Speed Awareness Courses should be mandatory for new drivers

Ergates

The problem isn't that young/new drivers *don't know* how to drive safely within the limits, it's that they choose not to.

Because they're idiots. They're the perfect storm of: Lack of experience; huge overestimation of their own driving skills; youthful feeling of invulnerability; need to show off to their mates; unwillingness to consider the consequences of their actions.

Young people show all (or most) of these attributes in everything they do, but it's behind the wheel that they're most dangerous.

fred246

It must be possible to analyze Google's data and find many drivers who are a complete menace to society and should be locked up for the safety of others. Getting these people off the road should be seen as a higher priority than data protection. For the time being they will keep on killing. The future will bring mandatory black boxes for all vehicles. We are making a start.

Norman_Castle

JackeeBoy wrote: »

I have been driving for 6 years and consider myself a relatively decent driver. However, It was not only until 3 or so years ago I found out that undertaking is not legal and it's not just the lane furthest right that is used for overtaking. During my lessons, you were taught how to drive but there were a lot of basic stuff which were left out.

Driving lessons teach how to pass a test. The driving test is a measure of reaching a basic level of competence. Once passed drivers are expected to improve but a combination of a lack of interest and no assessment other than feedback from other drivers, which is often rude, wrong and disputed means many drivers are just winging it.
I think compulsory P plates for a year and a second written assessment forcing drivers with a years experience to re read The Highway Code where it is likely to make more sense with experience would help.

Many drivers are selfish, self obsessed idiots of varying degrees who don't understand or care how unwelcome their poor driving is.

A few weeks ago I left a friends at about 7.30 on a Saturday evening. I had to turn right from a car park onto Kings Heath high street. Looked right and the traffic was stopped at a pedestrian crossing 80 meters away so I pulled out to the white centre line waiting to join the traffic going that way. While waiting for a gap a car left the crossing, drove at speed towards me then stopped abruptly and very close, clearly angry and sulking at having to stop. Shortly afterwards a car stopped letting me join the traffic, as I joined Mr Angry decided to spit at me just because he'd had to stop and wait a few seconds on an already busy high street. I enjoy driving but don't want to have to deal with other drivers dumb behaviour. A large part of me looks forward to when everyone is just a passenger in a vehicle rather than being given the responsibility of driving.

Car_54

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Driving lessons teach how to pass a test. The driving test is a measure of reaching a basic level of competence. Once passed drivers are expected to improve but a combination of a lack of interest and no assessment other than feedback from other drivers, which is often rude, wrong and disputed means many drivers are just winging it.
I think compulsory P plates for a year and a second written assessment forcing drivers with a years experience to re read The Highway Code where it is likely to make more sense with experience would help.

Many drivers are selfish, self obsessed idiots of varying degrees who don't understand or care how unwelcome their poor driving is.

A few weeks ago I left a friends at about 7.30 on a Saturday evening. I had to turn right from a car park onto Kings Heath high street. Looked right and the traffic was stopped at a pedestrian crossing 80 meters away so I pulled out to the white centre line waiting to join the traffic going that way. While waiting for a gap a car left the crossing, drove at speed towards me then stopped abruptly and very close, clearly angry and sulking at having to stop. Shortly afterwards a car stopped letting me join the traffic, as I joined Mr Angry decided to spit at me just because he'd had to stop and wait a few seconds on an already busy high street. I enjoy driving but don't want to have to deal with other drivers dumb behaviour. A large part of me looks forward to when everyone is just a passenger in a vehicle rather than being given the responsibility of driving.

But where in your lessons or the HC did you learn that it was OK to pull out to the centre line?

lopsyfa

Norman_Castle wrote: »

Driving lessons teach how to pass a test. The driving test is a measure of reaching a basic level of competence. Once passed drivers are expected to improve but a combination of a lack of interest and no assessment other than feedback from other drivers, which is often rude, wrong and disputed means many drivers are just winging it.
I think compulsory P plates for a year and a second written assessment forcing drivers with a years experience to re read The Highway Code where it is likely to make more sense with experience would help.

In my opinion (no data to back it up), majority of drivers are best after just passing the test - they obey the speed limits and all rules in the highway code. But their driving usually gets worse as they become more confident and choose to ignore (or forget) all the rules they learn to pass the driving test.

Ergates

:T

lopsyfa wrote: »

In my opinion (no data to back it up), majority of drivers are best after just passing the test - they obey the speed limits and all rules in the highway code. But their driving usually gets worse as they become more confident and choose to ignore (or forget) all the rules they learn to pass the driving test.

There is a *vast* amount of evidence that suggests your opinion is very wrong.

prowla

Speeds, stopping distances, etc. are part of the driving test.

Norman_Castle

Car_54 wrote: »

But where in your lessons or the HC did you learn that it was OK to pull out to the centre line?

I learnt it from decades of experience driving on busy, congested roads. Its called cooperation which is needed at times by all drivers.

Norman_Castle

lopsyfa wrote: »

In my opinion (no data to back it up), majority of drivers are best after just passing the test - they obey the speed limits and all rules in the highway code. But their driving usually gets worse as they become more confident and choose to ignore (or forget) all the rules they learn to pass the driving test.

The cost of insurance for new drivers is based on data.
Driving is far more complex than following rules and driving as you were taught to pass a test.
10 years ago a young friend was convinced he was a better driver than everyone because he had just passed and others had passed years ago. Now, 10 years later its unlikely he would consider himself a worse driver than someone who passed today.

N9eav

Any extra tuition in driving is highly beneficial. Many years ago I took the 3 week police driving course ( my job back then) I learned a huge amount and I had been driving for 15 years. I was surprised how tiring driving can be when you concentrate the entire time.
If nothing else.. Always think, can I stop in the distance I can see to be clear? You will think twice about going fast around bends assuming that nothing should be in your lane.