Driving test changes in 2010

delain

I'd better hurry up and do my test... I only want to drive so i can take the kids where they need to go!

Maybe the no passengers should just apply to 17-19 year old new drivers.

book12

I like some new things about the test though, such as the driving instructor sitting at the back when doing the test, buying a car that is less than 1.4 litres, and doing less manouvers. At least after the test, he/she will know what happend, and what to improve on if someone fails. Don't like the idea of increased cost and time of the test.

alwaysonthego wrote:

I don't see the independent driving to be a bad thing because if you know the area well where you are doing your test then this should be no problem. TBH I found it off-putting being told where to go by the examiner and got confused when he told me to go left, whereas I could go left if I was not thinking about it too much.

The independent driving bit is only for a 'few minutes', not for the whole test.

456789 wrote: »

Sat Navs in a test!
I don't think only 1 maneuvre is a good idea but still longer and costs more!

- what if they have a family? how will they learn to cope with the weight difference?


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I think there will be some exception for certain age groups. I don't know. We will see when the time comes. Some of the points here are not definate yet.

I will ask my driving instructor if he knows these changes from October. Hopefully, we will know more definate details about this either on the DSA and/or direct.gov (motoring section) of the site in a few months time.

elektra-2007 wrote: »

When is all this coming in? My bro is doing lesson now, when he passes his test he will have his kids in the car!! If he can only take 1 person in the car it would be daft, hes getting his licence to improve his familys life not go boy racing round the streets.

October.

pitkin2020 wrote: »

there is a great deal lacking in the current driving including situations like you mentioned.

I also think some motorway awareness needs to be included wether it be practical or simulation as too many do not know how to drive on a motorway, i.e staying in the middle for too long when the left lane is clear, also undertaking, which is illegal and highly dangerous, but they arent all made aware of that fact

I agree.

I think when the dual carriageway lessons are taught, as part of the driving lessons, those skills can be actually be used in a motorway situation.

delain wrote: »

I'd better hurry up and do my test... I only want to drive so i can take the kids where they need to go!

Maybe the no passengers should just apply to 17-19 year old new drivers.

Same here. Hopefully, I will pass my test before October. Don't like 'most' of the changes at all.

pitkin2020

delain wrote: »

I'd better hurry up and do my test... I only want to drive so i can take the kids where they need to go!

Maybe the no passengers should just apply to 17-19 year old new drivers.

why?? because you are 25 Plus you automatically know how to adjust your driving stlye to compensate for the extra weight of passengers??

delain

pitkin2020 wrote: »

why?? because you are 25 Plus you automatically know how to adjust your driving stlye to compensate for the extra weight of passengers??

Currently my OH teaches me driving,

My children are 5,5, and 7.

They weigh LESS put together than he does.

I am only JUST 25.

I do not intend to take large numbers of adults anywhere. However i may move house or do tip runs, are they going to ban that too??

Why does driving on your own for a year automatically mean you will know about it then?

ETA,

I have a Volvo with a 2 litre engine, but it has extra airbags, put itself in 'winter mode' when it's cold, has a fantastic safety rating, but it'll be 'too dangerous' for me to drive?!

KeithP

delain wrote: »

I have a Volvo with a 2 litre engine, but it has extra airbags, put itself in 'winter mode' when it's cold, has a fantastic safety rating, but it'll be 'too dangerous' for me to drive?!

I think the implication is that a relatively inexperienced driver in charge of a more powerful car may not be best for other road users.

The number of airbags is not going to help anyone else when/if the driver loses control is it?

pitkin2020

delain wrote: »

Currently my OH teaches me driving,

My children are 5,5, and 7.

They weigh LESS put together than he does.

I am only JUST 25.

I do not intend to take large numbers of adults anywhere. However i may move house or do tip runs, are they going to ban that too??

Why does driving on your own for a year automatically mean you will know about it then?

ETA,

I have a Volvo with a 2 litre engine, but it has extra airbags, put itself in 'winter mode' when it's cold, has a fantastic safety rating, but it'll be 'too dangerous' for me to drive?!

What you said in your previous post though kind of implies that only young people should have some of these changes enforced upon them, probably because they dont have the same responsibilities or needs as an older person (forgetting for now the image all young drivers are boy racers) but a lot of people no matter of age will have needs to carry more than 1 person at a time.
Also if they did introduce the 1.4 engine max limit for new drivers you as a fmaily would have to either change your car or get a second car, you may also find that volvo is your preffered choice for their outstanding safety records, but i dont see many 1.4 volvos around at the moment, although they may have new ones coming, again that would mean more expense as youd need to buy an even newer car

delain

KeithP wrote: »

I think the implication is that a relatively inexperienced driver in charge of a more powerful car may not be best for other road users.

The number of airbags is not going to help anyone else when/if the driver loses control is it?

I have had lessons in a nissan micra, (which was horrible to steer) a vauxhall corsa, where i felt like my bum was dragging on the road, an Isuzu trooper, which was great, a ford galaxy that i loved but could not afford to run, and now my own volvo.

I have never lost control of my car. I drive calmly and safely, not accelerating like a maniac then suddenly braking.

The volvo's winter mode increases the grip in bad weather.

I am not a boy racer and 'putting my foot down' is only ever done when joining the flow of traffic on a dual carriageway.

I don't wish to be lumped in with a bunch of spotty kids in burberry hats thanks.

delain

pitkin2020 wrote: »

What you said in your previous post though kind of implies that only young people should have some of these changes enforced upon them, probably because they dont have the same responsibilities or needs as an older person (forgetting for now the image all young drivers are boy racers) but a lot of people no matter of age will have needs to carry more than 1 person at a time.
Also if they did introduce the 1.4 engine max limit for new drivers you as a fmaily would have to either change your car or get a second car, you may also find that volvo is your preffered choice for their outstanding safety records, but i dont see many 1.4 volvos around at the moment, although they may have new ones coming, again that would mean more expense as youd need to buy an even newer car

Maybe you would like to try loading three children and all their stuff into a nissan micra??

It's not pretty,. I cannot manage on anything smaller than a peugeot 306 and that's a squeeze, and still bigger than 1.4

pitkin2020

delain wrote: »

I have had lessons in a nissan micra, (which was horrible to steer) a vauxhall corsa, where i felt like my bum was dragging on the road, an Isuzu trooper, which was great, a ford galaxy that i loved but could not afford to run, and now my own volvo.

I have never lost control of my car. I drive calmly and safely, not accelerating like a maniac then suddenly braking.

The volvo's winter mode increases the grip in bad weather.

I am not a boy racer and 'putting my foot down' is only ever done when joining the flow of traffic on a dual carriageway.

I don't wish to be lumped in with a bunch of spotty kids in burberry hats thanks.

the problem is some government mug sitting behind is desk cant say you can drive a 2.0 joe down the ride no, 1.4 only, so and so yeah 2.0 is fine and so and so, its all or nothing

As for being lumped in with a bunch of spotty kids, you wont be you'll be a driving noob same as everyone else that will have to comply with the new test, you cant be excluded because you may think your a better driver/person/whatever

pitkin2020

delain wrote: »

Maybe you would like to try loading three children and all their stuff into a nissan micra??

It's not pretty,. I cannot manage on anything smaller than a peugeot 306 and that's a squeeze, and still bigger than 1.4

hang on a min im not disagreeing with i think the 1.4 idea is stupid, but i can see why they would like to introduce, along with the fact they want to reduce Co2, so this is just another way of getting gas guzzlers off the road as i see it.
What im trying to say to you is that because you have needs of extra space and children you cant be taken out the equation based on age, an 18 year may have the same needs as you 2 kids and a dog etc, so why shouldnt they have a 2.0 volvo if they want aswell!!