Standard of driving

[PJ87]

Bad driving is caused by arrogance, ignorance and impatience in any combination.
When I passed my test in '83 I couldn't believe I wouldnt be tested or assessed again until I reach the ripe old age of 70 ( apologies to those already there)
That there isn't some form of mandatory reassessment at regular intervals is , in my view, beyond belief.
Rules have changed, signs have changed, there are double the number of cars on the road from when I passed. People are in a hurry and find they can save a bit of time by not following the rules. The trouble is that the new drivers see it and realise they can save a bit too......and the cycle continues
The new test, bought in 18 months ago, doesn't, again in my view, produce better drivers. It's easier to pass.
A few years ago the DSA introduced Independent Driving into the test. The kids had to drive for 10 minutes following signs to a destination or a series of directions (1st left, 2nd right, 2nd exit off the roundabout etc)
With the new test the kids have to follow SatNav directions for 20 minutes.
Sounds better doesn't it.
But the SatNav is, effectively, replacing the examiner for 20 minutes.
Examiner says - at the roundabout take the 1st exit left
SatNav says - at the roundabout take the 1st exit left.
No different.
Before, the examiner would say - follow signs to "X"...
The kids had to look for the signs, work out where they had to go and then do it.
Much harder.
They've replaced some relatively tricky manoeuvres (3 point turn, reverse around the corner) with relatively easy ones ( front first bay park and pulling up on the rhs of the road)
These require less car control skills.
With the test being, in my view, easier to pass the end result is more drivers on the road with weaker skills.
I try to only put the kids up for test when I think they're good enough to pass the old test or better but I know plenty of instructors that will put pupils in for test in the "hope" that they'll pass...many do and I just don't think many of them are ready.
I'm as frustrated as everyone else

Well said. We should be re tested every day 5 years and if you fail should be like a MOT you have a month to pass another test or face loosing your licence

Surprised the gov ain’t pushed for it tbh.. imagine the money it could coin in!!

 

[Lump]

South of Milton Keynes it really is a different world.
I drive a lot for work and the south is by far the worst. from the aggressive bad boys that bully at every chance they can or the never ending number of drivers who have no clue what lane they need.

 

[Dando]

South of Milton Keynes it really is a different world.
I drive a lot for work and the south is by far the worst. from the aggressive bad boys that bully at every chance they can or the never ending number of drivers who have no clue what lane they need.

You big northern softie!

 

[anotherdouble]

The lines one usually get in the in the 'middle' of a road broken continuous or otherwise to denote lanes or right and left hand side of the road. Where I live lots of roads do not have any such lines on them.

As far as I was aware the long broken lines are hazard warning lines and not Lane dividers or middle of road or edge of lane lines.

 

[2blue]

South of Milton Keynes it really is a different world.
I drive a lot for work and the south is by far the worst. from the aggressive bad boys that bully at every chance they can or the never ending number of drivers who have no clue what lane they need.

You big northern softie!

Nay lad... he's just describing the Southern Nancies

 

[anotherdouble]

Well said. We should be re tested every day 5 years and if you fail should be like a MOT you have a month to pass another test or face loosing your licence

Surprised the gov ain’t pushed for it tbh.. imagine the money it could coin in!!

Unfortunately the main problem with this as I see it apart from there being a very severe lack of examiners for this is, your average person who depends on a vehicle for work ie tradesperson, rep etc will not stop driving if they lose their ticket if they fail a retest, and we will then have tens of thousands of more uninsured drivers on the roads. Rightly or wrongly I can not see retesting working. Just my opinion

 

[PJ87]

Unfortunately the main problem with this as I see it apart from there being a very severe lack of examiners for this is, your average person who depends on a vehicle for work ie tradesperson, rep etc will not stop driving if they lose their ticket if they fail a retest, and we will then have tens of thousands of more uninsured drivers on the roads. Rightly or wrongly I can not see retesting working. Just my opinion

Maybe just have a course of 5 lessons every 5 years? Boost work for instructors and brush up people’s habits?

 

[Imurg]

Unfortunately the main problem with this as I see it apart from there being a very severe lack of examiners for this is, your average person who depends on a vehicle for work ie tradesperson, rep etc will not stop driving if they lose their ticket if they fail a retest, and we will then have tens of thousands of more uninsured drivers on the roads. Rightly or wrongly I can not see retesting working. Just my opinion

Almost word for word what the Chief executive said to me 10 years ago
That and the cost...

 

[Jamesbrown]

Sounds like your impatience is a bigger problem.

Patience isn’t an easy thing to control. Driving on the other hand is fairly simple.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Maybe just have a course of 5 lessons every 5 years? Boost work for instructors and brush up people’s habits?

Every 5 years ?! Seriously!

Whilst there does need to be a retest before the age of 70 , every 5 years is just stupid

Patience isn’t an easy thing to control. Driving on the other hand is fairly simple.

Patience is easy to control on the road if you plan your journey better and understand that there are many different driving styles out there including people who prefer to drive defensively ( which is the better style )

 

[PJ87]

Every 5 years ?! Seriously!

Whilst there does need to be a retest before the age of 70 , every 5 years is just stupid



Patience is easy to control on the road if you plan your journey better and understand that there are many different driving styles out there including people who prefer to drive defensively ( which is the better style )

How many years would you suggest?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

How many years would you suggest?

Would prob look at the age of 60 for a retest and then maybe around 70 as well

There is no need for people to get tested every 5 years

 

[Tashyboy]

I love driving I hate traffic.

August 2007 I drove down to Concarnau in France /Brittany. I have never been so relaxed whilst driving. Got back to Calais and was talking to numerous fellow Brit drivers who had enjoyed there driving. Got back to Dover and it was a race to see who could get to the M25 first.
Went Golfing in Ireland to Enniscrone and Carne. Stayed in Ballyna. The driving was so chilled. Driving through towns and cars stop on the high st to let old ladies cross the rd, women with push chairs. It was just an eye opener. Tash loved it.
Drove many times in Italy, God almighty. Am still having flash backs, especially in Catania.
But here in England. What's going on. Don't want to be sexist, but women. Grrrrr. If we're gonna make a start to improve driving. Here's a thought. Put your bloody vape down.

 

[Tashyboy]

South of Milton Keynes it really is a different world.
I drive a lot for work and the south is by far the worst. from the aggressive bad boys that bully at every chance they can or the never ending number of drivers who have no clue what lane they need.

Is the correct answer 👍

 

[PJ87]

Would prob look at the age of 60 for a retest and then maybe around 70 as well

There is no need for people to get tested every 5 years

Yes because everyone under 60 is an excellent driver who doesn’t need their driving ability re examined

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Yes because everyone under 60 is an excellent driver who doesn’t need their driving ability re examined

What’s an “excellent” driver ? If someone drives and causes an accident then the police get involved. There are mechanisms in place if someone ends up being a “bad” driver but then one person’s bad driver is the next person safe and steady driver.

 

[Tashyboy]

Yes because everyone under 60 is an excellent driver who doesn’t need their driving ability re examined

Only saying this coz she cannot. Read it but there's summat about Missis T I need to get off me chest. On second thoughts. 🤔

 

[PJ87]

What’s an “excellent” driver ? If someone drives and causes an accident then the police get involved. There are mechanisms in place if someone ends up being a “bad” driver but then one person’s bad driver is the next person safe and steady driver.

Oh Phil you do talk tosh as always.

Mechanisms of a failed system where everyone slows down for the cameras then speeds up.. jumps lights if no cameras on them

A lot of people self police but many more dont

Not all accidents involve the police if nobody is hurt and it’s just insurance.

Driving standards need to improve

The speed awareness courses seem to best thing this country has done to improve driving standards in years.

I went on one. Must of been one of 5 people in a room of 30 who enjoyed it and paid attention the rest phoned it in and you could see them glazing over.. ticking the box then wouldn’t change.

Many bad drivers are never caught.

 

[Hobbit]

Would prob look at the age of 60 for a retest and then maybe around 70 as well

There is no need for people to get tested every 5 years

I'd stick with the 70 years of age.... why? 26.12% of new drivers have accidents in the first 2 years. 85% of accidents occur under the age of 25 years of age. Someone over 55 is in the 16% bracket. The lowest at risk group is 60 to 69. 70 and upwards it rises quite dramatically.

My dad was a great driver, having only one accident in his mid 40's when a boy racer didn't stop the the lights and rear ended him. However, he scarred me in his mid/late 70's.

 

[MegaSteve]

South of Milton Keynes it really is a different world.
I drive a lot for work and the south is by far the worst. from the aggressive bad boys that bully at every chance they can or the never ending number of drivers who have no clue what lane they need.

I've always found the rural roads of Wales to have the highest levels of drivers on a mission to maim...

Having said that personal encounters with mums, on the school run, have not ended well for me...