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

teabelly

There was an article in the Telegraph today saying that 75% of drivers would fail their test if they took it today without any training. It's not just new drivers that are the issue.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/10860567/Three-in-four-drivers-would-fail-test.html

Cornucopia

I'm reasonably confident I would pass - my driving is certainly way in advance of that exhibited on this programme.

Mobeer

Cornucopia wrote: »

I'm reasonably confident I would pass - my driving is certainly way in advance of that exhibited on this programme.

Perhaps, but what about these tricky things:
- use handbrake when doing a 3 point turn?
- put seat belt on before starting engine? (even on a cold day?)
- indicate when changing lanes, even when no one else is around?
- good lane positioning, or do you weave to avoid pot holes instead (thinking of Surrey police comments about weaving drivers vs. drunk drivers)

You might well pass, but many would not.

Stoke

Mobeer wrote: »

Perhaps, but what about these tricky things:
- use handbrake when doing a 3 point turn?
- put seat belt on before starting engine? (even on a cold day?)
- indicate when changing lanes, even when no one else is around?
- good lane positioning, or do you weave to avoid pot holes instead (thinking of Surrey police comments about weaving drivers vs. drunk drivers)

You might well pass, but many would not.

I'll quite happily admit that by the test standards I would probably fail. I don't for example check my rear mirror when changing up a gear.

However I will also happily say my driving is far superior to that shown on Barely Legal Drivers.

teabelly

If you want to know what driving to test standards entails there is a document on the gov.uk page:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-standard-for-driving-cars-and-light-vans

topdaddy_2

Stoke wrote: »

I'll quite happily admit that by the test standards I would probably fail. I don't for example check my rear mirror when changing up a gear.

However I will also happily say my driving is far superior to that shown on Barely Legal Drivers.

Why check your mirror when changing up?

Stoke

topdaddy wrote: »

Why check your mirror when changing up?

Because you're supposed to on the test.

Don't ask me why.

BeenThroughItAll

jackieblack wrote: »

Yes and "drivers under 21/in first few years of driving should be limited on engine size etc." I completely agree with

I agree that limiting the size vehicle a new driver can drive would be a good thing (as is the case with motorbikes), but in reality from what I've seen/heard from friends, the cost of insurance means most of her peers are driving small engine cars through financial necessity (if not through choice)

Limits on engine size/power are totally useless, however. Manufacturers can build 1.0 engines (like Ford are doing for the new Mondeo) which can easily develop 100-150BHP or more. Hell, I ride motorcycles with 1000cc engines developing close to 200BHP.


Power restrictions don't work either. My mate's Caterham only has 105BHP, not much by modern standards, but only weighs 640KG so it's perfectly capable of out-accelerating many other vehicles.


Power to weight ratio restrictions might work, or performance restrictions, but at the end of the day these will only be effective if they're policed; anyone familiar with motorcycling will know all about the 33BHP 'restriction' and how often it is bypassed; but I'm not aware of anyone in my considerable biking network who's ever been prosecuted for de-restricting a bike.


The answer is better quality teaching and continuous learning.

Sharon87

Just watching the third episode.

The twin girl maybe clueless but that car is a nightmare to drive! I had trouble with the clutch on that same car. I also saw it was a rental (Enterprise logo on back of car) so that's probably why she stalled it a lot! I stalled the car a couple of times on my first journey in that car lol and I've driven about 4/5 different types of car and that was the only one I had a problem with.

BeenThroughItAll

Mobeer wrote: »

Perhaps, but what about these tricky things:
- use handbrake when doing a 3 point turn?
- put seat belt on before starting engine? (even on a cold day?)
- indicate when changing lanes, even when no one else is around?
- good lane positioning, or do you weave to avoid pot holes instead (thinking of Surrey police comments about weaving drivers vs. drunk drivers)

You might well pass, but many would not.

I was always taught, and practice on the basis that one should indicate only when to do so is providing valuable information to another road user, and that if no one is around it is not compulsory.