Drivers should have a minimum of a year of lessons!!

Cyanide · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:11

Stonedofmoo said:
I don't have much thoughts on this either way, but I do feel that for the first 2 years under 25's should not be allowed to drive anything greater than a 1.2 or 75bhp

You can still crash a 1.2 and end up causing a massive pileup, simply restricting engine size isn't going to stop it. Most people can't afford the insurance anyway

Freefaller · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:16

Gilly said:
I think its a terrible idea. Learning how to pass the test and then learning how to drive has always been the case. Never used to be a problem.

I agree with this, however there should be compulsory advanced driving courses or a minium amount of time behind the wheel before you're awarded your "full" licence. With that in mind just like bikes are restricted to under 21s the same should be done for cars. The idea will never catch on but those are my thoughts on it. Unfortunately I also think everyone should do a year on a bike - but that's not practical either - it would teach a lot of people a lot though.

cleanbluesky · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:27

Don't think it would make much of a difference, but would certainly line some pockets

Freefaller · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:28

You cynical thing you

Though I agree it wouldn't achieve much.

Stonedofmoo · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:32

Cyanide said:
You can still crash a 1.2 and end up causing a massive pileup, simply restricting engine size isn't going to stop it. Most people can't afford the insurance anyway

Of course, and you are correct too. But it's not unreasonable to say fresh drivers with powerful cars are more likely to crash than someone with experience

You do read stories often on the internet where someones daddy has bought them that Suburu WRX and they put it straight into a tree.

Anyhow I'm thinking it's more something to aim for/look forward too. It many ways it would also help new drivers as it would stop them getting burnt with hugely expensive insurance bills and road tax so it's not a bad idea all round.

DannyDan · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:33

Stonedofmoo said:
I don't have much thoughts on this either way, but I do feel that for the first 2 years under 25's should not be allowed to drive anything greater than a 1.2 or 75bhp

Surely if they are all restricted to rubbish, slow cars then they're more likely to act like a tool in order to impress their mates?

Most of the crashes I've seen involving young people have been in 1.2 corsas and the like, rather than the more powerful cars.

chrislusty · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:40

Stonedofmoo said:
I don't have much thoughts on this either way, but I do feel that for the first 2 years under 25's should not be allowed to drive anything greater than a 1.2 or 75bhp

I crashed an 899cc with a huge 40bhp, so that doesnt always work, I crashed due to in experience, a change in weather, very hot to wet and drying out and a little too fast for the conditions, i was doing 45mph in a 60mph limit.

Prehaps better car controll in lessons is what is needed, not a restriction of engine size.

Stonedofmoo · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:44

chrislusty said:
I crashed an 899cc with a huge 40bhp, so that doesnt always work, I crashed due to in experience, a change in weather, very hot to wet and drying out and a little too fast for the conditions, i was doing 45mph in a 60mph limit.

Prehaps better car controll in lessons is what is needed, not a restriction of engine size.

Doh

Look you are all missing the point

I'm NOT saying reducing the engine size or power will instantly stop crashes. Of course it won't. BUT you are not going to have power under your foot that can catch you out, AND it gives all new drivers something to look forward too AFTER that have gained valuable experience

The fact you crashed a 40bhp car is proof in the pudding, what could you have done in a 200bhp car?
People should learn to handle ordinary cars before being allowed to drive much more powerful models.

All in my opinion but it makes sense on many levels.

Firestar_3x · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:46

Stonedofmoo said:
All in my opinion but it makes sense on many levels.

And i totally agree with you, restricting the cars power is a good thing until your road craft skills are up to scratch.

Freefaller · 20 Sep 2006 at 11:46

I made the point about young bikers under 21 being restricted - and I really think it would help with car drivers too. I hear your point Stoney

chrislusty · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:11

Stonedofmoo said:
Doh

People should learn to handle ordinary cars before being allowed to drive much more powerful models.

All in my opinion but it makes sense on many levels.

Yeah, people should learn to handle ordinary cars, which brings us back to lessons, again!!! and a change in the way we are taught to drive. I do see your point though about having a restriction on engine sizes.

paradigm · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:14

Firestar_3x said:
And i totally agree with you, restricting the cars power is a good thing until your road craft skills are up to scratch.

Best not turbo that MX5 then

Fishman · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:16

ci_newman said:
I do think there should be a minimum limit of how many hours someone has to sit with a QUALIFIED driving instructor (i.e. not your parents)

Why,

All most of them do is to teach you pass the test

Firestar_3x · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:18

paradigm said:
Best not turbo that MX5 then

You're right, what have i been thinking............

Twin Charging F T W

R0B75 · 20 Sep 2006 at 12:41

There are lot of ideas being banded around here to improve driving skills for new drivers, but the fact is it doesn't matter how good you are at driving, it only takes a split second lack of concentration for ANY driver to cause an accident.

No matter what type of test or learning methods are dreamt up, you will never stop people hooning around and behaving irresponsibly on the roads, this type of behaviour is not exclusive to new drivers. I encountered one the other day. A guy in a bastardized Corsa (my god it was ugly) was right up my rear end in a 30 limit (with traffic calming) swerving from side to side trying to pass me when I was sitting @ 30mph, I could see in my rear view he was mightily pee'd off. I only passed my test earlier this year and would consider myself a responsible driver, meaning I don't like to take risks, mainly because I don't feel comfortable doing it, especially in my car.

Personally I think there should be heavier penalties imposed for new drivers who break driving laws. Any points within the first 2 years of driving means your licence is revoked and a provisional must be re-applied for. An improvement on the current 2 year/6 point system in place now and will most likely mean new drivers will have to drive safely or face the consequences. If new drivers do get points then they must not only re-apply for their provisional, but must take and pass an advanced driving test to get their full licence back.

The current practical test could be made harder by having to do ALL manouevers and making the test an hour in length instead of just 38 minutes or whatever it is now.

I really don't think making anyone take a year of lessons is the answer, this will only lead to people driving without a license because they can't afford to take that many lessons or can't be bothered.

Entai · 20 Sep 2006 at 13:00

RoB- said:
There are lot of ideas being banded around here to improve driving skills for new drivers, but the fact is it doesn't matter how good you are at driving, it only takes a split second lack of concentration for ANY driver to cause an accident.

No matter what type of test or learning methods are dreamt up, you will never stop people hooning around and behaving irresponsibly on the roads, this type of behaviour is not exclusive to new drivers. .

Very fair point, but what is being said is that if the current test was made harder by including stuff like motorway driving, night driving and other aspects of advanced level courses such as training in situational awareness and anticipation of others actions then, the newly qualified drivers would have much better levels of concentration, and observation etc, so would be less likely to be hooning about, in an uncontrolled manner.

I still have moments of hooning about now (I'm nearly forty), but only in situations I can control, and never above my own or my cars limits, in the given situation.
I hope my levels of situational awareness, concentration, anticipation, and observation will allow me to continue having fun, while driving in a safe controlled manner with utmost respect for all other road users at all times, for many years to come.

I have got this far, and hope to get further in my life, never having had a crash or accident of any kind, how many young drivers passing their tests now, will be able to say that in twenty years time???

I believe I was trained well, and wish that level of training was available to all new motorists, by default, not just available to those who decide by their own volition to take advanced level tarining.

Entai · 20 Sep 2006 at 13:01

RoB- said:
There are lot of ideas being banded around here to improve driving skills for new drivers, but the fact is it doesn't matter how good you are at driving, it only takes a split second lack of concentration for ANY driver to cause an accident.

No matter what type of test or learning methods are dreamt up, you will never stop people hooning around and behaving irresponsibly on the roads, this type of behaviour is not exclusive to new drivers. .

Very fair point, but what is being said is that if the current test was made harder by including stuff like motorway driving, night driving and other aspects of advanced level courses such as training in situational awareness and anticipation of others actions then, the newly qualified drivers would have much better levels of concentration, and observation etc, so would be less likely to be hooning about, in an uncontrolled manner.

I still have moments of hooning about now (I'm nearly forty), but only in situations I can control, and never above my own or my cars limits, in the given situation.
I hope my levels of situational awareness, concentration, anticipation, and observation will allow me to continue having fun, while driving in a safe controlled manner with utmost respect for all other road users at all times, for many years to come.

I have got this far, and hope to get further in my life, never having had a crash or accident of any kind, how many young drivers passing their tests now, will be able to say that in twenty years time???

I believe I was trained well, and wish that level of training was available to all new motorists, by default, not just available to those who decide by their own volition to take advanced level training.

Also the heavier penalties idea is very good as well.

Berger · 20 Sep 2006 at 13:06

Dont bother putting silly restrictions on cars power, insurance costs are enough to stop young people buying really daft cars in most cases. Clamp down on people being "named" driver rubbish and being the main driver on policys.

If the pass plus system was less of a farce and included as standard in the driving test then that would be a step in the right direction i believe.

When i went from learning and my previous driving experience to driving my car now, scared the life out of me at first because i put my foot down and the speedo moved at what then seemed like a rather rapid rate around the clock!

Had to learn (which i did quickly!) that i couldnt just floor it everywhere which is what i was used to doing previously to make the damn thing move! ( NA diesels are slow mmmkay).

Stonedofmoo · 20 Sep 2006 at 13:36

Dont bother putting silly restrictions on cars power, insurance costs are enough to stop young people buying really daft cars in most cases.

Yes. And that's probably a good reason why so many choose not to insure their cars.

mrthingyx · 20 Sep 2006 at 16:59

Stonedofmoo said:
Yes. And that's probably a good reason why so many choose not to insure their cars.

Definately.

To be honest, it seems daft. Just like the new laws on booster/child seats.

Is somebody who's had a year of driving lessons more capable than another person who's had six hours' worth? I know people who've had plenty of lessons and still have trouble with clutch control, etc. so more lessons DOES NOT equal more skill/better control/better attitude.

Just as an accident won't easily differentiate between a 4'9 adult and a 4'9 eleven year-old, passing a driving test after a thousand lessons doesn't make a better driver than somebody who's only had a few hours in the car but has the right attitude at the right time.

mrthingyx' manifesto for cutting road deaths:

1) Increase minimum age to 19
2) Broaden the scope of driving lesson syllabus (night driving, motorway driving, rain etc... ooh - just like pass plus!)
3) Retest after one year: no passengers in the car until the retest has been passed.
4) Limit power:weight for under 25s: purchasing a higher output car would require an additonal pass-plus style course to allow the buyer to adjust to the car... much like the Mazda RX8's free half-day.
5) Ban Burberry and tracksuits whilst driving.
6) No insurance = sharing a cell with Big Sid for a couple of years. Sorry, but there's no excuse.