Rules changing for new drivers?

saitrix · 4 Apr 2006 at 13:01

How about just having the normal test at 17 like usual. Then have an advanced test say like 6 months on, that way it gives the person time to get use to driving.

Also i must say i found doing the skid pan day i did was very useful. I had 3 hours overall, 1 hour tuition on how to correct mistakes and get car control back. Then the other 2 hours, which i found very educational and fun, was being able to experiment in the cars without the instructors in the car. Did it in rwd and fwd cars so i got to see how different they act in low grip situations.

I personally find the ones that seem to drive dangerously are the ones that drive 1.2 Corsa's etc. The smaller, slower cars it seems overall at my College. Where as there are some people driving 2.0 saloons all fine and learning to respect the power. Problem with small engines, slow cars is that the driver can get into the habit of the accelerator being an on/off switch.

Morba · 4 Apr 2006 at 13:14

that would be because that is all they can afford to buy and insure.....
also a small car looks and sounds like its going faster than a larger saloon even at the same speed.

not their fault really.

Sputnik II · 4 Apr 2006 at 13:26

I think New Zealand has a new/young driver curfew. It seems if they go out at night they can't take passengers. I'm not 100% sure how it works but, seen some program on TV where the passengers have been made to get out and walk.
I suppose it's like everything in life. Everyone pays the price for the minority that cause the problems.
Realistically young and new drivers should be among the safest drivers on the road because they have everything fresh in their mind, they just lack experience.
I would much rather have a new regulation for people that don't use their mirrors or even worse, drive with their mirrors folded in or broken.

ajgoodfellow · 4 Apr 2006 at 13:32

Sputnik II said:
I would much rather have a new regulation for people that don't use their mirrors or even worse, drive with their mirrors folded in or broken.

Surely if your driver's side mirror is folded in or broken this is already breaking the law?

Sputnik II · 4 Apr 2006 at 13:37

ajgoodfellow said:
Surely if your driver's side mirror is folded in or broken this is already breaking the law?

Yes, but have you ever seen anyone stopped for it ?

ajgoodfellow · 4 Apr 2006 at 13:41

Nope

They just tend to ignore it like another of my pet hates - people who drive around with their fog lights on when it isn't foggy

Berger · 4 Apr 2006 at 14:41

A car is a lethal weapon, and should be licensed as such. No one under 25 should be allowed to drive, there should be good affordable public transport for all whenever and wherever needed. Every driver should be police checked, as with other weapons, and those that fail should not be allowed to re-apply for a set period - say a year. The norm should be for us all to travel on public transport.
Mary, Shrewsbury

I cant tell if she is being serious or not, which is quite worrying...

If they just scrapped the cameras and had some actual police then things would be better. Cameras dont do anything apart from make money, everyone knows this.

Burnsy2023 · 4 Apr 2006 at 15:04

Berger said:
I cant tell if she is being serious or not, which is quite worrying...

Using that logic, you must also be policed checked before being able to use a kitchen knife or and chemicals such as bleach.

Stupid woman!

Burnsy

Dr Who · 4 Apr 2006 at 15:09

The fact is that MOST people learn by their mistakes or the mistakes of others all too often, in all areas of life, rather than accepting that advice they receive from parents, seniors is good advice...

That applies to roadcraft as much as it does other areas in life...

there are a few that learn, and take advice from others well, and those often become safe drivers... others get lucky when they take liberties and so get more and more dangerous...

One race driver I know is extremely skilled, but no way will I get in the car with him on the road... he is downright dangerous!!

Its not about car control skill, its about respecting other road users and their right to be on the road as much as you...

If you have ever performed an angry overtake, this includes you... I know it included me...

paul@ · 4 Apr 2006 at 17:04

The only real solution to this is:

1) Very harsh fines and points for minor things 6pts for crossing red etc
2) 12 points on licence means "no licence for good"
3) Dangerous driving, causing death by dangerous driving and racing etc, instant ban for life and harsh fines and harsh prison sentances.
4) Power restriction on cars until you can prove you can drive at a good standard
5) Driving age to be increased to 21, underaged driving = instant ban
6) Insurance make it very expensive, and having to stick another road tax style badge on the window screen to prove you have insurance as well.

I think this way people will take the law more seriously, the money generated by this new scheme can increase the budget for traffic police to ensure a better coverage and more offices on the beat.

ajgoodfellow · 4 Apr 2006 at 17:08

These are good in theory but I have a horrible feeling that if you make the insurance even more expensive than it is it'll lead to more insurance fraud (eg using your parent's name) or to more people driving without insurance

Berger · 4 Apr 2006 at 17:54

paul@ said:
The only real solution to this is:

1) Very harsh fines and points for minor things 6pts for crossing red etc
2) 12 points on licence means "no licence for good"
3) Dangerous driving, causing death by dangerous driving and racing etc, instant ban for life and harsh fines and harsh prison sentances.
4) Power restriction on cars until you can prove you can drive at a good standard
5) Driving age to be increased to 21, underaged driving = instant ban
6) Insurance make it very expensive, and having to stick another road tax style badge on the window screen to prove you have insurance as well.

I think this way people will take the law more seriously, the money generated by this new scheme can increase the budget for traffic police to ensure a better coverage and more offices on the beat.

Have a lol, it would be impossible to police.

thebrasso · 4 Apr 2006 at 18:16

The problem comes down to different attitudes. Too many people see speed limits as targets not limits. I do break the speed limit on occasion but less than I did say 6 months ago.

There is also a lot of hostility on the road, probably due to decreased road space with more and more vehicles on the roads. People convince themselves they are in a rush. Also, poor planning means people leave on their journeys too late. Hence being in a rush.

I'm not saying it comes purely down to speed. But it is a factor in a lot of these sort of accidents with young people.

Penalising drivers once mistakes have been made isn't the answer. Deterrents don't work. The answer I think is better driver education and if we had a public transport system capable of competing with the use of cars.

Puzzled · 4 Apr 2006 at 19:31

Why should you be 21 to drive?

At 21 do you suddenly become a mature adult that will never want to have fun in a car?

If anything the driving age should be lowered, let people learn at 15 (last year of school) but don't let them take the test until there 17. Also make learner drivers clock up a certain amount of hours with a driving instructor say 10 at least. That way a natural driver will still need to have the minimum tuition to learn about driving on public roads.

The answer here is education, be it a new driver at 17 or 21 they will both be unexperienced.

On a side note, anyone else find it interesting that young road deaths have increased along side chav culture? This to may shows that it is education, not age limits that will solve the problem. Get a traffic cop to show them some nasty crashes, that should slow them down a bit.