Driving is NOT a right!
Discussion
Why do we not have regular testing of drivers abilites, education as well as fines and a system similar to bike licensing which only allows access to lower powered vehicles til a persons driving experience has grown?
What else can be done to improve the standards of driving in the land.
What else can be done to improve the standards of driving in the land.
I have often thought that raising the age to 18 would be a good start. You are allowed to have a life in your hands at 17 but you can only start drinking at 18?? What is more dangerous to others? Drinking or driving? Would I be killing you if I was to have a drink. No, but I could kill yo if I was driving.
Its a totally arguable topic, I just think ages should have an impact. Re testing too.
Its a totally arguable topic, I just think ages should have an impact. Re testing too.
I'm glad someone else says driving is not a right. This is my pet hate - people who do 40 driving tests before passing and then potter off on the roads. If you can't do it, you can't do it! We can't all be good at everything. 
My other pet hate is people who pass a test at 17 and then start driving on the roads in their 30s or 40s with no additional training or even just a refresher course - just hope they don't take me with them when they leave the road.....
Edited to add: 1500 posts! Yippee!! Note to self: do some work one of these days....
>> Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 15th January 10:43
My other pet hate is people who pass a test at 17 and then start driving on the roads in their 30s or 40s with no additional training or even just a refresher course - just hope they don't take me with them when they leave the road.....
Edited to add: 1500 posts! Yippee!! Note to self: do some work one of these days....
>> Edited by SGirl on Wednesday 15th January 10:43
alan_driver said:
plotloss said:
Up the driving standard in the first place.
Matt.
It is quite a high standard that they currently test at. It tends to be the people who are natural numpties and have taken their test quite a while ago. + the max power lot.
I do agree with Re-tests, but random?
Yes, fair enough, we do have a comparitively good standard of testing in the UK. I took my US test in a car park FFS! I really do feel however that there is room for improvement. Possibly the current test in addition to the IAM/RoSPA style running commentary (that I personally found nigh on bloody impossible) would be the way forward...
As for random re-tests, it would make sure you thought about your habits and kept up with the latest legislation wouldnt it?
Matt.
Not sure about practicalities of random retests, but in theory you have to be sufficiently able to do so..
I agree you should only be allowed a certain number of attempts then you don't get to drive. In theory you are ok once you pass the test, but if you;ve failed 39 times, the law of averages suggests you might more or less accidentally get through..
Driver training in the US has been demonstrated to increase accident rates for youngsters, it increases their confidence levels but not necessarily the skills associated with the sort of accidents they are more prone to. Raise the limit a year or two IMHO..
I agree you should only be allowed a certain number of attempts then you don't get to drive. In theory you are ok once you pass the test, but if you;ve failed 39 times, the law of averages suggests you might more or less accidentally get through..
Driver training in the US has been demonstrated to increase accident rates for youngsters, it increases their confidence levels but not necessarily the skills associated with the sort of accidents they are more prone to. Raise the limit a year or two IMHO..
If you fail three tests in a row (oh, hang on, how could you fail three not in a row...) that should be it, onto the bus forever. While you car is having its MOT, you're having your retest, every year.
The theory test should be first time passes only, only muppets and cocky gits are bad enough to fail it.
All this relies on the examiners and instructors being competent, which they generally aren't.
The theory test should be first time passes only, only muppets and cocky gits are bad enough to fail it.
All this relies on the examiners and instructors being competent, which they generally aren't.
I disagree that the test is currently at quite a high standard. I passed my test at 17 (5 years ago) and was shocked at how easy it appeared to be. It lasts less than an hour, which does not simulate a large amount of driving situations. You are also not taught motorway driving and i'm most cases people don't experience country driving.
I learned so much more about driving in the months after my test than I did in the lessons. Surely we should ensure that a new driver starts at the highest standard possible, so the learning after the test is minimised?
Edited to add: As plotloss says, a running commentary would be an ideal way to analyse the drivers perception of situations. Currently the tester can have no idea what you are thinking, barring checking that you look in the mirrors regularly (or in their direction). I'd say I use my mirrors less than when I was taught to drive but I have a much better awareness of what is going on around me, which has saved me from potential incidents a number of times.
>> Edited by egomeister on Wednesday 15th January 10:56
I learned so much more about driving in the months after my test than I did in the lessons. Surely we should ensure that a new driver starts at the highest standard possible, so the learning after the test is minimised?
Edited to add: As plotloss says, a running commentary would be an ideal way to analyse the drivers perception of situations. Currently the tester can have no idea what you are thinking, barring checking that you look in the mirrors regularly (or in their direction). I'd say I use my mirrors less than when I was taught to drive but I have a much better awareness of what is going on around me, which has saved me from potential incidents a number of times.
>> Edited by egomeister on Wednesday 15th January 10:56
The MaxPower lot, some of them are good racers, clean and quick through the gears, know how to handle a car. But 'driving' is slightly different. There awareness can let them down and thats how accidents are caused, not paying enough attention to other road users.... there are so many points to be made on driving and good driving. To be true though, there are good drivers, bad drivers and we can all make mistakes.
egomeister said:
I learned so much more about driving in the months after my test than I did in the lessons. Surely we should ensure that a new driver starts at the highest standard possible, so the learning after the test is minimised?
But could you have afforded to have enough lessons at £20 a pop to experience all those situations?
When I was at school during my 6th form years we had lessons during "Enrichment" which they taught us theory, showed tuition videos and discussed issues like drink driving, speeding, the law etc.
If this was taught earlier perhaps people would have longer to form their own views on safe driving, awareness etc.
I take my driving very seriously and intend to do my advanced later this year as well as a session with 1stLotus or someone similar.
If this was taught earlier perhaps people would have longer to form their own views on safe driving, awareness etc.
I take my driving very seriously and intend to do my advanced later this year as well as a session with 1stLotus or someone similar.
spnracing said:
anarchystorm said: The MaxPower lot, some of them are good racers, clean and quick through the gears, know how to handle a car.
If they're racing on the road they're bad drivers. The worst drivers, in fact.
But not ALL max power boys and girls are like that. some are good drivers (and by that I mean good Road Drivers who deserve their license more than most fleet drivers do) and don't deserve to be tarnished because of their cars.
Bad driving is bad driving whatever you drive and whatever your background thats what needs solving.
The standard of the test here is relatively high compared to other countries and the overall standard of driving is good (I've just driven in Spain for a week and that scared me!!).
However there is still room for improvement and I feel that there should be a re-test every 5 years, which includes a full medical/eye test.
Failing the test would not mean you lose your licence, but that you have to take a series of lessons to improve the areas you failed. You then take another test. Fail this and you lose your licence until you pass it.
This would also pull all those people who are driving whilst medically unfit/blind.
Obviously there would be cost assosiated with this, but I am sure it would reduce numptyness on the roads.
However there is still room for improvement and I feel that there should be a re-test every 5 years, which includes a full medical/eye test.
Failing the test would not mean you lose your licence, but that you have to take a series of lessons to improve the areas you failed. You then take another test. Fail this and you lose your licence until you pass it.
This would also pull all those people who are driving whilst medically unfit/blind.
Obviously there would be cost assosiated with this, but I am sure it would reduce numptyness on the roads.
loserkid said:
egomeister said:
I learned so much more about driving in the months after my test than I did in the lessons. Surely we should ensure that a new driver starts at the highest standard possible, so the learning after the test is minimised?
But could you have afforded to have enough lessons at £20 a pop to experience all those situations?
Probably not as a teenager..
I look at the I learned more after my test thing this way. Would I want the pilot of 747 carrying my nearest and dearest to be just out of flight school and in the 'I'm just learning how to really fly' phase? Nope. Straight out of flight school you'll be a copilot with someone far more experienced sat next to you thats done that learning. You don't have the same advantage in a car..
I think we may disagree on what makes a good driver.
Being quick and clean through the gears may be a major advantage around Mallory Park, it is totally unnecessary on the South Circular. What is necessary is respect and consideration for others, sensible speeds, awareness and tolerance of drivers who may not show all of these traits.
In my view anyway.
Being quick and clean through the gears may be a major advantage around Mallory Park, it is totally unnecessary on the South Circular. What is necessary is respect and consideration for others, sensible speeds, awareness and tolerance of drivers who may not show all of these traits.
In my view anyway.
Thats exactly what I mean by a good driver
Like you've said the ability to control a car well is only a small part of being a good driver.
spnracing said:What is necessary is respect and consideration for others, sensible speeds, awareness and tolerance of drivers who may not show all of these traits.
Like you've said the ability to control a car well is only a small part of being a good driver.
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