Jeremy Vine calls for drivers to be banned from overtaking cyclists in cities

[ebikeerwidnes]

In my opinion all driver should take an advanced driving course within a few years of starting to drive

There is just so much you don;t know/have no experience of when you start

 

[Electric_Andy]

advanced driving course

Not a bad idea, but the advanced bit should really be covered in a normal test. The test format hasn't really changed in line with the number of cars and number of idiots on the road

 

[simongt]

When I learned to drive, as we lived in Norfolk, there wasn't a hope in hell of getting any motorway experience, so I had to suss it out myself.

 

[Time Waster]

They've certainly added more stuff to the test after I passed. I didn't even have to learn parallel parking. They've been increasing what's needed in the driving test for years since I passed. AFAIK They've made some adjustment for modern driving since I passed 34 years or so ago. My theory test was 3 road signs and two questions. And the guy testing me gave me a 4th sign because I got one wrong and he said I'd probably never see that sign anyway. Imho you had to be bad to fail back then.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

When I learned to drive, as we lived in Norfolk, there wasn't a hope in hell of getting any motorway experience, so I had to suss it out myself.

No one did, as learner drivers are not allowed on motorways.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

When I learned to drive, as we lived in Norfolk, there wasn't a hope in hell of getting any motorway experience, so I had to suss it out myself.

Still applies in some areas where there are no big roads

not as many was there used to be - but enough that they can;t really be a mandatory part of the test

 

[Bristolian]

Not a bad idea, but the advanced bit should really be covered in a normal test. The test format hasn't really changed in line with the number of cars and number of idiots on the road

This has been discussed several times within the advance driving world and I was once part of an opinion panel that looked into the subject. At that time DfT view was that learners have a tough enough time getting to grips with general vehicle handling and the rules of the road without overwhelming them with advanced techniques too. Their view was that a newly qualified driver needs time (at least two years) to finesse the basic skills they learned for the L-test and experience real world driving before taking on any additional driving tuition. Initially I disagreed but over time I have changed my position and now think they might be right; but a newly qualified driver can do a lot of damage in a couple of years.

Unfortunately, any thought of making further driving tuition a requirement was squashed by the government at the time as it would have brought in graduated driving licenses by the back door, which they thought would be a vote loser.

 

[derrick]

Isn't the Mayor of London basically doing that?

Only the poor ones.

 

[Happy_Days]

@Bristolian While nobody wants to overwhelm new drivers, it’s nuts that some of the most important skills are omitted from the L-test.

Also, what’s wrong with a graduated driving license approach? It’s not necessarily a vote loser—some might welcome it.

 

[Electric_Andy]

@Bristolian While nobody wants to overwhelm new drivers, it’s nuts that some of the most important skills are omitted from the L-test.

Also, what’s wrong with a graduated driving license approach? It’s not necessarily a vote loser—some might welcome it.

A lot would see it as "nanny state". As with most things, the sensible ones would welcome it but the ones against it would probably be the ones who would benefit from it most

 

[Alex321]

@Bristolian While nobody wants to overwhelm new drivers, it’s nuts that some of the most important skills are omitted from the L-test.

It is, although the UK test is already one of the toughest around

And while we all of us see a lot of bad driving, our road safety record, in terms of KSI per billion passenger miles is one of the best around.

I still think it could include more, and of course being one of the best doesn't mean we are anywhere near perfect.

Also, what’s wrong with a graduated driving license approach? It’s not necessarily a vote loser—some might welcome it.

Some undoubtedly would welcome it. Their market research showed the a majority wouldn't. It was going to be enough of a vote loser to not be something they were willing to put in their mandate.

 

[Bristolian]

@Bristolian While nobody wants to overwhelm new drivers, it’s nuts that some of the most important skills are omitted from the L-test.

Also, what’s wrong with a graduated driving license approach? It’s not necessarily a vote loser—some might welcome it.

What, precisely, do you think is omitted from the L-test?

Personally I see nothing wrong with graduated licenses. We already have it for motorcycle riders and (sort of) for LGV drivers but there are not enough of them to make a difference to a general election ... car drivers on the other hand? Politicians are unlikely to ever gamble on the outcome.

 

[Mr Celine]

Still applies in some areas where there are no big roads

not as many was there used to be - but enough that they can;t really be a mandatory part of the test

There's a test centre in town.

The nearest cycle lane is 18 miles away. There is one set of traffic lights but these don't include a right turn against oncoming traffic. The nearest one of those is 25 miles away.
The nearest dual carriageway is 30 miles away, the nearest railway level crossing 35 miles away and the nearest motorway 40 miles away.
There's a lot more than just motorways that new drivers have to work out for themselves.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I learned to drive in a quiet market town in 1980. There was a nearby dual carriageway, which had a junction (complete with roundabout) that gave access to the town but apart from that it was just a collection of quiet roads with nothing at all challenging (unless you tried to drive into town on a market day, when it was jammed). Add to that the fact that I passed first time after relatively few lessons and then never drive regularly, meant that I felt it necessary to treat myself to a course of lessons before I bought my first car in London some 15 or so years later.

 

[simongt]

Also, what’s wrong with a graduated driving license approach? It’s not necessarily a vote loser—some might welcome it.

I understand that France has or had a system where newly qualified drivers had to display 'P' ( for probationer ) plates for a year after passing their test, regardless of age and were limited to certain speed restrictions.
Seemed a very sensible system.