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

CharlieRabbit01

londonTiger wrote: »

I think if you go and take you driving test far out in a rural town somewhere, anyone will pass. If there's no traffic about that takes away 90% of all the things that can cause you to fail. It's not the operation of the vehicle that new drivers fail on it's responding incorrectly to other vehicles and pedestrians that causes people to fail.

I wish my test was in a quiet town. I took my test during the school run.

The only thing I lacked was motorway experience as there were no motorways that I could reach during my lessons.

CharlieRabbit01

Norman_Castle wrote: »

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.

My instructor said you only really "learn" to drive once you've passed your test and your out on your own.

Bonniepurple

It will have been highly edited to show the worst bits. The drivers will be acting up for the cameras too. I passed my test when I was 20 and yes, I drove badly for a bit. At 33, I consider myself a reasonable driver as I have practiced by driving thousands of miles. I see poor driving on a daily basis - the slow, the speeders who brake before a speed camera, the free for all on the school run, the red light runners etc etc. I am sure that if asked, all of them would say they are "good" drivers.

The driving test is extremely hard, and it is well known that you are taught to pass the test - and then you learn to drive. How many people (myself included) would pass a test now? Does that make us all bad drivers and we should all be forced off the road?;)

Cornucopia

It sounds as though what we're getting to is a bunch of measures designed to coach young/inexperienced drivers through the education process...

- A better Driving Test, perhaps including some aspect of continuous assessment, to avoid the "lucky" pass.

- An intense period (say 3 months after passing the test) during which they must accumulate a certain number of driving hours under the direction of a mature driver.

- A second test, designed to test real driving capability, 12 months after the first.

- Periodic reassessment, including compulsory re-test after a ban.

jackieblack

wba31 wrote: »

To this day i think the driving age should be upped to 21 - or drivers under 21/in first few years of driving should be limited on engine size etc. I think limiting the times that they can drive or stopping them going on the motorway is too detrimental, especially if they work...

Less detrimental than denying them the ability to drive at all until age 21? especially if they work?

wongataa

CharlieRabbit01 wrote: »

I wish my test was in a quiet town. I took my test during the school run.

The only thing I lacked was motorway experience as there were no motorways that I could reach during my lessons.

Learner drivers are not allowed on motorways. Every new driver has no motorway experience. Learner drivers can get experience of roads similar to motorways if there are any dual carriageway A-roads near them that are basically motorway grade.

jackieblack

Cornucopia wrote: »

It sounds as though what we're getting to is a bunch of measures designed to coach young/inexperienced drivers through the education process...

I think some Driving Instructors, but not all, do just 'teach to pass the test'
But that seems to be 'the norm' these days with things like SATs, GCSEs etc as well

morganedge

londonTiger wrote: »

I think if you go and take you driving test far out in a rural town somewhere, anyone will pass.

I hope you're right!
That's my last resort that i'm currently investigating having failed lots of tests! They're too expensive and so I really need to put all of the odds in my favour, now.

sh0597

I didn't take and pass my test until the age of 20. Growing up in London I really didn't need or could afford a car as a teenager. Quite a few of the rich children had cars bought my mum and dad and would show off by driving badly. One guy bragged about driving at 60 down side roads. Another would do all his parking manoeuvres at lightning speed, until he reversed into a bollard he hadn't noticed.


I don't think a better test is the answer. All these people could drive but choose not to because being reckless is seen as cool at that age.

wba31

jackieblack wrote: »

[/B]

Less detrimental than denying them the ability to drive at all until age 21? especially if they work?

If you actually read my post i say that there should maybe be heavy restrictions on the vehicle used etc. It's just my opinion based on things ive seen.

I was (maybe still am) and intelligent young man as a teenager (I'm not a teenager anymore!), always described as mature, well respected by teachers and adults i knew, but behind the wheel of my cars for a few years after passing my test at 19 i was a compete be11end. As were my mates. not all young drivers are like this, i know, but look at the stats of teenage drivers involved in accidents? and you can only drive for 3 years MAX as a teenager! as i grew up, got a job, and properly matured i got to a point of realising the thing my hands and feet were controlling could actually kill people, or seriously harm the "lucky" ones that didnt die as a result of my stupidity.
In my opinion, for a 17 yr old to be able to pass a relatively easy test, and then be given a licence to pretty much drive any car mommy or daddy can afford to put them on is daft. I personally feel that restrictions should be put on all new drivers, irrelevant of age, or the driving age limit upped.