Mandatory Driving Test

  • Thread starter Thread starter mk1_salami
  • Start date Start date
I'd support this. Obviously I'm a driving god myself, being someone who frequents OCUK Motors, but many others on the road don't seem to think any further forward than the front of their bonnet.
 
sigma said:
I guess it would get the absolute idiots off the road but most people would probably pass the test then revert back to r-tard/lazy driving. It still is a good idea though.
Click to expand...

This is the problem, many people have zero interest in being a better driver, they'd do the absolute minimum to pass the test and revert straight back to poor standards.
 
I think this would be treating the symptom rather than the cause.

Mandatory testing to see if you're a self-centred and unobservant *insert choice of expletive* I would support.
 
Hotwired said:
You vaguely say you're not a fan of very easily implemented monitoring and then say you don't see why anyone would be against making sure people drive to a certain standard.

Apparently you can think of reasons.

And this is my solution to your problem, black boxes, permanent monitoring. Much easier and more accurate than trying to get tens of millions of drivers retested every X years.


Read the entire sentence to understand how I say current black boxing could be expanded to fulfil the aim of the OP without the use of more tests.
Click to expand...
How does a black box identify people in wrong lanes on a roundabout? Or the inability to park properly, or reverse around a corner. It would identify speeding, which is not a problem I’m talking about.

Just to be clear - I don't see ANY problem with speeding where conditions allow it. More, mass surveillance of the country is not what I want. I simply think it is a good idea to ensure people have the skills required to take control of a motor vehicle and that skillset to be reviewed from time to time.

Black boxes would be the end of the enthusiast car segment and put the nail in the coffin of any sports car manufacturers. It's not what I want.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
100% support any form of getting clueless idiots off the road.

I was driving on the M40 last night, overhead gantries at 60mph. Set my cruise on 60 in lane 1 and was just flying by car after car after car of people in lanes 2 and 3 crawling along at 40 or 50 because they refuse to move left.

Even my passenger was bemused by the situation to the point we wondered had lane 1 been closed and we missed it or something, but nope, just idiots.
 
It obviously wouldn't catch everybody, some people are quite happy to be courteous for a test and then an ******** as soon as they've got the licence in hand.

But I think something to catch those who have genuinely lost the skills, mental / physical capacity to drive can only be a good thing.
 
mk1_salami said:
I see so many people that are completely clueless on the road. From simple lane selection on roundabouts, to the inability to do basic maneuvers and even basic clutch/throttle control. Would you be in support of a mandatory driving re-test every say ... 10 years? Dropping to 3 years after age 60? If you can't pass a test - you shouldn't be driving! Your car requires an MOT every year to be considered safe, why wouldn't you also check the driver now and again?

Upsides:
Higher driving standards
Get all the idiots off the roads
Increase in jobs for driving instructors/test facilities.

Downsides:
Policy would likely be hugely unpopular with voters, so I can't see any political party actually doing this.
Extra cost for the motorist.
Click to expand...

Those people that you see on the road managed to pass their test the first time (somehow)

What makes you feel that they won't also pass a re-test?

MrRockliffe said:
Where does OP talk about speeding?


Point of this thread, I think, is to highlight that there are individuals on the road who are not competent enough to be sharing the road with other people.


In many industries it’s commonplace to regularly retest to ensure your knowledge and know how is up to date. Why should the motoring industry, where the general public are in charge of very quick and very massive vehicles capable of killing others or causing significant damage, be any different?
Click to expand...

I don't believe that car controls have changed that substantially to require a re-test to check that you you are up to date with how to use them.
 
rypt said:
Those people that you see on the road managed to pass their test the first time (somehow)

What makes you feel that they won't also pass a re-test?
Click to expand...
Maybe they passed a test 45 years ago. Don't you think it would be useful for a wee refresher??

The standard of driving I see every day makes me think a lot of people would fail a test.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
mk1_salami said:
Maybe they passed a test 45 years ago. Don't you think it would be useful for a wee refresher??

The standard of driving I see every day makes me think a lot of people would fail a test.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong, I fully agree with you - the standard of driving is terrible and those people "should" fail a test/ re-test.

The feeling I have however is that not all tests are administered "equally" - so I think that's the problem that needs to be fixed
 
Amazingly the standard of driving in the UK is higher than most other countries. Unfortunately the standards of enforcement for illegal road users seem to be slipping.

Also check accident rates for drivers of all ages.
 
You would just end up with masses of people driving around with expired licenses and therefore uninsured. We know there aren't enough police to enforce and there would be even less with this.

It would be a huge inconvenience for people who don't need to redo it. Booking a test now is a right farce.
 
Last edited:
marinersfan said:
I think the majority of people are competent, they just choose to drive like pricks. Passing a test won't alter that.
Click to expand...

Competence is a combination of skills, experience and attitude.

I think most people have 2/3.



Regular testing would align more people on all 3 accounts, giving them opportunities to further develop their overall driving competence in different scenarios.

rypt said:
I don't believe that car controls have changed that substantially to require a re-test to check that you you are up to date with how to use them.
Click to expand...

Controls may not have, but the technology behind the controls have.

As has the Highway Code.


As above, regular testing will ensure people stay up to date.



Electric cars are a great example.


One of my dad’s neighbours recently got a new electric car. They’re quite an elderly person, and until recently had an old manual Honda.

They’d been shown how to drive the new electric car, from what I understand, but the first time they reversed it, they were overwhelmed by the speed and new controls, and ended up reversing into the house on the opposite side of the road.
 
kindai said:
100% support any form of getting clueless idiots off the road.

I was driving on the M40 last night, overhead gantries at 60mph. Set my cruise on 60 in lane 1 and was just flying by car after car after car of people in lanes 2 and 3 crawling along at 40 or 50 because they refuse to move left.

Even my passenger was bemused by the situation to the point we wondered had lane 1 been closed and we missed it or something, but nope, just idiots.
Click to expand...

Curious why "Driving on the M40 last night" "Set my cruise to 60 in lane 1" and "flying past car after car" undertaking doesn't share some characteristics of driving like a clueless idiot. It's hard at the best of times to tell which lane headlights are in. One person moving left as you undertake is an accident waiting to happen.

I totally understand how frustrating lane hogging is, but if they were doing 40 or 50, you just need to put an audio book on or listen to music and chill.
 
Hotwired said:
Read the entire sentence to understand how I say current black boxing could be expanded to fulfil the aim of the OP without the use of more tests.
Click to expand...

My point is still relevant. A black box, with accelerometers and GPS recording isn’t going to give you a full picture and while it will address some issues, I don’t think that we should encourage an environment where we’re recording everything someone does in a car.
 
MrRockliffe said:
Controls may not have, but the technology behind the controls have.
Click to expand...

MrRockliffe said:
One of my dad’s neighbours recently got a new electric car. They’re quite an elderly person, and until recently had an old manual Honda.

They’d been shown how to drive the new electric car, from what I understand, but the first time they reversed it, they were overwhelmed by the speed and new controls, and ended up reversing into the house on the opposite side of the road.
Click to expand...


The problem there is not the technology per se, the problem is the "power" of the car.

If I passed a test in a 60hp car and then drove a 60hp car for 5 years, should I need to do a retest when I buy a 600hp car?
 
mk1_salami said:
I see so many people that are completely clueless on the road. From simple lane selection on roundabouts, to the inability to do basic maneuvers and even basic clutch/throttle control. Would you be in support of a mandatory driving re-test every say ... 10 years? Dropping to 3 years after age 60? If you can't pass a test - you shouldn't be driving! Your car requires an MOT every year to be considered safe, why wouldn't you also check the driver now and again?

Upsides:
Higher driving standards
Get all the idiots off the roads
Increase in jobs for driving instructors/test facilities.

Downsides:
Policy would likely be hugely unpopular with voters, so I can't see any political party actually doing this.
Extra cost for the motorist.
Click to expand...

I remember back when I rode a motorbike.
The problem with motorbikes is that it doesn't matter who is to blame, the biker dies.
If you want to live, then you assume that everyone around you is an idiot and can't drive. I really do believe it is the only reason I survived so long on a bike.
So, I would argue, that car drivers feel too secure in their metal boxes. They clearly don't make the same assumption.
Maybe they should?
 
Last edited:
rypt said:
The problem there is not the technology per se, the problem is the "power" of the car.

If I passed a test in a 60hp car and then drove a 60hp car for 5 years, should I need to do a retest when I buy a 600hp car?
Click to expand...

It’s nothing to do with the power of the car. It was a Corsa with ~130 HP.

It’s entirely due to the technology - near instant torque, no gearbox = immediate acceleration at a pace you’re unfamiliar with.

Not because it’s more powerful, but because the power is applied more quickly.


Also, yes I think you should.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom