Points for crashing
Author
Discussion

MrKipling43

Original Poster:

5,788 posts

244 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
So, I've been driving for 13 years now (feeling old) and I've been in one accident, where I got wiped out on a roundabout. In the same period of time I've probably had about 12 points on my licence - all speeding. Motorway Gatso twice, mobile speed camera van in Oxford on a dual carriageway and a Truvelo coming out of Dunstable.

I know several people (non petrolhead friends and people at work) who have a clean licence, but have written off at least one car and have had loads of little prangs.

If you were willing to pay the insurance, and avoided killing anyone or doing something really stupid you could go through life as a massively dangerous driver, with no risk of the old bill calling time on your driving.

Should points be issued for causing a crash? Say, one point for a rear ender at a roundabout (the classic bump) all the way up to a ban for a fireball roll-monster.

Seems weird that you're punished for speeding and causing no crashes (which is what speed limits are designed to prevent, right?) but aren't for driving slowly and crashing all the time.

I'm sure this has been done before, but I could find it. Thoughts?

Subbeh

139 posts

202 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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I'd say it'd encourage people to be even less truthful about what happened in an accident as now their licence could be at stake as well as their NCB.

Skylinecrazy

13,986 posts

222 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
The most stupid idea in the world. You can't prove who's at fault in most incidents, and there would be two sides to every crash.

People would end up with points unfairly! Want 3 points for crashing on ice? For aquaplaning? If a part fails on the car?


Captain Muppet

8,540 posts

293 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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I think you can get points for crashing. Certainly the chap who crashed in to me got points.

I wanted him done for attempted murder, but apparently it was only driving without due care. This is what happens if you rush to court while the victim is still in hospital.

mmm-five

12,277 posts

312 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
You are punished for having a crash, it's called an increase in your insurance premium!

If the police chose to, I'm sure you could also be done for DWDC&A or such.

MrKipling43

Original Poster:

5,788 posts

244 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
The most stupid idea in the world? Really? I think that's probably hyperbole.

Obviously I'm not saying that every single crash regardless of circumstances should be punished with points, like a failing part.

But crashing because of aquaplaning?! YES. And it's perfect example of the system. Why were you driving fast enough to aquaplane? Why were your tyres shagged? I don't want to be collected during your accident because you can't drive in the wet. Get off the roads.

mmm-five said:
You are punished for having a crash, it's called an increase in your insurance premium!
Yeah, but if you're willing to pay you can carry on more or less indefinitely. I dunno how far you have to go to be uninsurable (and I did mention that in the OP).

Skylinecrazy

13,986 posts

222 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
MrKipling43 said:
The most stupid idea in the world? Really? I think that's probably hyperbole.

Obviously I'm not saying that every single crash regardless of circumstances should be punished with points, like a failing part.

But crashing because of aquaplaning?! YES. And it's perfect example of the system. Why were you driving fast enough to aquaplane? Why were your tyres shagged? I don't want to be collected during your accident because you can't drive in the wet. Get off the roads.
You do realise that virtually everyone would end up with points, or being banned?

There's a few people on here who have made simple mistakes, they shouldn't be punished even further than having a wrote off car, an increased insurance premium, and a dent in their wallet.


kentmotorcompany

2,471 posts

238 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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The points system is massively outdated.

When it was introduced, you had to drive like a complete bellend to accumulate 12 points for a ban. Thus bellends were banned, and the system worked.

Now having 3/6 points is seen as completely normal.

Today the over cautious driver whose hesitation is often the cause of accidents. Whose mono speeding and not knowing the NSL is the cause of much frustration in others, drives around with a completely clean licence and think that this somehow equates to them being an excellent driver.


MrKipling43

Original Poster:

5,788 posts

244 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
Skylinecrazy said:
You do realise that virtually everyone would end up with points, or being banned?
Yes. Yes I do.

IMAGINE IT.



kentmotorcompany said:
Today the over cautious driver whose hesitation is often the cause of accidents. Whose mono speeding and not knowing the NSL is the cause of much frustration in others, drives around with a completely clean licence and think that this somehow equates to them being an excellent driver.
Exactly.

SHutchinson

2,326 posts

212 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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I think, if you cause an accident on a perfectly straight motorway in decent weather conditions you should be made to stand in the central reservation on a plinth so that all the people held up by your crash can shout at you.

I'm not sure it would cause less crashes but it would feel loads better after being stuck for an hour because someone lost concentration while sending a text.

MrKipling43

Original Poster:

5,788 posts

244 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
SHutchinson said:
I think, if you cause an accident on a perfectly straight motorway in decent weather conditions you should be made to stand in the central reservation on a plinth so that all the people held up by your crash can shout at you.

I'm not sure it would cause less crashes but it would feel loads better after being stuck for an hour because someone lost concentration while sending a text.
And they should have to have their mouth wide open, so cigarettes can be thrown in it.

LovelyTia

553 posts

208 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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MrKipling43 said:
But crashing because of aquaplaning?! YES. And it's perfect example of the system. Why were you driving fast enough to aquaplane? Why were your tyres shagged? I don't want to be collected during your accident because you can't drive in the wet. Get off the roads.
Surely the police could do the driver with a DWDCA.
That would mean points for the driver of the car with badly worn tyres (isn't it 3 points a tyre if they are under the limit?)

collateral

7,238 posts

246 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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Punishing write offs is silly because every accident is different.

The bloke who caused me to write off my last car got handed a 3 figure fine and had to retake his test, but his car only got a dent while mine ended up on its roof.

Killer2005

20,561 posts

256 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
quotequote all
SHutchinson said:
I think, if you cause an accident on a perfectly straight motorway in decent weather conditions you should be made to stand in the central reservation on a plinth so that all the people held up by your crash can shout at you.

I'm not sure it would cause less crashes but it would feel loads better after being stuck for an hour because someone lost concentration while sending a text.
I'd be quite happy for anyone who causes a crash and causes significant disruption to others, to have to reimburse anyone who they have held up.

Now that's a silly idea, but would make people more careful in traffic