Barely Legal Drivers - what does it say about the Driving Test?

Stoke

I watched it a few weeks back and it did somewhat remind me of when I was 17. Let's be honest, we're all !!!! when we pass our test. Being able to pass the test is actually quite easy. The phrase goes "you've passed the test, now you learn to drive".

I remember being 17, I was cocky, driving far too fast for my own abilities, driving like a complete twonk and giving all my mates far too many lifts while taking advice from them despite the fact most of them didn't even have a license. I used to think cutting up people at the very last second was fun if it saved me 1 second of my trip. In a lot of ways, it's a miracle that I didn't have an accident myself. The only thing I can say proudly is that until I was maybe 21, I never touched an alcoholic drink when driving.

I even remember going to a course for Pass Plus and cutting a young girl up on the road outside as we left.

Fact is, we grow up eventually and I'm a far better driver now than I was then, in all respects (vehicle awareness etc) and I also drive a lot more conservatively.

Mat_Lock

I was sat on a bench alongside a very busy road in Notting Hill on Sunday. A woman with 7 kids got in to a smallish car (not enough seats for all the kids) parked on the side of the road along with several other cars.

Lots of screaming kids, shouting and movement in the car and then the next thing I know there's an almighty clang/scrape and bang. I looked round to see the woman had reversed in to the front of this Mercedes that was parked behind her. She paused for a second, looked around to see if anyone had noticed, slowly edged forward and then just drove off. I took her number plate in case the owner of the now wrecked front end Mercedes came back before I left. Sadly they didn't so I couldn't let them know who/what had happened.

What a lovely woman to not even get out and check what she had done. Setting a perfect example for them kids too. It's ok to hit other peoples cars kids and drive off without owning up !!

Even myself a few weeks ago, some pizza delivery guy on a moped drove in to the back of my car, I didn't really notice it, I heard a thud but thought I'd run over a bottle or something. Wasn't until the moped rider moved up along side my car and was looking to see if I had noticed. I wound the window down and asked if he'd hit my car, no reply, got out my car and went to the back and whilst doing that the rider rode off in to the distance at lightning speed. Left a lovely plastic on bumper mark. Most of it scrubbed out but soooo annoying.

/rant over

Stoke

Mat_Lock wrote: »

I was sat on a bench alongside a very busy road in Notting Hill on Sunday. A woman with 7 kids got in to a smallish car (not enough seats for all the kids) parked on the side of the road along with several other cars.

Lots of screaming kids, shouting and movement in the car and then the next thing I know there's an almighty clang/scrape and bang. I looked round to see the woman had reversed in to the front of this Mercedes that was parked behind her. She paused for a second, looked around to see if anyone had noticed, slowly edged forward and then just drove off. I took her number plate in case the owner of the now wrecked front end Mercedes came back before I left. Sadly they didn't so I couldn't let them know who/what had happened.

What a lovely woman to not even get out and check what she had done. Setting a perfect example for them kids too. It's ok to hit other peoples cars kids and drive off without owning up !!

Even myself a few weeks ago, some pizza delivery guy on a moped drove in to the back of my car, I didn't really notice it, I heard a thud but thought I'd run over a bottle or something. Wasn't until the moped rider moved up along side my car and was looking to see if I had noticed. I wound the window down and asked if he'd hit my car, no reply, got out my car and went to the back and whilst doing that the rider rode off in to the distance at lightning speed. Left a lovely plastic on bumper mark. Most of it scrubbed out but soooo annoying.

/rant over

Personally in my case, I would have endeavored to give the information to the Merc driver (note under wind shield with phone number or something similar). I would have also taken a photo when she paused (as I did when I witnessed an old fella in a Fiesta reverse angrily into a Range Rover). I know that sounds crazy but camera phones are pretty quick nowadays :P

Idiophreak

Cornucopia wrote: »

Is the test easier now than in the past?

TBH, I think new drivers have been rubbish for decades. They say you start learning to drive once you past your test and that seems to be the case. I was awful when I first passed, but got in the hang of it pretty quickly.

NB - I wasn't awful compared to my peers...just compared to competent drivers

colino

I've only seen the tail end of one of these programmes (last nights) and I was stunned at the low level of driving ability, mechanical sympathy and awareness the pair of them had. Coupled to that it seemed, despite video evidence to the contrary, their parents still thought their little cherubs deserved a free car!
The driving test has always been easy, we hype it up but most people fail first time because of sheer lack of preparedness and nerves see off the rest. Good. A licence should only come on merit, but a lot of people think once they hit 17, they are entitled to one.
Just think, the two featured are relatively fresh from the education system, they have learned to learn things and this was the result? They must have scraped through the test and done their damndest to forget most of it for the programme.

shaun_from_Africa

Cornucopia wrote: »

whilst the drivers aren't told the actual purpose of this, they would have to be somewhat gullible not to be on their best driving behaviour whilst being filmed.

Probably not gullible in the least simply caught up in the TV "celebrity" culture that seems to be the norm nowadays.
When you see benefit cheats and scroungers being given page after page of attention in some tabloids and magazines and getting paid for these articles, it's not too much of a stretch to think that this is exactly what some of these youngsters featured in BLD are hoping for.
I wonder how long it will be before one of these drivers gets a slot in one of the "I'm a celebrity" programs.

Cornucopia

I'm not a driving instructor, but I'm reasonably sure I could teach young people my fool-proof driving style. Some of what makes a safe, mature driver is obviously experience, but the basics are about understanding the dynamics and limitations of the road environment.

For anyone who's interested, episode 3 is available here:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b044w3ky/barely-legal-drivers-series-2-3-renaldo-and-zahra

(expires 16/6/2014)

Mankysteve

maninthestreet wrote: »

The show last night - how did that girl pass her driving test in the first place? She had no idea how to use the clutch! You don't forget things like that once you've passed the driving test.

I think you underestimate how thick some people can be. Our driving test while not the most riguours is one of the higher ones in the developed world. All these people past the test which I think involves driving to a very high standard its just that these morons decide to drive like that.

I Just wish that when they do mess up it was only themselfs/daft mates who egg the on they hurt\kill, but unfortunately its not.


How to deal with these idiots I'm not really sure maybe make its easier to take away people lincencies/ harsher penalties.

Maybe its part of there privileged upbringing all the kids on this show are all from rich parents. I bet not one of them has to had to work to afford lessons/insurance/car.

Cornucopia

Coincidentally I saw in the paper today that 1 in 8 KSI accidents involve a teenaged driver.

Norman_Castle

Barely Legal Drivers Is a show for wannabe celebrity, attention seekers who failed to get on Big Brother. Do yourself a favour. Switch over.

As for the driving test being easy, it should be emphasised after passing that its just the first step of learning to drive. P plates for the first year of driving, not just holding a full license, might help.