[Joogle]

Inexperienced drivers - what do you think?

We are not talking just about young drivers, we are talking about people who have just passed their tests of any age.

A big fear for some people is the fact that Monday you can pass your test and Tuesday be driving off in a 300BHP monster car without any regulation or control other than the cost of the insurance cover.

What do you see are the key issues? What are your worries or concerns? Do we have enough regulations in place to manage these types of situations? Are there too many regulations? Do insurers treat them fairly? Is the current training and testing of drivers adequate?

What do you think and more importantly what do you see as solutions?

[sprite]

I'm not sure it's inexperienced drivers which are the problem. I'd like to see the police (hmmm, yes - that would be good - to actually SEE some police patrolling the roads!) actually stopping people for stupid behaviour - dangerous overtaking, driving too close (especially HGV drivers - saw 2 massive HGV's the other day driving about 3 ft. from each other - I am not kidding - at about 50mph.) Maybe if people knew they would lose their licence for deliberately dangerous driving then they might think again. I don't mind people overtaking me - I hate it when people zoom up right behind you and then pull out sharply from right up your backside. I guess they just enjoythe extra thrill of almost smashing into me. Idiots. Mind you, today we had an ambulance come towards us overtaking some cars on a stretch of road which you just shouldn't do that on - I know they need to get places fast and quite right too - but we've seen a couple of very dodgy overtaking manouveres by ambulances recently.

[Paul]

Trouble is, BHP and performance (and safety) are not directly related in many cases. So how and what do you govern for?

It may be a good idea to have limits based on one or some of the above (work that one out first I guess?!) over which limit you have to have some sort of advanced drivers license or something.

But people will act like idiots and endanger themselves and others in all sorts of cars, I imagine the stats show it's a relatively small percent who are new drivers in powerful cars having smashes or insurance claims.

[rellik666]

Here in Victoria, the roads are insane compared to the UK. Driving standards are "different"!! There are a lot of high powered V8's, bad roads and a complete unawareness of other roads users. However the rules imposed on young or "new" drivers are quite strict! This doesn't seem to improve the general standard however! The biggest thing I remember learning in the UK, is only a fool breaks the two second rule! I.e. there should be at least two second between you and the car in front/behind. This is not the case here and tailgating is a major problem. The fundimentals do not seem to be taught at a basic level! Many many times I have seen cars have to swerve onto the hard shoulder to avoid the car infront as they have had to break for some reason. Anyhow, this is what the victorian government are imposing from July this year.

Quote:

ALCOHOL INTERLOCK
From 1 January 2007, a probationary driver or any driver under 26, caught for a drink driving offence involving a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .07 or higher, will have an alcohol interlock fitted to their car when they return to driving. If the interlock detects any alcohol on a driver's breath, the car won't start.

LEARNER PERMIT FOR 12 MONTHS
From 1 July 2007, a learner driver (under 21) must stay on their learner permit for at least 12 months before they can apply for their probationary licence. They also have to carry their permit whenever they drive.

120 HOURS OF SUPERVISED DRIVING
From 1 July 2007, a learner driver (under 21) must log at least 120 hours of supervised driving, including a minimum of 10 hours night driving, before they can apply for their probationary licence.

LOG BOOK
A completed log book, with a record of a minimum of 120 hours of supervised driving, must be presented when the learner is applying for a probationary licence test.
Each entry in the log book must be completed and signed correctly by the learner driver and their parent and supervising driver.

KEYS PLEASE

Keys Please is a free, 90 minute session for learner drivers or soon to be learner drivers and their parents or supervising drivers. It shows you how to get the maximum benefit from the Learner period and become a responsible and safe driver.

RESTRICTIONS ON DRIVING HIGH POWERED VEHICLES
Probationary drivers who obtained their licence from 1 July 2007 will not be allowed to drive a vehicle with:

• An engine of eight or more cylinders
• A turbocharged or supercharged engine
• Certain high performance six cylinder engines
• An engine that has been modified to increase the vehicle's performance.

If they get caught driving any of these vehicles, they’ll have to pay a fine and you’ll receive three demerit points.
Vehicles excluded from these restrictions...

• Turbocharged or supercharged diesel powered cars (without engine performance modifications)
• Nominated vehicles with low powered turbocharged or supercharged engines, including Suzuki Cappucino 2D Cabriolet Turbo 3 cylinder 689cc, Daihatsu Copen L880 2D Convertible 4 cylinder 659cc
• All models of the Smart car, produced by Mercedes Benz.
  
• Vehicles driven as a part of the driver’s employment and at the request of the employer.

NEW P1 AND P2 PROBATIONARY LICENCES

From 1 July 2008, all new probationary drivers will be covered by a two stage, four year licence system. They’ll have a P1 licence (shown by a red P plate) for the first 12 months, followed by a P2 licence (green P plate) for the next three years. If they’re over 21 they will move straight to a P2 licence.
NO MOBILE PHONE USE

While driving, learner or P1 probationary drivers are not allowed to use a mobile phone, that includes hand held, hands free, or messaging of any kind.

NEW ON ROAD DRIVING TEST

From 1 July 2008, there will be a new and improved on road driving test for learner drivers who want to apply for their probationary licence.
A GOOD DRIVING RECORD

You need a good driving record to go through each stage. A poor driving record, for example drink or drug driving offences, will extend the P1 or P2 licence period by six months.
TOWING

Drivers on a P1 licence you can’t tow, unless it’s for work or they are being instructed

We shall see how it goes!?

[Scrogg]

What a shame those regulations aren't used in the UK

[Paul]

Quote: Originally Posted by rellik666 (original)

The biggest thing I remember learning in the UK, is only a fool breaks the two second rule!

Sadly, we are largely a nation of fools.

[Glam]

I'm not really sure about inexperienced drivers but I do believe that people should have to retake a test every five years after the age of 55. My mum has never been a confident driver but over the last few years her driving has got so bad I'm actually scared every time I get in the car with her. I think that older people (especially the very old), are as dangerous as inexperienced drivers and cause a high percentage of accidents.

[Paul]

I'd personally have no problem with five or ten year licenses for all. I'd be happier knowing I could still drive to a certain required standard, and was up to speed on the latest regulations and such, and the cost would be minimal compared to insurance, tax, petrol......

[MarkW]

Time limited Licenses (I'd say 10 years) for all would be the single biggest improvement on road safety in the UK. Every ten years make people retake a theory test and have an eye sight check.

A few years ago statistics were published by the motoring press that somewhere in the region of 1/2 million people buying new cars that August had eye sight so bad legally they shouldn't be driving. That was just buying new just imagine how many are out there.

Then combine that with scrapping the tax cameras and actually having the good old booby out on patrol. Government need to realise that a camera only covers speed offenses (or traffic light jumping) not the 100's of other legal requirements an officer can enforce.

[wildchild jules]

I know people have said that they think limiting the power of cars etc. is going against people's human rights, but look at the way the bike laws work, you aren't instantly allowed onto a high performance bike, which I think is good.

I agree about 10 year licences too. This may also pick up on the people with bad eye sight as I know in a standard test you are tested to make sure you can read a licence plate from a distance - how many people are driving without wearing glasses and should be? That certainly puts people at risk too.

[Capsaisin]

Even worse than driving a high powered car the day after passing your test is, being able to drive down a slip road onto a motorway with no previous compulsory training.
Without any motorway training, the prospect of an inexperienced driver pootling along to a "road junction" with the M6 would certainly concern me. I wonder how many actually stop to give way at the white lines?

I would have thought there must be at least as many motorway accidents due to inexperience as accidents in fast cars.

[Bhozar]

I dont understand why they dont enforce driving standard tests every 10 years. Its not just inexperienced drivers to blame for accidents, but many experienced drivers too. Perhaps it would be too unpopular with the common person who has no interesti ncars and its just a mode of transport for them. Maybe the Gov wouldnt want an election after briging 10 yearly driving standard tests.

I know several people too vain to wear their glasses while driving. I find it quite shocking as I take driving so seriously.

[wildchild jules]

Quote: Originally Posted by Capsaisin (original)

Even worse than driving a high powered car the day after passing your test is, being able to drive down a slip road onto a motorway with no previous compulsory training.
Without any motorway training, the prospect of an inexperienced driver pootling along to a "road junction" with the M6 would certainly concern me. I wonder how many actually stop to give way at the white lines?

I would have thought there must be at least as many motorway accidents due to inexperience as accidents in fast cars.

I agree. Admittedly i never had a motoroway lesson, but my dad did take me out on the motorway not long after I passed my test and made me drive down one junction and then back so i got used to the motorway. However, both my parents are good motorway drivers and made sure that the first few times I drove on the motorway, I had them with me in the car. I remember actually being made to drive over to my Grandparents with my dad, mum and brother in the car, which was 160 mile journey, jsut to get me used to being on the motorway! You can see how bad some people are on the motorway by the fact they do things like sit in the middle lane the whole time, or don't anticiapte cars wanting to join at a junction and just sit resolutley in the slow lane.

[minicabrio]

I never actually had a motorway lesson, but in reality, they're not much different from a 70mph dual carriageway - there's just one extra lane! We've got a lot of bypasses round here, and by the time i passed my test was well used to slip roads, lane changes, exiting, slower vehicles etc...

I do agree on an expiring licence though. Once every ten years, book yourself in for an eye test, and a car re-test then send both pass certificates off for you new licence... sounds simple enough...

[Paul]

The motorways are just about the safest place you can drive aren't they, statistically speaking?

[Jordan210]

After i passed my test i had to go on the motorway only for one junction and luckly the motorway was empty, But it was quite scary, A few days after this i started my pass plus where i did 2 hours of motorway driving, What was well worth it. As i was told what lane to be in an when, Also when to get over and watch both sides and so on.

Its stupid that motorway driving is not in the test, As its such a big part of driving.

[Joogle]

I think motorways are another good example of why P plates should be displayed - guidance for other road users and offer a little protection for the new driver.

[minicabrio]

Here's a link to a PDF which lighlights the safest and most dangerous roads....

http://www.eurorap.org/library/pdfs/...AP_A3_2008.pdf

The motorways are highlighted in the safest category

[stuvoi]

Quote: Originally Posted by Glam (original)

I'm not really sure about inexperienced drivers but I do believe that people should have to retake a test every five years after the age of 55. My mum has never been a confident driver but over the last few years her driving has got so bad I'm actually scared every time I get in the car with her. I think that older people (especially the very old), are as dangerous as inexperienced drivers and cause a high percentage of accidents.

My Grandad was driving until about April this year, driving locally and between Inverness and Aberdeen a couple of times a year.

This in itself didn't seem bad, until I went up to see him earlier and took him out for the day. We were parked in a car park and he was stood right by the car, but didn't see it.

How he managed to drive I don't know, anyway I think he had a scare in April (near miss I guess) and decided he was finally too old to drive (too blind / deaf / slow) at 95 and now relies on my mum to drive him about.

I wouldn't have gotten in the car with him...he may not have had any accidents (didn't ask) but I bet there were times when cars crashed trying to overtake him or the line of cars behind him

Stu

[Glam]

Quote: Originally Posted by stuvoi (original)

My Grandad was driving until about April this year, driving locally and between Inverness and Aberdeen a couple of times a year.

This in itself didn't seem bad, until I went up to see him earlier and took him out for the day. We were parked in a car park and he was stood right by the car, but didn't see it.

How he managed to drive I don't know, anyway I think he had a scare in April (near miss I guess) and decided he was finally too old to drive (too blind / deaf / slow) at 95 and now relies on my mum to drive him about.

I wouldn't have gotten in the car with him...he may not have had any accidents (didn't ask) but I bet there were times when cars crashed trying to overtake him or the line of cars behind him

Stu

Oh my gosh, that's really bad. Good for him for deciding to give up driving, a lot wouldn't have.