New drivers/riders must take lessons for 1 yr

[Itchy]

What the hell I was still waking up and heard on the radio the government wants people learning to drive must take lessons for a whole year before being allowed to take their test.

This is a motion put forward by some MP which I was too groggy to hear properly,

anybody anymore news on this? ,

me thinks this is a tad unfair since tests are harder , insurance is heavily loaded and there is also the new drivers act = 6 points = bad ,

while folks like my dad (who is an awful driver no really but thinks he is the Stig exemplified by when he nearly wiped me out) , passed a piss easy test , and the bloke across the road went round the block 3 times and did an emergency stop for his bike test.
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[mr jamez]

I don't think you can teach experience, which is what makes a new driver less competent. They were also on about preventing younger drivers from going out at night, what about those who have to travel to work/college/uni? it gets dark at 4.30 in winter for christ sake. They don't seem to have gone into much detail about how it would work, so its been poorly thought through yet they already claim it will save a thousand lives.
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[zaknafien]

A years worth of lesson fee's?? Not bloody likely.
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02 Firestorm.

[Bendy]

So they'd have to set a minimum number, otherwise you could take three lessons, four months apart?

Professional lessons or free lessons from a friend/relative?

That's pretty much impossible to police, could only really go as far as not letting you sit your test til a year after you get your provisional licence, which is equally nonsensical.

[Trixie]

I agree, it would be impossible to police.

However, I think a shake-up of the way drivers are currently taught would be good. Maybe a few compulsory lessons to cover night-time driving, and also a few after passing their test to cover motorway driving (including LANE DISCIPLINE goddamit!).

A system is operated on the Isle of Man whereby those that have just passed their test have to display "R" plates on their vehicle for a year after passing their test. This not only shows other road users that they're noobies, but there are also a few conditions attached to this plate, such as a 50mph maxmum speed allowed everywhere. It's generally well policed and seems to work.
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[plugger147]

It's not the government for a change.

https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5359426.stm

It's insurance companies and motoring organisations, it's a load of shite they'll just end up encouraging more illegal drivers and the one's who do wait a year are gonna driver like nutcase's with all the pent up aggression.
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[ncrn]

if they are gonna make us a year, we should be allowed to start driving lessons at 16,
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[Kickstart]

Hi

Well, not having 17 year old driving would probably stop them crashing. Hardly rocket science. But beyond that they are getting next to no experience for that year and experience is what is needed. It would just move the at risk age group up a year.

All the best

Keith
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[ncrn]

but how long before 18 year olds are too high a risk and it becomes 19 before you can drive? and so on?

how many accidents are due to the cars being too powerful for the drivers capability? prehaps they should introduce a restricted lisence like we have, it makes sense because you gain experience before you get something too powerful for you, whilst having the freedom to drive on your own.
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[kawakid]

What should they do though look at the statistics, most car accidents are by young men under the age of 23. More than 5 times likely to be in a crash.

Just yesterday where I live, a young gentleman , lost it landed on the door and smashed in to a house. The road is a residential area (not a council estate) and no one drives more than 20. Apart from this guy.

To be honest I don't know what they should do.

They think they can drive , but they can't. Ohh yes they can move the vehicle, but its the observation, the what ifs, they don't do.

Sorry rant over.

PS I passed my car test at 17, after 14 lessons, so perhaps i'm not the right person to make comments.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personally think the test should be far longer. Not necessarilly harder, just more chance to see what peoples driving / riding is really like.

It is certainly rediculous that you can go straight onto motorways with zero motorway training, and for most little experience of going over 30~40mph.

However, we have a very low accident rate in the UK. Not certain anything should be done that would increase the already high costs involved.

All the best

Keith
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[Adam_P]

Has anyone else noticed in that link and article that they say that drivers between the ages of 17-24 account for 27% of road deaths and yet on their graph, the ages ranges from 40 to over 60 account for nearly 40%....

Anyone else think that it's the idiots that took the old style test and ones that can't actually drive anymore that need the extra tuition??
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[Inkognito]

To be honest i was shocked about the driving lessons in the UK.

I moved here from Denmark in 2002.

In denmark when you do your car licence you don't get on the roads before you have passed the Icy road and driving round cones tests.

You spend maybe 2-3 lessons in the local Driving School's parking lot getting practise before they will let you anywhere near a public road.

I booked my first lesson here in UK and he came to my house.. we went in the car and he put me in the drivers seat straight away.

Explained about how the car works (i already knew so long boring speech) then he said ok. Put the car into first gear and take off slowly.

I was like um.. what? No practise? He said what? Practise?

lol

Maybe it would be a good idea to introduce something like this over here i don't know.. it would certainly prepare you for icy and wet roads.

We also get motorway experience during the lessons in Denmark. All i got here was practise on dual carriageways.

L plates are non-existant in Denmark. If you don't have a license.. you don't drive. At all

I couldn't tell you about our road accident rates and age rates in Denmark because i don't have a clue.. i'm sure we have idiot drivers there too all i can say is that it makes sence to me to get icy/wet road experience... After all making the car spin on purpose in an empty parking lot and then practice getting it back under control is a lot better than it happening on the motorway and you not knowing what to do

Just my 2 pence.

[Bendy]

[Annabella]

To continue what Bendy said, depending where you take your test dictates the skills that you learn best/get most practise at.

If you take your test in Truro, Cornwall, you will only ever have to deal with three roundabouts, no zebra crossings and barely any NSL sections of road. You will be masterful dealing with tractors and nasty looking hedgerows, but what to do when you approach a zebra crossing will leave you flummoxed.



I think the motorcycle system works well, in the sense that it is a two stage progression with basic road skills being taught intially, plenty of practise on the roads followed by a test. At the moment car drivers don't have to have a qualified instructor teach them at any point - motorcycle learners DO.
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[Kickstart]

[kawakid]

[ColdInsomnia]

As mentioned above, I believe that a two stage progression should be the system here.

I have a friend who passed his driving test at 17, got a car, crashed it and wrote it off WITHIN A WEEK of passing! Luckily no one was hurt.

The same friend was passenger in someone else's car which was involved in an accident because THEIR friend decided to try and scare them by cutting them up at 60mph on a dual carraigeway - it went horribly wrong - amazingly no one was hurt but the car in the wrong was battered.

It sickens me how kids my age can just pass their test without "learning to drive", and cause horrific accidents like this, whilst I am on a small motorbike and am pretty much stuck on it for a good while (Though not anymore, as I recently passed my test )

We need a similar system for cars as we do motorbikes I believe.

Some sort of "CBT" equivalent for cars - which allows you to drive a car on anything except motorways, and limits you to cars of say, 1.2 litre engine capacity (Just a quick number - I'm sure someone could suggest a better limiting factor). Whilst on this license, L plates must be on display.

A REQUIRED 6 month minimum probationary period in which you must wait after passing your "CBT" before attempting your "full" license. The full license MUST include motorway training.


Of course this is just my ideal world - it's not going to happen
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[danclarkie]

real penalties for people who drive whilst dizzy or un-insured.
for example a guy round my area drives round like a loon, hes only a provisional and had 9 points. he got disqual and is still driving. Nothing seems to be done, his driving is really dire.
I hate un-insured un taxed un-licenced drivers.

I dont think you can tar all young drivers with the same brush though.

i passed my test at 17 with 14 lessons, (2 years ago) and the insurance companies wanted £1500 TPFT on a 1.1 106
ridiculous already.
This is the first year i can afford to go on my own insurance rather than a named driver. and its still at £700 now TPFT on a 1.1 saxo
thats with no claims points or any extras.

Forcing young drivers to pay through the nose for insurance doesnt make them better drivers, it just makes more people drive without insurance.

i would say harsher penalties are needed for boy racers that have accidents but i doubt it would make much difference as they all assume they are invincible and never going to crash anyway

Perhaps teaching roadcraft and such at secondary school is an idea?
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[Adam_P]

[bazza]

[thefallenange...]

I've had my car license nearly a year. I can't afford my car insurance on a fiat frigging Uno . So it's bing canned and i'm getting a bike.

Insurance companies at the end of the day think "We here incase a unavoidable accident happens". But someone's always to blame. If a blowout happens it's caused by debris which should of been cleaned or by not looking after your tyres properly. So who gets punished? A generalise of a group.

And on the test i think you should be made to do a 20 minute motorway drive. I first went on the motorway in a car with no power steering after learning in a car with it, it's was pitch black half 9 at night. Nothing illegal but i could. Now i drive the works van and have a CG125. It's more practical.