I have been driving for more than 30 years, and traveled the lenth and bredth of our country as a Plant Operator. There are bad drivers out there of all ages, lane discipline and total unwareness of others apears to be gating worse by the day!!Here goes
I completely disaggree with the driving test whether it needs to be taken once or every 3-5 year. How can a system judge a persons ability to drive in just 30 minute, whether you pass your test or not, is all down to how you drive on the day, could this be the reason we see so many bad drivers on the roads?????
I have always felt that that a system were your instructor has more control over whether you are good enough to drive would be much better and it should be compulsory to take an advanced test within a set time period from initially gaining your full licence.
It's OK saying you have to retake your test every 3-5 years, but how many of YOU would be upset if this was implemented and you were unluckly and failed your test because you had a bad day, especially if it affected you employment? would you still be so supportive of it, I doubt.
Better policing and forcing bad drivers to take driver awareness courses is the way to deal with poor driving all that compulsory tests would do is create a new indirect tax for the government, stop feeding them with new ways of getting money out of us.
yes tow a caravan regularly , have done for about 15 years.Re HGV tests, how many hgv vehicles are is crashes every year, how many people towing caravans have crashes?
I feel more education on road safety and driving would be more benifical.
I am all for road safety, yes some people are not safe medically to drive but still do, also as earlier stated what about the younger age group who have far more accidents.
Finally Jon do you tow a caravan???
ps , just to add to the above , HGVs are a necessity for the obvious reasons and will do a lot more miles a year on average than any caravan + there are far more of them on the road so there will be more accidents.Re HGV tests, how many hgv vehicles are is crashes every year, how many people towing caravans have crashes?
I feel more education on road safety and driving would be more benifical.
I am all for road safety, yes some people are not safe medically to drive but still do, also as earlier stated what about the younger age group who have far more accidents.
Finally Jon do you tow a caravan???
Like you I've taken my instructors assessment and ahve been an advanced driver for many years. I go with the flow and must admit I do smile at the stressed erics we see every day.I took a driving assessment with an instructors instructor last summer, and it was very interesting to see how teaching methods have changed since passing my test in 1986 (17 years old). I do about 25K per annum(15K on business), and agree you see plonkers of all ages driving a range of vehicles. I have also had my licence taken away for 2 years due to epilepsy, yet a neighbour has had 4 heart attacks in 6 months and is free to carry on driving whenever he wants.
I'm afraid I now no longer want to race to the next traffic jam, so just set wth cruise control on motorways etc (when safe to do so) anf go with the flow at the speed limit. I am proud to admit my licence has never had points, maybe i've been very lucky, particularly as Lancashire are very keen on slowing you down, but thats another story.
we went on our first caravan trip last week and therefore took things nice and steady, what a joy it was, we stayed on the inside lane and caused no trouble and watched everyone stressed out and whizzing past at horrendous speeds !!! I unfortunately have the task of turning up at these rta,s the most recent an old chap in a busy town centre reversing into a space,pressed the accelerator instead of the brake .took out ashop and the young man walking past lost both his legs while his kid watched,Like you I've taken my instructors assessment and ahve been an advanced driver for many years. I go with the flow and must admit I do smile at the stressed erics we see every day.
I hope for your sake any re-test does not involve a written test!I have not read such cant and hipocricy for a long time the only semblence of thought on this topic comes from matthews coments
Just think of it all you briliant drivers [ so your 3 year test comes round and you know if you fail your job is on the line ,will you sleep well and wake refreshed the next morning ready to take your test ???].I THINK NOT.But just think again if you do pass you dont need to worry again for 3 years .
I agree that drivers who cause accidents should be punished ,and any driver who is banned should have to re,take the test,but to make this mandatory to all drivers is not practical.In any case this will never happen ,no political party would introduce such a bill.So direct your campaign to something positive like attending and passing caravan towing courses before you can tow on the roads .Coljac