Government proposes driving test changes

[grober]

Thread as per title.
Summary of proposed changes:-

A minimum learning period for drivers before they are permitted to sit their test, which is expected to be around one year. this effectively makes the age to drive 18.
however
Another idea to drop the age at which people can start to learn to 16 or 16 and six months, with the minimum learning period taking them to 17 or 17 and a half.
A more rigorous test involving lessons on motorways, during adverse weather conditions and when it's dark.
Once a driver has passed their test, extend the probationary period of drivers having their licences revoked if they get six or more points from 2 to 3 years.
New driver incentives, in the form of insurance discounts, to take additional training after they’ve passed.

Read more: Government proposes driving test changes | Auto Express

 

[davidjpowell]

At least one of these is unworkable.

How to you order 'adverse' weather conditions!

 

[R2D2]

At least one of these is unworkable.

How to you order 'adverse' weather conditions!

All driving tests have to be taken in Leeds?

 

[moff]

At least one of these is unworkable.

How to you order 'adverse' weather conditions!

If it's sunny one day just postpone 24 hours.

 

[Dryce]

At least one of these is unworkable.

How to you order 'adverse' weather conditions!

And where do you find motorways north of Perth or in Argyll?

I don't know why there's an obsession with adding in motorway driving. Motorways tend to be least problematic overall (straight roads with barriers separated from oncoming traffic and no hazards).

A better solution for everyone would be to have regular re-testing of every driver - initially a 2 year re-test then every 5 years - and add in proper management of residents with foreign licences.

 

[Borys]

//Quote:
A better solution for everyone would be to have regular re-testing of every driver - initially a 2 year re-test then every 5 years - and add in proper management of residents with foreign licences.//

What do you mean by foreign driving license?
Trust me a foreign driving test is a hell compering to UK

 

[moff]

And where do you find motorways north of Perth or in Argyll?

I don't know why there's an obsession with adding in motorway driving. Motorways tend to be least problematic overall (straight roads with barriers separated from oncoming traffic and no hazards).

A better solution for everyone would be to have regular re-testing of every driver - initially a 2 year re-test then every 5 years - and add in proper management of residents with foreign licences.

I feel the complete opposite.

We need motorway lessons where possible, for a number of reasons:

1. People driving to closely to the car in front at speed and in adverse weather
2. Incorrect use of lanes
3. Confidence to enter the motorway at speed, not slowing down
4. Correct use of mirrors when moving between lanes

Clearly it is unrealistic to complete certain elements such as this in areas where there are no motorways, but there are enough dual carriageways e.g. A9 to complete the key elements.

Re-testing everyone is completely over the top and I really cannot see how this would work in principle. However, I do think that re-testing or a refresher course should be applied to:

1. New drivers who cause a fault accident within 2 years
2. All drivers who cause 3 fault accidents within 5 years
3. Older driviers over the age of 75 - every 1-2 years

 

[Dryce]

I feel the complete opposite.

We need motorway lessons where possible, for a number of reasons:

1. People driving to closely to the car in front at speed and in adverse weather

As already pointed out - 'adverse weather' is a difficult test condition to control.

2. Incorrect use of lanes
3. Confidence to enter the motorway at speed, not slowing down
4. Correct use of mirrors when moving between lanes

These are faults that can be attributed to experienced as well as new drivers.

I would suggest that they are habits that form

Re-testing and better enforcement are the only way to break these.

Clearly it is unrealistic to complete certain elements such as this in areas where there are no motorways, but there are enough dual carriageways e.g. A9 to complete the key elements.

The A9 doesn't reach Argyll or Mull or Lerwick or Arran and isn't a dual carriageway north of the Black Isle.

Re-testing everyone is completely over the top and I really cannot see how this would work in principle.

It's dead easy in principle ---- you just do it.

And it's also a way top ensure that drivers keep up to date with new signage and conventions.

At the moment we have drivers on the road who took tests prior to the widespread introduction of motorways and dual carriageways and roundabouts. Then we have variations on these intrioduced over time such as additional motorway signage, new pedestrian crossing variations, and mini-roundabours.

If re-testing involved just a sit-down theory test it would be a step in the right direction. It would also provide an opportunity of doing an eyesight test and perhaps the hazard perception test as well.

How many people here read or re-read the highway code since they passed their test (I suspect that those that have did so because they were involved in teaching a son or duaghter to drive many years after they passed their own test).

 

[Dryce]

//Quote:
A better solution for everyone would be to have regular re-testing of every driver - initially a 2 year re-test then every 5 years - and add in proper management of residents with foreign licences.//

What do you mean by foreign driving license?
Trust me a foreign driving test is a hell compering to UK

There is almost zero management for residents with foreign licences - there's a fuzzy definition of residence and little formal enforcements.

As for foreign tests being hell - outside of the EU standards vary widely and actual evaluation to those standards varies too. So they simply have no standing.

 

[moff]

1/ Adverse weather can be catered for in lessons by informing the driver of the increased space between their car and the car in front. The instructor can also inform the driver about the correct use of lights for adverse weather situations.

2/3/4 still stands and should be taught.

Regardless of their being a dual carriageway or motorway the principles can be taught and where the roads exist (where the driver will tend to drive) can be used.

It's not 'dead easy' there are around 37m full driving license holders in the UK - how do you propose that we re-test 37m drivers each year?? There are less than 750k tests completed each year as it is now. It's completely unworkable to test 37m and would cost the tax payer a fortune!

 

[Spinal]

Adverse weather - skid pans? Wet road testing? Both quite easy to cater for...

Motorway is a must - I've not seen motorway manners as bad as the UK in any other country that has motorways.

Age things are pointless though - most new drivers can't afford to be insured until 25/26 anyhow... I would be more interested in seeing a government capped insurance scheme (like some scandinavian states).

I would also like a 2-part test - instead of a single practical test and you're unleashed on the roads (ignoring the theory for a minute); something similar to motorbikes, where for 2 years you are restricted in power.

M.

 

[Dryce]

It's completely unworkable to test 37m and would cost the tax payer a fortune!

It's just a matter of will.

If 5 years is too frequent then make it 10 and synchronise with photocard renewal. A % of drivers wouldn't bother either because they have given up driving or know they would fail or have left the country. Another % are covered because they are new drivers (750,000 per year = 10% already tested for 5 years or if 10 years then 20%.

Sitting back and letting licences expire at 70 as is the case now is something that should be unacceptable. But as it's the status quo it is just accepted.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Re-testing everyone is completely over the top and I really cannot see how this would work in principle. However, I do think that re-testing or a refresher course should be applied to:

1. New drivers who cause a fault accident within 2 years
2. All drivers who cause 3 fault accidents within 5 years
3. Older driviers over the age of 75 - every 1-2 years

The majority of 'accidents' are the fault of most of those involved. With a bit more common sense, observation and understanding many 'victims' could have prevented becoming victims. So apportioning blame is all very well for insurance purposes, but it doesn't separate the good drivers from the bad. I'm very much in favour of retesting every 5 or 10 years, and for those tests to be far more stringent than the first test. The cost of the tests would be far outweighed by the savings in deaths, personal injuries, car repairs, police time, hospital time, etc. It's only those who think they'd fail who would complain.

 

[moff]

There are people out there who are genuinely good drivers and know the highway code. I personally don't feel I need to read it again as I think I have a good feel for it, but I don't know when new things have been added - maybe this is something they could tackle?

I think that any form of re-testing should be associated to bad driving and age. Maybe all bans should be accompanied with a re-test?

 

[moff]

It's only those who think they'd fail who would complain.

I think that would be very much cost and frequency dependent, especially in the current climate with continual governments looking for the next opportunity to create a new tax.

 

[flango]

This is just raking up stuff from years ago, I actually had some involvement in this when I was doing a lot of advanced driver training, the summary of the group I was working with at the time was

1. Lower the age of learners to 16 but minimum 1 year instruction before being able to take a test.

2. ADI Driving lessons to comprise of Motorway, night time and adverse weather condition driving (minimum number of hours attributed to each)

3. All tuition via approved Instructors, no home taught driving.

4. Shake up of the ADI system and level of training for ADI's

5. Re- test over 70's every 2 years (not full test)

Some of the other things we looked at were

Retest every driver - not practical although I personally am in favour of retests for everyone every 5 years which is what I do to maintain my professional driving/instructor qualifications, took my last test in January this year and got one minor.

opt out for people who did not need motorway driving, again not practical and how would you police/stop them driving on a motorway, these days with ANPR that should now be possible.


It's time to shake this whole thing up but don't penalise the safe young drivers out there who take their responsibilities behind the wheel seriously, Instead reward them and penalise the idiots, who do not necessarily fall into the younger age band.

 

[Dryce]

Motorway is a must - I've not seen motorway manners as bad as the UK in any other country that has motorways.

Try Malaysia.

Try Egypt.

And let's not forget India.

 

[Adam230K]

Try Malaysia.

Try Egypt.

And let's not forget India.

If you've actually been to any of those countries you'd realise they don't have what we could call a motorway. Its just road with tarmac, no lanes, nothing.

UK's motorway manners compared to all 1st world countries is just crap.

 

[moff]

opt out for people who did not need motorway driving, again not practical and how would you police/stop them driving on a motorway, these days with ANPR that should now be possible.
.

ANPR cameras aren't common place and in most instances are temporary, there to capture registration plate for speeding offences through roadworks.

It would need road tolling to get this to work or insurers to offer schemes to restrict motorway driving. That said they are safer to drive on when used correctly.

 

[Dryce]

If you've actually been to any of those countries you'd realise they don't have what we could call a motorway. Its just road with tarmac, no lanes, nothing.

Well you clearly haven't.

I have.

Driving standards in the UK are pretty good.

Using brakes in Egypt is for sissies and trucks on an empty road must use the outside lane while occasionally veering across the lane divider. In Malaysia lane markings are there to be straddled and using indicators prior to changing a lane is taken as an active invitation for the driver behind to pass *on that side* and vehicles with children must be overloaded and driven at 20kph over the speed limit.