Of course I'm a good driver! (Other Motoring Issues)

Member Name: IanPaterson

Product:	Other Motoring Issues
Date:	05/09/00 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Harder test for drivers

Disadvantages: Only once in a lifetime!

Isn't it strange how everyone you ask is a good driver. Who are all the bad ones then????

Being an owner driver for about 13 years now I think I have amassed enough experience of driving and driving conditions to have a valid opinion. I think I have driven almost everything on the road apart from HGV. This includes bikes, panel vans, horse boxes, transit vans blah blah in rural and city conditions.

I also know that if I took a driving test now, I would probably fail dismally, along with a vast majority of other long term drivers in this country. Not due to reckless behaviour but more awareness of our environment. Cars have changed dramatically in the past 10 years in size and speed. Your average family saloon is capable of about 120MPH these days without to much effort.

A few years ago, two very close friends of mine were killed in a motorcycle accident 100 yards from their front door by a driver who was drunk, banned, no insurance, no MOT and no road fund license. He got banned for 3 years and £500 fine. I have watched their orphaned children struggle since then to try and have a normal life without their parents. Is this right? The maximum sentence for manslaughter with a car is 5 years! Do it with a knife and it is 15-20 years. What is the difference?

The law must be changed in this country. Passing a driving test once does not make you a safe driver. Driving tests only test your control of the vehicle, after that you learn how to drive. Teenage boys also seem the most likely to die and kill on the roads. Should we adopt a power restriction by age? I.e. under 21 can only drive up to 1600cc normally aspirated engined cars?

I believe we should adopt a system similar to Japan. Every year, drivers are retested, resit an exam and have to watch an hour long public safety video, sit a test on the video, pay their road tax and insurance for the year, THEN they get their license back and NOT before. If th
ey fail any of the tests, back they go to the beginning.

I am glad to see the driving test is getting longer andmore complicated with a driving and multiple choice exam but it still does not cover motorway driving, towing trailers/caravans or basic mechanics.

I think we should also be tested for stress management! Look at road rage in this country today.

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