing you could put in a car.
I now open the floor to the ranting...
Whilst I do think there is some merit in changing the way in which young drivers are "allowed" to drive powerful cars, and I do agree with the zero limit of drink (and drugs should also apply), things like the motorway ban are just nonsense (does that apply to any dual carriageway? hmmm, that's going to work).
What we actually need is better training (like motorway lessons) and to raise the standards of teaching, not just meddling rules and regulations in this nanny state way.
[now off soap-box]
What we actually need is better training (like motorway lessons) and to raise the standards of teaching, not just meddling rules and regulations in this nanny state way.
[now off soap-box]
A little OTT but one of the more sensible things* to come out of Brake for a long time.
Agree on the child bit, but what else is a parent going to do?
M-ways is a tricky one - in most parts of the country there ARE alternative non-M-way routes to places, and most young people/new-drivers aren't going to want a 20+ mile commute straight away.
I think a watered-down version of these rules would make sense. Wouldn't be popular, but a lot of the accidents that young men in particular have are of the "watch this" variety...
* OK, not difficult, granted.
Agree on the child bit, but what else is a parent going to do?
M-ways is a tricky one - in most parts of the country there ARE alternative non-M-way routes to places, and most young people/new-drivers aren't going to want a 20+ mile commute straight away.
I think a watered-down version of these rules would make sense. Wouldn't be popular, but a lot of the accidents that young men in particular have are of the "watch this" variety...
* OK, not difficult, granted.
havoc said:
I think a watered-down version of these rules would make sense. Wouldn't be popular, but a lot of the accidents that young men in particular have are of the "watch this" variety...
Heavily watered-down and I'd agree with you, limitations on engine power would probably be the best and simplest thing they could do just like they do with bike licences. It's something that's easily verifiable, easily monitored and easily enforceable and would have big benefits. The only young person I know to have died behind the wheel died because he borrowed his dads 2.0 Montego when his car was in the garage and lost it on a country lane into a tree on a quiet sunny dry Sunday morning.The parent/child thing I think is a complete hypocrisy, some of the worst drivers you see on the roads are school run mums distracted because their kids are fighting in the back. If we can't trust young drivers enough to have passengers who might distract you I don't see why having offspring should make any difference to how distractable you are. If young people are expected to make their way about in groups without cars then I don't see why one with a child should be given special dispensation.
People won't like rules like this anyway but giving special treatments to certain groups is a guaranteed way to get the rules ignored by large sections of the community.
Nice thought but perhaps most of the population don't live in Midsommer where the local Bobby can nip down to have a word with the playful tearaway's parents, who will take it all on board and make sure that Johnny is Brylcreamed and tank-topped next time he takes fathers Morris Thou' out to collect 10 Woodbines from Mr Johnson's Post Office and Fresh Goods Emporium.
I mean FFS. Having this is not going to stop the uninsured scaly and his mouth breathing mate in a car without an MOT that is not registered to him, on linglang remoulds, full of giggling Tracy's, tearing up the McD's carpark at 10pm.
And who is going to enforce it? The masses of currently idle traffic cops?
BB
I mean FFS. Having this is not going to stop the uninsured scaly and his mouth breathing mate in a car without an MOT that is not registered to him, on linglang remoulds, full of giggling Tracy's, tearing up the McD's carpark at 10pm.
And who is going to enforce it? The masses of currently idle traffic cops?
BB
Minimum learning period of a year before you can even take your theory test. Disagree. Far too expensive
Minimum of 10 hours professional driving tuition in a dual control car.I would have thought most people these days have around that anyway
Minimum age of accompanying drivers raised to 25.disagree. Regardless of age they need at least 3 years experience which i think is sufficient
Registration of approved accompanying drivers. They want everyone to become driving instructors?? I see the driving tuition market crashing and the minimum of 10 hours learning and 1 year of learning becoming cheaper...
New classification of 'Novice Driver' for those who have passed their test within the last 2 years. We already have the 2 year probation where new drivers are on 6 points max. so this new idea is pointless
Novice drivers should be allowed to drive unsupervised, but there should be certain restrictions on their driving, including:
Novice drivers should only carry passengers who are younger than 25 under supervision. Parents who are novice drivers and need to carry their own children should be exempted.
Novice drivers should not be permitted to drive at night, for the recommended period of 11pm-6am, unless supervised or travelling directly from home to work or school. Complete balls. 11pm - 6am is probably the time when roads are quietest. What are they trying to prevent?
Novice drivers should have a zero tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml blood[5]. Agree - should be 0 tolerance for all drivers IMO
Novice drivers should not drive on motorways. Disagree. Novice drivers should be taught how to drive on motorways and MLMs should have refresher courses
Additionally Novice drivers should be restricted in the size of engine they can drive.[b] only is insurance is substantially cheaper - my 2.0l mondeo was cheaper to insure at 18 that a 1.2 corsa so work that one out BRAKE!![/b}
Any driving offences, or failure to comply with the restrictions on ‘novice’ drivers during this period, should result in automatic disqualification. No. Everyone makes mistakes, keep them on the 50% penalty points tarriff
Novice drivers should be required to take a further 10 hours of professional tuition, during which they must drive on motorways and at night. as long as it isnt during summer as by the time its dark their curfew will have set in
Novice drivers should be required to pass a second driving test at the end of the two year period to help ensure safe driving on all types of roads. Novice drivers that have been disqualified / had more than 4 fault claims / have points etc should take a new test. Why 'punish' competant drivers with yet another expence.
Minimum of 10 hours professional driving tuition in a dual control car.I would have thought most people these days have around that anyway
Minimum age of accompanying drivers raised to 25.disagree. Regardless of age they need at least 3 years experience which i think is sufficient
Registration of approved accompanying drivers. They want everyone to become driving instructors?? I see the driving tuition market crashing and the minimum of 10 hours learning and 1 year of learning becoming cheaper...
New classification of 'Novice Driver' for those who have passed their test within the last 2 years. We already have the 2 year probation where new drivers are on 6 points max. so this new idea is pointless
Novice drivers should be allowed to drive unsupervised, but there should be certain restrictions on their driving, including:
Novice drivers should only carry passengers who are younger than 25 under supervision. Parents who are novice drivers and need to carry their own children should be exempted.
Novice drivers should not be permitted to drive at night, for the recommended period of 11pm-6am, unless supervised or travelling directly from home to work or school. Complete balls. 11pm - 6am is probably the time when roads are quietest. What are they trying to prevent?
Novice drivers should have a zero tolerance drink drive limit of 20mg of alcohol per 100ml blood[5]. Agree - should be 0 tolerance for all drivers IMO
Novice drivers should not drive on motorways. Disagree. Novice drivers should be taught how to drive on motorways and MLMs should have refresher courses
Additionally Novice drivers should be restricted in the size of engine they can drive.[b] only is insurance is substantially cheaper - my 2.0l mondeo was cheaper to insure at 18 that a 1.2 corsa so work that one out BRAKE!
Let's stick to one thread. Feel free to post all your (very interesting!) posts into the other original one
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