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Learner took 21 tests in a year

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Jackmydad
Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite
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As the title.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49046226

You have to ask is someone who can't pass in 21 attempts should really drive at all?
«134

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  • marlot
    marlot Posts: 4,967 Forumite
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    I strongly feel that everyone should have additional training, at least every 3-4 years throughout their driving career. Not necessarily an additional test, though.



    Its scary to think that somone can pass their test at 17, and never have to do any training again in their life.


    We put our cars through an MOT every year, but most accidents are caused by the driver, not the car.
  • shaun_from_Africa
    shaun_from_Africa Posts: 12,858 Forumite
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    marlot wrote: »
    I strongly feel that everyone should have additional training, at least every 3-4 years throughout their driving career. Not necessarily an additional test, though.

    The biggest problem is that with the number of licenced drivers in the UK, there may end up being a huge waiting list for the training.

    What might be better is having to do the additional training every 10 years and that way it could be tied in with the 10 year requirement for having to update the photograph on your licence.
    I know that there are still a few people without phot licences but I'm sure that there aren't too many left.
  • Jackmydad
    Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite
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    marlot wrote: »
    I strongly feel that everyone should have additional training, at least every 3-4 years throughout their driving career. Not necessarily an additional test, though.

    Its scary to think that somone can pass their test at 17, and never have to do any training again in their life.

    We put our cars through an MOT every year, but most accidents are caused by the driver, not the car.
    I agree to the idea of assessments in principle.
    Also graduated licences similar to those for motorbikes.
  • DUTR
    DUTR Posts: 12,958 Forumite
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    Jackmydad wrote: »
    As the title.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49046226

    You have to ask is someone who can't pass in 21 attempts should really drive at all?

    What sprung to my mind is how they managed to get 21 test dates I a year?
  • Jackmydad
    Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite
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    DUTR wrote: »
    What sprung to my mind is how they managed to get 21 test dates I a year?

    Someone in the DVLA hates motorists? :D
  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 8,837 Forumite
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    The biggest problem is that with the number of licenced drivers in the UK, there may end up being a huge waiting list for the training.

    What might be better is having to do the additional training every 10 years and that way it could be tied in with the 10 year requirement for having to update the photograph on your licence.
    I know that there are still a few people without phot licences but I'm sure that there aren't too many left.
    There are about 45 million licence holders in the UK. A 10-year assessment would affect 4.5 million people, which is about three times the number of tests carried out under the current system.


    So any assessments would need a massive increase in testing capacity, and a demand for traing which possibly couldn't be met.
  • Car_54
    Car_54 Posts: 8,837 Forumite
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    Jackmydad wrote: »
    I agree to the idea of assessments in principle.
    Also graduated licences similar to those for motorbikes.
    Is there any evidence that graduated licences for bikers has improved road safety? I suspect not.
  • Jackmydad
    Jackmydad Posts: 9,186 Forumite
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    Car_54 wrote: »
    Is there any evidence that graduated licences for bikers has improved road safety? I suspect not.
    I can think of two actual cases, two people I knew, being killed by passing their test on a relatively small bike, and then buying a much larger faster bike, pretty well the fastest available at the time in both cases, and being killed within days as a result of not have the experience to handle the power.
    Long time ago, but still relevant.
    Few days ago we were in a car park and a very young driver came uncomfortably close, driving a big car, going too fast having nailed it to the floor coming along a straight bit.
    You see the same sort of thing all the time.
    Having a bit more experience and tuition before driving anything with any real performance just might slow them down a bit. To say nothing of being a bit older.
  • facade
    facade Posts: 7,588 Forumite
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    DUTR wrote: »
    What sprung to my mind is how they managed to get 21 test dates I a year?




    You only have to wait 2 weeks before you can take another, maybe they still have that system where you can get a short notice cancellation if you are prepared to travel.
    I want to go back to The Olden Days, when every single thing that I can think of was better.....

    (except air quality and Medical Science ;))
  • zagfles
    zagfles Posts: 21,426 Forumite
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    marlot wrote: »
    I strongly feel that everyone should have additional training, at least every 3-4 years throughout their driving career. Not necessarily an additional test, though.



    Its scary to think that somone can pass their test at 17, and never have to do any training again in their life.


    We put our cars through an MOT every year, but most accidents are caused by the driver, not the car.
    Why? Statistically a driver who's passed their test in the last 3-4 years is far more likely to have an accident than one who passed 20 years ago.

    Maybe this should just be reserved for those who've fogotten how to drive (or are arrogant enough to think the rules of the road don't apply to them), so instead of points on their licence, a retest.
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