Traffic Cops on BBC1 last night (Mon6th)
Discussion
Hi all
Saw the new traffic cops last night on BBC1. Quite pleased actually because they'd repeated the previous series a few times and I was beginning to know the programmes off by heart!
One thing I particularly liked was the Traffic Cops going into schools/clubs etc and showing the kids the gruesome pictures of what happens in car crashes. While the stomach may not like it, I think that hard hitting imagery is exactly what's needed. If I'm honest, it made me sit up and look too.
How angry must a traffic cop feel when you get blokes like those new (less than 1 week) drivers who plough mum's car into other vehicles? For a bit of common sense lives could be saved.
I thought the coppers on last night's programme were good examples, and thought it reflected on the force well. Perhaps it was designed to do this - with the flack police get in recent times - however, good viewing!
It's the sort of thing I'd love to do - the training young kids to drive sensibly. I'm an observer for the IAM (not much I realise), however, one thing that always gets me is the young drivers thinking they are able to do things they can't. I was the same when younger, and it's only hindsight that has helped me. However, I'd love to be able to talk to young new drivers about the risks and being sensible!!
Ah well, anyway - good show, and just thought I'd ramble a bit at you all
Thanks
Tony
Saw the new traffic cops last night on BBC1. Quite pleased actually because they'd repeated the previous series a few times and I was beginning to know the programmes off by heart!
One thing I particularly liked was the Traffic Cops going into schools/clubs etc and showing the kids the gruesome pictures of what happens in car crashes. While the stomach may not like it, I think that hard hitting imagery is exactly what's needed. If I'm honest, it made me sit up and look too.
How angry must a traffic cop feel when you get blokes like those new (less than 1 week) drivers who plough mum's car into other vehicles? For a bit of common sense lives could be saved.
I thought the coppers on last night's programme were good examples, and thought it reflected on the force well. Perhaps it was designed to do this - with the flack police get in recent times - however, good viewing!
It's the sort of thing I'd love to do - the training young kids to drive sensibly. I'm an observer for the IAM (not much I realise), however, one thing that always gets me is the young drivers thinking they are able to do things they can't. I was the same when younger, and it's only hindsight that has helped me. However, I'd love to be able to talk to young new drivers about the risks and being sensible!!
Ah well, anyway - good show, and just thought I'd ramble a bit at you all
Thanks
Tony
As you have said Tony, you were the same as a youth, as were we all.
Its a while back for me now, but I'm not sure that any videos or cosy chats would have prevented me from driving like a pr1ck.
Perhaps we need to involve people who have a direct bearing and influence on the youths who are presently law-abiding - the insurance industry.
Guaranteed discounts for IAM passes would actually encourage those who have to pay £3K for insurance on a £3k car.
Will it happen? Like fudge...
Its a while back for me now, but I'm not sure that any videos or cosy chats would have prevented me from driving like a pr1ck.
Perhaps we need to involve people who have a direct bearing and influence on the youths who are presently law-abiding - the insurance industry.
Guaranteed discounts for IAM passes would actually encourage those who have to pay £3K for insurance on a £3k car.
Will it happen? Like fudge...
Very good points, RM. With regards to the videos/cosy chats. I remember as a kid (perhaps 8 or 9) getting shown videos about not going on railway lines. Admittedly I'm not stupid enough to try and cross one ANYWAY, but it DID have a profound effect on me, which I remember. With driving, the problem is that in the space of half an hour, when you pass your test, you become instantly free with a 1 tonne motor.
Definate reductions with IAM membership is a very good idea I think. The problem with the current available discount is that it's 10% if you're 55yrs old driving a 1.2 Corsa - nothing actually tangeable for a 17/18/19yr old.
Did anything ever come of that maxpower/IAM collaboration I wonder?!
Definate reductions with IAM membership is a very good idea I think. The problem with the current available discount is that it's 10% if you're 55yrs old driving a 1.2 Corsa - nothing actually tangeable for a 17/18/19yr old.
Did anything ever come of that maxpower/IAM collaboration I wonder?!
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tom.jeffs4/random%20crap/Traffic%20Cops%20-%20Down%20to%20Experience%20%20%202-6.avi.torrent
If you missed it. Delete it mods if necessary
If you missed it. Delete it mods if necessary
I missed the programme last night but it sounds to have been quite good.
Actually I do feel concerned about some of the younger drivers, and wish more could be done to help keep them out of trouble. I did some crackpot things in my first 2 or 3 years of driving, and I was jolly lucky so little harm resulted.
Apparently the 17 to 24 age range are a disproportionate source of trouble, so you must be immensely relieved to be 25 Tony, and an Observer to boot.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Actually I do feel concerned about some of the younger drivers, and wish more could be done to help keep them out of trouble. I did some crackpot things in my first 2 or 3 years of driving, and I was jolly lucky so little harm resulted.
Apparently the 17 to 24 age range are a disproportionate source of trouble, so you must be immensely relieved to be 25 Tony, and an Observer to boot.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
One thing which seems to contribute to driving like a prick is having some mates in the car. Maybe young drivers should be limited to only driving alone or with a supervising adult over 25 years old in the car with them (allowing mates to be carried too).
Mind you, the 2 young girls who put their cars into ditches was funny. Hopefully they both learned not to be so dippy in future.
Notice how many Renault Clios were involved!
Also, the lad who put his Clio on it's roof - I bet his Mum is glad she bought a newish car and not an old Fiesta which would have folded and probably injured him a bit more than occurred.
Mind you, the 2 young girls who put their cars into ditches was funny. Hopefully they both learned not to be so dippy in future.
Notice how many Renault Clios were involved!
Also, the lad who put his Clio on it's roof - I bet his Mum is glad she bought a newish car and not an old Fiesta which would have folded and probably injured him a bit more than occurred.
targarama said:
One thing which seems to contribute to driving like a prick is having some mates in the car. Maybe young drivers should be limited to only driving alone or with a supervising adult over 25 years old in the car with them (allowing mates to be carried too).
Mind you, the 2 young girls who put their cars into ditches was funny. Hopefully they both learned not to be so dippy in future.
Notice how many Renault Clios were involved!
Also, the lad who put his Clio on it's roof - I bet his Mum is glad she bought a newish car and not an old Fiesta which would have folded and probably injured him a bit more than occurred.
I have to admit that at that age my knobbish driving behaviour was increased when I had an audience. I didn't drive recklessly but was lucky not to have crashed/pranged anything during that time.
I woudl say 50% of my mates rolled cars/stuffed them through hedges between the ages of 17 & 19. Luckily most of them were unhurt.
Not allowing passengers under the age of 25 may help but could just delay the effect. I suppose at least basic car control would be more developed by then though.
tonyhetherington said:
Definate reductions with IAM membership is a very good idea I think. The problem with the current available discount is that it's 10% if you're 55yrs old driving a 1.2 Corsa - nothing actually tangeable for a 17/18/19yr old.
I passed my IAM test at 20, and the only companies that gave discounts for this were still more expensive after the discount.
I think that is part of the problem - there is no universally-recognised advanced driving qualification, and insufficient credit is given by insurers for any that people do have.
So there is no financial incentive (well, no obvious one, I accept that statistically having fewer accidents probably counts) for people (esp. the young who have to pay exorbitant insurance anyway) to take an advanced qualification.
Actually, as an aside to that, there is too little focus nationally on driving standards and improving them, because we all know that all problems are down to "speed kills"!
So trying to get anyone to pay any attention to driving standards is like trying to drum up interest in a Vauxhall-Conference only cup-tie!
So there is no financial incentive (well, no obvious one, I accept that statistically having fewer accidents probably counts) for people (esp. the young who have to pay exorbitant insurance anyway) to take an advanced qualification.
Actually, as an aside to that, there is too little focus nationally on driving standards and improving them, because we all know that all problems are down to "speed kills"!
So trying to get anyone to pay any attention to driving standards is like trying to drum up interest in a Vauxhall-Conference only cup-tie!stackmonkey said:
Definate reductions with IAM membership is a very good idea I think. The problem with the current available discount is that it's 10% if you're 55yrs old driving a 1.2 Corsa - nothing actually tangeable for a 17/18/19yr old.
I passed my IAM test at 20, and the only companies that gave discounts for this were still more expensive after the discount.
I'm 22 and i've done the 8hr RideDrive course which has given me no discounts at all. They just hear my age then charge me a fortune! (The worst part is the additional young driver excess!!!!!!)
bga said:
One thing which seems to contribute to driving like a prick is having some mates in the car. Maybe young drivers should be limited to only driving alone or with a supervising adult over 25 years old in the car with them (allowing mates to be carried too).
Mind you, the 2 young girls who put their cars into ditches was funny. Hopefully they both learned not to be so dippy in future.
Notice how many Renault Clios were involved!
Also, the lad who put his Clio on it's roof - I bet his Mum is glad she bought a newish car and not an old Fiesta which would have folded and probably injured him a bit more than occurred.
I have to admit that at that age my knobbish driving behaviour was increased when I had an audience. I didn't drive recklessly but was lucky not to have crashed/pranged anything during that time.
I woudl say 50% of my mates rolled cars/stuffed them through hedges between the ages of 17 & 19. Luckily most of them were unhurt.
Not allowing passengers under the age of 25 may help but could just delay the effect. I suppose at least basic car control would be more developed by then though.
Am I an exception to the rule in that I drive slower with people in the car - I drive even more sedatly when I have responsibilty for other peoples lives?
targarama said:
Mind you, the 2 young girls who put their cars into ditches was funny. Hopefully they both learned not to be so dippy in future.
That was simply unbelievable, the car on the motorway that spun down the embankent, the girl that appeared to have forgotten about turning the steering wheel whilst negotiating a corner and her friend who came to rescue her only to throw her Seicento down a ditch in someones driveway (not a bad thing to do with it I suppose...).
The only way they could have happened is through absolute lack of attention i.e. day dreaming, which does seem to afflict a considerable number of women when driving IME. Before the flames start, I fully admit had they been young lads the accidents would most likely have occured through driving like an utter tit and would no doubt have had far more serious consequences.
The issue about IAM and insurance discounts does crop up from time to time.....
Ideally we need to know exactly the benefit derived from passing the test. That means the IAM should be measuring exactly how frequently incidents with members occur and whether they were at fault.
I am not overly convinced that is is sufficiently difficult to be of much benefit.
Plus I imagine there are an awful lot of people who take some training, pass the test and then go back to their old habits.
Ideally we need to know exactly the benefit derived from passing the test. That means the IAM should be measuring exactly how frequently incidents with members occur and whether they were at fault.
I am not overly convinced that is is sufficiently difficult to be of much benefit.
Plus I imagine there are an awful lot of people who take some training, pass the test and then go back to their old habits.
stackmonkey said:
Definate reductions with IAM membership is a very good idea I think. The problem with the current available discount is that it's 10% if you're 55yrs old driving a 1.2 Corsa - nothing actually tangeable for a 17/18/19yr old.
I passed my IAM test at 20, and the only companies that gave discounts for this were still more expensive after the discount.
I passed my IAM a few years ago and even at 36 I don't get a better deal with the IAM 'badge'. I'm with insurers who are much cheaper than the quotes from those who recognised the IAM qualification. IAM and other similar courses are good for teaching you how to drive/car control etc. etc. but they don't mean you'll save money.
A 22 year old with an IAM badge still has a 22 year olds brain (on average). Get the lads in the back of your new sporty motor and they'll be asking "what'll it do mate?" and a 22 year old is more likely to oblige than a 55 year old. Fact.
Some interesting thoughts brought up here - thanks for the debate guys!
I didn't mean to turn it in to an IAM type thread, but a good point is raised. There are no links to advanced driving or, perhaps shall we call it, more mature driving between the youth that pass and the future of their driving careers. By this I mean that once passed, that's it.
I freely admit that that IAM's "receive discount on your insurance" is, quite frankly, rubbish. I know very few people who actually gain anything, such is the world of insurance.
Perhaps an advanced...RECOGNISED...qualification!? Or maybe a definate financial advantage to do the IAM course (or other similar ones).
The problem is that no matter how many courses people get sent on, or how many gorry videos they see, they still drive fast sometimes and mistakes can happen. Please don't get me wrong - I do this too, in my Elise, I drive fast and sometimes have 'oops' moments (i.e. broke a bit late or went a bit more sideways than intended), and in some cases mistakes can happen. That we will never be able to eradicate (in me, nor youth) but it's the sensibiliyt of the initial driving that I beleive can be approached.
Quite how, well, I am still working on that. I don't claim to know the answers, merely what questions should be asked...
Thanks,
T
(PS: I'm 24. Oh no!!!!)
I didn't mean to turn it in to an IAM type thread, but a good point is raised. There are no links to advanced driving or, perhaps shall we call it, more mature driving between the youth that pass and the future of their driving careers. By this I mean that once passed, that's it.
I freely admit that that IAM's "receive discount on your insurance" is, quite frankly, rubbish. I know very few people who actually gain anything, such is the world of insurance.
Perhaps an advanced...RECOGNISED...qualification!? Or maybe a definate financial advantage to do the IAM course (or other similar ones).
The problem is that no matter how many courses people get sent on, or how many gorry videos they see, they still drive fast sometimes and mistakes can happen. Please don't get me wrong - I do this too, in my Elise, I drive fast and sometimes have 'oops' moments (i.e. broke a bit late or went a bit more sideways than intended), and in some cases mistakes can happen. That we will never be able to eradicate (in me, nor youth) but it's the sensibiliyt of the initial driving that I beleive can be approached.
Quite how, well, I am still working on that. I don't claim to know the answers, merely what questions should be asked...
Thanks,
T
(PS: I'm 24. Oh no!!!!)
Bah, I never did super silly stuff on the roads when younger, I was quite a slow sensible driver.
Kept all my antics off road in old bangers on the fields
Perhaps having cheap banger driving days or something for kids to learn a bit about cars and learn respect for them, and get rid of agression etc.
Ultimately always gonna be bad eggs who think they know better, but this can happen with anything, not just young people in cars!
Ban everything, then we'll all be safe
Dave
Kept all my antics off road in old bangers on the fields
Perhaps having cheap banger driving days or something for kids to learn a bit about cars and learn respect for them, and get rid of agression etc.
Ultimately always gonna be bad eggs who think they know better, but this can happen with anything, not just young people in cars!
Ban everything, then we'll all be safe
Dave
Perhaps we do need to change the way young people are allowed to drive freely after passing a relatively easy test.
When I passed my test at 17 (half a lifetime ago now), I promptly picked up four mates from sixth form and took them for a spin. About twenty minutes later I nearly hit a car head on at a corner, at speed, and luckily missed and went down a track. I was very, very lucky, 1/2 a second later it would have been messy - five teenagers in a metro, the chances would not have been good.
That learnt me a lesson, I have not had an accident, and believe myself a good driver.
Now that is what is happening daily, from what I can see, at least some eductation like on the program will help, but a revamp in tests is needed in my opinion.
When I passed my test at 17 (half a lifetime ago now), I promptly picked up four mates from sixth form and took them for a spin. About twenty minutes later I nearly hit a car head on at a corner, at speed, and luckily missed and went down a track. I was very, very lucky, 1/2 a second later it would have been messy - five teenagers in a metro, the chances would not have been good.
That learnt me a lesson, I have not had an accident, and believe myself a good driver.
Now that is what is happening daily, from what I can see, at least some eductation like on the program will help, but a revamp in tests is needed in my opinion.
I think that the introduction of an official advanced driving qualification (or series of qualifications/grades) would significantly reduce KSI numbers compared to any amount of scameras.
Firstly, insurance companies would be compelled to offer meaningful discounts to those with higher grades, in the same (but opposite) way that they do with penalty points.
Secondly, it will be self-promoting as all ages groups will be keen to get the qualifications in order to get one-up on the friends (imagine coversations similar to 'I passed first time..' and
'Ahh, but all the best drivers pass second time')
Thirdly, instead of penalty points for speeding and the like, the penalty could be in the form of knocking you down a grade so that you have to re-take the test to get back to where you were. If you don't have an advanced driving grade then you will get the points, unless you take a test within say, 3 months.
Lastly, it would provide a huge amount of civil service jobs (which this government loves doing) and dare I say it, revenue for the treasury.
As an added incentive, all people who pass the top grade will automatically be entitled to a speed limit of 100mph on NSLs and 150mph on M-ways
Firstly, insurance companies would be compelled to offer meaningful discounts to those with higher grades, in the same (but opposite) way that they do with penalty points.
Secondly, it will be self-promoting as all ages groups will be keen to get the qualifications in order to get one-up on the friends (imagine coversations similar to 'I passed first time..' and
'Ahh, but all the best drivers pass second time')
Thirdly, instead of penalty points for speeding and the like, the penalty could be in the form of knocking you down a grade so that you have to re-take the test to get back to where you were. If you don't have an advanced driving grade then you will get the points, unless you take a test within say, 3 months.
Lastly, it would provide a huge amount of civil service jobs (which this government loves doing) and dare I say it, revenue for the treasury.
As an added incentive, all people who pass the top grade will automatically be entitled to a speed limit of 100mph on NSLs and 150mph on M-ways
trax said:
When I passed my test at 17 (half a lifetime ago now), I promptly picked up four mates from sixth form and took them for a spin. About twenty minutes later I nearly hit a car head on at a corner, at speed, and luckily missed and went down a track. I was very, very lucky, 1/2 a second later it would have been messy - five teenagers in a metro, the chances would not have been good.
I can confirm that 5 up in a metro results in 4 dead. 2 of them were the empty seats in assembly Monday morning. That certainly sent the message home for a few people.
(Metro 5 up pulled out to overtake a lorry and hit another one coming the other way. Metro was doing 80+. Only the driver survived the crash to get to hospital.)
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