howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
in view of other thread on this subject here i saw a report today for "what car" magazine.
they got a selection of people aged between 19 and 70 and got them to retake the practical test.
approx half failed, most of them quite miserably.
should we have retests for drivers every ten years or so?
as an aside i heard the tail end of another report on driving and the correct way of slowing down at a junction now is by braking, i was taught to use the clutch and gears to do this.
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
ohh i would say i would fail.. but not by as many point as some of the older generations..
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
Most crash,s are still done by the younger ones and speed I think you will find most over 50s are better at keeping speeds down and do not have alot of crash,s that is why we do not pay so much car Insurance,I think that the cars the younger ones go round in are far to powerful and put the age to drive back up to 21years old.
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
Don't get me started Howard!!!
For what it's worth the IAM have always taught "gears for going, brakes for slowing", which also requires a certain degree of ability when it comes to block-changing down the gearbox.
I would agree with you that re-testing is not a bad idea but the basic driving test only allows a driver to demonstrate basic vehicle control skills and a modicum of roadcraft. The current training system does little more than teach a candidate to pass the test - it doesn't teach them to drive in the real world.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Vic you do have a valid point but a lot of the older generation should be checked more often i believe.
Perhaps a basket of changes would be more beneficial, such as:
1. Retest both drving skills and health (yes, reactions etc) every 10 years up to 60, and then every 5 years to seventy. After 70, every year and a condition of getting insurance cover.
2. Drivers under the age of 21 only allowed to drive vehicle up to 1000cc; drivers up to age of 30 allowed to drive vehicles in excess up to 2000cc; drivers over 30 allowed to drive vehicles in excess of 2000cc, drivers over 65 only allowed to drive vehicles up to 2000cc.
3. All vehicles up to 1000cc to have 60 mph speed limiters.
4. All new drivers to display "ND" sticker to denote new driver for period of 12 months, extendable by one month for every penalty point gained on their license in the first 12 months.
5. Any driver found driving without tax, insurance, MOT or any combination of the three to be jailed for not less than 6 months for dangerous driving.
6. Any driver found driving whilst over the alcohol limit to be bannbed for 3 years for the first offence and imprisoned for 6 months for dangerous driving.
I am sure there are variations to the above that will b acceptable, but a new approach is required for sure. Sadly, whicever route we take there will be the "anti" and "PC" objectors, and idiots who won't take any notice. But change is required for sure.
Lastly, when I slow down I use a combination of gears and brakes, that way I maintain control of the vehicle.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
phil
take your point about the test being very basic, i thought that they had the test more difficult in recent times.
when i passed my test i had never driven over 30mph, i was then the freedom to drive a sports car at 200 mph on a german autobahn.
i believe that other countries have systems where new drivers can only drive low powered vehicles.
vic
i agree 17 is far too young to understand the dangers of driving.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,833
Melissa..
Do you have a thing about us oldies
. First we were in your way on the busses now you think we are worse drives than the youngsters.
Seriously i think that many older drivers are dangerous, they can go too slow at times causing an accident. I believe that all drivers should have to take a test or refresher course every ten years.
I do not drive so non of the above affects me.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I am sure a lot of assessment could be done from a simple eye test - half of the problem of all ages is the lack of awareness of what is around the car and awful reaction speed.
The worst driving I have seen for an age was last week along the lanes between Stone Street - Bridge - Littlebourne. The majority of the time the old guy was more across the centre line than in the left hand lane. Taking BLIND left hand bends he would veer into the opposite side totally and must have had SIX very near misses with oncoming traffic along that journey !!!!
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
Vic, the fustration i find with older generation is that yes they keep the speed down.. 20 miles an hour in a 40 zone the other day and couldnt overtake them despite it being safe in many places because this little old dear was driving with the white line under her seat... and they hesitate.... a lot at junctions, we are taught not to dally around... i could got out of the road and throttled her the other day.. i actually had somewhere to go and despite leaving plenty of time I was nearly flipping late!!
And I was taught a mixture of braking with brakes and dad taught me with the engine and gears.. so it depends who your instructor is... sending my Mark out with my dad sometimes...
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
It depends why you need to slow down! If you're coming up to a junction where you may need to stop then engine braking and changing down in good time will probably do the job quite adequately as well as giving you time to assess what is going on ahead. Get it right, and all other things are equal, you may not even need to stop at all - unless it's a STOP rather than a GIVE WAY junction. Roundabouts are a favourite for this, especially on a motorbike.
There are times, however, when using the brakes is to be preferred even if engine-braking would otherwise suffice; when there's someone behind you and you need to let them know you're slowing down by showing a brake light.
On the other hand which is cheaper to replace, brake pads or a clutch disk? You pays your money and takes your choice.
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Jenni - slow drivers really are as bad if not worse than fast drivers, a real menace on the road, building up frustration in everyone behind them, but no doubt thinking they are ever so safe.... Many times too, these oh so safe drivers dont bother to indicate!!!
They infuriate me most and are at their most dangerous when joining a motorway or dual carraigeway from a grade seperated junction. Many drivers (in my experience young as well as old) just do not know how to join a motorway. They approach slowly, carefully, looking over their shoulder nervously doing maybe 40 miles an hour - a real menace and very dangerous. Absolutely no idea about accelerating to motorway speeds and merging. It happened to me twice last week alone, stuck behind these idiots....
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
Definely right there Barry - I think there should be a motorway section of the test before people are allowed to drive on them.
The best thing my driving instructor did was within a few lessons take me out onto the Thanet Way to get use to the speed, joining and exiting the roads.
Also spending 10 years on a bicycle beforehand was the best way to learn about the roads and to be able to pre-empt other drivers !
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
lol.. trust me Barry.. the pedal is to the floor on the slip road if i can... at least 60 when i join... if i can manage it!! I dont mess!! Cant park, but i dont dally around.. But i got stuck in a line of traffic coming along the A2 today from Sittingbourne.. and it was doing between 10-15 mph hour... and when i managed to get near the front it was some little old dear driving at that speed.. in a 60 zone.. so i rang the police... she had caused a tail back of about 2 miles.. !!
The problem is that you arent allowed to use a motorway until you have passed your test, and you could do a pass plus however its expensive and the effect upon insurance is tiny.. so young uns dont do it..
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Pass Plus should be made mandatory, you are right....
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
But where's the incentive to do it BarryW?
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
I think a motorway ban (unless being taught) until people pass a motorway competency test... though how you can enforce that for people that live at Lands End who are miles away from a motorway I do not know !!
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 663- Registered: 20 Mar 2008
- Posts: 1,136
There are good and bad Drivers at any age and I really dont think that if I were put through a test now I would pass.
What I have found is that many drivers dont have alot of patience or manners, and I agree that some sort of motorway driveing before a test would be very useful.
Have not long done some driveing in France now thats a challenge just remebering to stay on the right hand side of the road.
Guest 686- Registered: 5 May 2009
- Posts: 556
It would certainly be an idea to include motorways in the tuition if not the test itself (especially if you live in Lands End). May a series of add-on certificate: motorways, night driving and foul weather just for starters.
Many apparently experienced drivers were only ever taught to pass the test, not drive in today's traffic conditions. What often surprises me is the lack of some really basic knowledge of the Highway Code and road signs. A couple of simple ones that seem to cause problems (don't look up the answers):-
1. What is the National Speed Limit?
2. What is a box junction and when can you stop in one?
3. Traffic Lights: What does an amber light mean?
4. What colour are the reflective studs on a motorway or dual carriageway and where would they be positioned?
5. How would you recognise a STOP sign that was covered in snow?
6. How would you recognise a GIVE WAY sign that was covered in snow?
(Answers on the back of a £5 note please)
Phil West
If at first you don't succeed, use a BIGGER hammer!!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
My answers
1/ 60 single carraigeway and 70 dual.
2/ You dont stop in it, you only enter it when your exit is clear. Its a hatched area at a junction.
3/ stop
4/ Have these not recently changed, lot more colourful now!!!! beyond that cant remember.
5/ its a sexagon (ummmm, six sided?)
6/ its triangular