Learner Drivers to be unleashed on motorways
Discussion
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/17093564
Yes, it's from Newsbeat, the teenagers bite size news program on Radio 1, but it raises a valid point
Should L drivers be allowed on motorways as part of their lessons?. Part of me says "god yes, the more people who are trained to use them correctly, the better" but then, if you think of your archetypal learner, sticking rigidly to the speed limits everywhere, it's going to be rather intimidating to be on a motorway where you get all types, from the 50mph dawdler, to the 60mph MLM, to the 100mph rep-with-arse-on-fire in L3!
I'd be all for a tiered system, where the first test is the driving test as is, with a second learning period (after they are a qualified driver) which takes them onto the motorways and teaches them how they operate, with a test to prove competency. If you don't pass the second part of your test, then you're not qualified to use the motorway network (much like a current L plate driver) but you can still drive around the rest of the roads network unaccompanied.
Yes, it's from Newsbeat, the teenagers bite size news program on Radio 1, but it raises a valid point
Should L drivers be allowed on motorways as part of their lessons?. Part of me says "god yes, the more people who are trained to use them correctly, the better" but then, if you think of your archetypal learner, sticking rigidly to the speed limits everywhere, it's going to be rather intimidating to be on a motorway where you get all types, from the 50mph dawdler, to the 60mph MLM, to the 100mph rep-with-arse-on-fire in L3!
I'd be all for a tiered system, where the first test is the driving test as is, with a second learning period (after they are a qualified driver) which takes them onto the motorways and teaches them how they operate, with a test to prove competency. If you don't pass the second part of your test, then you're not qualified to use the motorway network (much like a current L plate driver) but you can still drive around the rest of the roads network unaccompanied.
ts crash and die, only the good will be left and we can celebrate! This topic comes up again and again on PH. I just don't see what the big difference is between a multi-lane dual carriageway and a motorway. (Other than the fact that motorways are safer and easier to use).
I was taught lane discipline on a wide variety of roads, and many of my lessons covered dual carriageways. I understand that some are scared of motorways under the current system, but these surely must be in the minority?
I was taught lane discipline on a wide variety of roads, and many of my lessons covered dual carriageways. I understand that some are scared of motorways under the current system, but these surely must be in the minority?
You've never heard of 'Pass Plus' then?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNew...
Eta...^^^ someone has.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNew...
Eta...^^^ someone has.
silvagod said:
You've never heard of 'Pass Plus' then?
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNew...
Eta...^^^ someone has.
Not compulsoryhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/LearnerAndNew...
Eta...^^^ someone has.
aizvara said:
This topic comes up again and again on PH. I just don't see what the big difference is between a multi-lane dual carriageway and a motorway. (Other than the fact that motorways are safer and easier to use).
I was taught lane discipline on a wide variety of roads, and many of my lessons covered dual carriageways. I understand that some are scared of motorways under the current system, but these surely must be in the minority?
Unfortunately, I am aware of a few "people" (I won't be sexist here!) Who absolutely refuse to drive on the motorway....I was taught lane discipline on a wide variety of roads, and many of my lessons covered dual carriageways. I understand that some are scared of motorways under the current system, but these surely must be in the minority?
No rational explanation given neither.
Personally I think this is a good thing.
Teach motorists how to use their left mirror which most seem to have forgotten exists.
Lane discipline, obviously.
Speed variations and one more essential; awareness and consideration for HGVs and other such ilk!
Those poor buggers can't accelerate like you or I, and so thought is needed.
Make it happen, quickly.
Also make all new motorists have those green P badges on the back of their cars.
Otispunkmeyer said:
Even then its going to be sensory overload.
Surely driving at 70 on the inside lane of a M-Way is going to be less stressful than driving in busy built-up areas? Isn't that why M-Ways are the safest roads in the country, and urban roads are some of the most dangerous?
AFAICS, all this directive will do is instil good lane discipline in learners which can only be a good thing.
Otispunkmeyer said:
Supposedly reduces insurance premiums. However at that stage it's equivalent to throwing a deck chair off the titanic. Premium is still going to leave your arse quivering.
The purpose of Pass Plus is supposedly to offer further training including motorway experience (which, it appears everyone believes everyone else needs). Naturaly, when it comes to paying for that training everyone realises how they themselves don't actually need the training because having passed the basic L-test they are already better than everyone else around them. The insurance deal was simply an attempted (failed?)sweetner to encourage more people to take up further training. Mike Raffone said:
Unfortunately, I am aware of a few "people" (I won't be sexist here!) Who absolutely refuse to drive on the motorway....
No rational explanation given neither.
Personally I think this is a good thing.
Teach motorists how to use their left mirror which most seem to have forgotten exists.
Lane discipline, obviously.
Speed variations and one more essential; awareness and consideration for HGVs and other such ilk!
Those poor buggers can't accelerate like you or I, and so thought is needed.
Make it happen, quickly.
Also make all new motorists have those green P badges on the back of their cars.
If people are so scared of driving on motorways that they refuse, then they are obviously not a problem.No rational explanation given neither.
Personally I think this is a good thing.
Teach motorists how to use their left mirror which most seem to have forgotten exists.
Lane discipline, obviously.
Speed variations and one more essential; awareness and consideration for HGVs and other such ilk!
Those poor buggers can't accelerate like you or I, and so thought is needed.
Make it happen, quickly.
Also make all new motorists have those green P badges on the back of their cars.
The issues you mention can be and are learnt in precisely the same manner on dual carriageways. What is the difference? Other than motorways being safer, as I said before.
No idea what you mean about accelerating; I could accelerate enough in a diesel corsa to join a NSL dual carriageway. I certainly could immediately after passing and driving my own (current) car.
Regarding the green P badges; I found that when I was a learner people would:
1) Not let me out of junctions (still don't as I have a BMW)
2) Tailgate mercilessly
3) Overtake when I was about to turn right, despite me not dawdling
4) Overtake upon reaching a NSL, despite me speeding promptly up to the limit
Basically, the L plate seemed to be a sign for some other drivers to act like idiots who absolutely must get past, despite me not travelling lower than the limit, not dawdling, etc. I haven't experienced this since losing the L plate, and I would have hated to have continued for a year with a P plate.
kiteless said:
Surely driving at 70 on the inside lane of a M-Way is going to be less stressful than driving in busy built-up areas? Isn't that why M-Ways are the safest roads in the country, and urban roads are some of the most dangerous?
AFAICS, all this directive will do is instil good lane discipline in learners which can only be a good thing.
To ease on the nested quotes, I won't bother 
But in response (briefly, not meant in an arrogant way.)
People not driving on the motorway, to me, reveals a lack of of confidence.
My confidence went up after experiencing the motorway for the first time (despite having both parent plead I wouldn't unless they were in the car with me.)
Acceleration - missed my point/ I didn't explain well.
HGVs take an age to get to motorway speeds, yet some motorists don't take this into account when pulling infront of them/ slowing down/ not letting them out.
The faster they go, the faster the motorway goes.
Green P Plates/ L Plates - I don't see this, nor did I experience it?
If anything, I realised other motorists were plonkers once I'd dropped my plates. But by then, I had confidence and increased ability without the reassurance of an instructor by my side.
(Went for a week after passing my test before I went on the motorway, which increased my confidence/ ability?)
OK, not brief - I tried
But in response (briefly, not meant in an arrogant way.)
People not driving on the motorway, to me, reveals a lack of of confidence.
My confidence went up after experiencing the motorway for the first time (despite having both parent plead I wouldn't unless they were in the car with me.)
Acceleration - missed my point/ I didn't explain well.
HGVs take an age to get to motorway speeds, yet some motorists don't take this into account when pulling infront of them/ slowing down/ not letting them out.
The faster they go, the faster the motorway goes.
Green P Plates/ L Plates - I don't see this, nor did I experience it?
If anything, I realised other motorists were plonkers once I'd dropped my plates. But by then, I had confidence and increased ability without the reassurance of an instructor by my side.
(Went for a week after passing my test before I went on the motorway, which increased my confidence/ ability?)
OK, not brief - I tried
Mike Raffone said:
To ease on the nested quotes, I won't bother
But in response (briefly, not meant in an arrogant way.)
People not driving on the motorway, to me, reveals a lack of of confidence.
My confidence went up after experiencing the motorway for the first time (despite having both parent plead I wouldn't unless they were in the car with me.)
Acceleration - missed my point/ I didn't explain well.
HGVs take an age to get to motorway speeds, yet some motorists don't take this into account when pulling infront of them/ slowing down/ not letting them out.
The faster they go, the faster the motorway goes.
Green P Plates/ L Plates - I don't see this, nor did I experience it?
If anything, I realised other motorists were plonkers once I'd dropped my plates. But by then, I had confidence and increased ability without the reassurance of an instructor by my side.
OK, not brief - I tried
My first drive on the motorway was turning off the A14 (which I'd driven a lot beforehand whilst learning and subsequently) onto the M11, on my own. Then onto the M25. I didn't actually notice much difference, other than the fact that there was now a hard shoulder, and was already well aware of how they functioned.But in response (briefly, not meant in an arrogant way.)
People not driving on the motorway, to me, reveals a lack of of confidence.
My confidence went up after experiencing the motorway for the first time (despite having both parent plead I wouldn't unless they were in the car with me.)
Acceleration - missed my point/ I didn't explain well.
HGVs take an age to get to motorway speeds, yet some motorists don't take this into account when pulling infront of them/ slowing down/ not letting them out.
The faster they go, the faster the motorway goes.
Green P Plates/ L Plates - I don't see this, nor did I experience it?
If anything, I realised other motorists were plonkers once I'd dropped my plates. But by then, I had confidence and increased ability without the reassurance of an instructor by my side.
OK, not brief - I tried
Sorry, yes, totally missed your point re: HGVs, thought you meant learners dawdled! I still don't see the difference between motorways and dual carriageways in this regard.
P/L plates; perhaps you were lucky? Or I was unlucky? I had a fair few incidents which seemed to be provoked by the fact that I was in a learner car. It may well have been that my own lack of confidence contributed, but there was a magical drop to zero in daft overtakes/tailgating as soon as I got the BMW.
Overall, I think the current driving test and training is pretty good. However, some people (probably the majority) just aren't interested in improving or maintaining their driving ability; these people will not be helped by a little more "lane discipline" training or a few lessons on the suspiciously-similar-to-dual-carriageways motorway. Once they've passed the test, they begin to slip. I feel the only thing which would make a perceptible and relatively quick difference to these sorts of people is enforced continuous assessment of all drivers of all ages. Which isn't going to happen.
Sorry - rant over.
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