100h driver training

[dkmech]

Listened to the proposals on the news: among them compulsory minimum limit of 100 hours of driving lessons (1.5-2k ). I was thinking more along the lines of a day at an autodrome (kinda like the basic training for bikers), where people get taught a little in a skid car or two with say a course laid out with a few traps and the skidding simulating black ice and the like. And after the lesson is over and they are driving back to the car park have a cheeky last slide towards some foam bollards without warning them about it. Just to show that unexpected stuff happens. Would be a good place to have a well designed little lecture and a few videos and maybe a bit of a theory test between driving the skid car.

Even if this costs a 100 quid and takes the best part of a day it'll be a valuable lesson and should show how unpredictable things can be on the road. £100 is still better than £1.5k for extra lessons.

[Howard]

Bloody nora... 100 hours

Mind you now that I've been driving for two years I can say that I don't care It'll cut down on the amount of accidents caused by inexperience, put a stop to these silly intensive courses and hopefully lower the number of annoying 17 year old chavs for a while

Skidpan training would also be very valuable... I'd like to sometime, I wouldn't be able to say for certainty that I'd be able to control my car as well as the more experienced drivers among us should something unforseen occur

[mart_haj86]

I agree it can help to cut down on in-experienced drivers causing accidents but it is really going to be a complete PITA for young people (like meself) who arent chavs that simply want to get better jobs in life and go further in their careers.

[shelley bda]

That's just one of many ideas that they are toying with implementing, I thought that learning age could be 16 along with 100 hours driving? and also they are talking about not being able to take the test until your 21.

[dave87]

Indeed, it appears amongst other things considered, Brake (the misguided road safety organistation) is suggesting, are mad cap ideas to limit the number of 'young' drivers on the road.

Thing is though, it will lead to 2 possible outcomes:

1. Larger proportion of the youth go 'sod it' no license, no insurance, no tax = higher accidents due to no proper training. Other side effect is sensible drivers (like the more intellectual types, capable of understanding consequences...) are punished for the percieved actions of a minority of young drivers.

2. Other option is we all bend over and take it, people are less mature at 21 as a result of having their childhood extended, and we see the same phenomenon just affecting older people.


This set of ill thoughtout plans is just a sample of the amount of rubbish coming from organisations like these. Just because they have lost from an accident, doesn't mean the rest of the country should have to suffer too.

Dave

[shelley bda]

Exactly!

Imho I think they should be putting energy into these idiots who drive illegally, and these daft ideas will only encourage this like you say, but I suppose it's easier to target the young drivers.

[Shad]

The simple fact is though that new drivers do not have enough compulsory training. Not enough (or in some cases, any) night time driving, no high speed driving (i.e. motorway), and no accident avoidance training. If young people are forced to sit through 100 hours of normal lessons, I don't think the situation would improve as much as it could...

[Agent]

Other option is we all bend over and take it, people are less mature at 21 as a result of having their childhood extended, and we see the same phenomenon just affecting older people.

Depends on the person though surely ?
I wouldnt say I was an less mature at 19 than I am now at 21, almost 22.
Then again, I know plenty of 21+ year olds who should never be on the road.

[BUFF]

Best thing I ever did driving wise was to get my HGV licence & if I had my way everybody else would have to do it too (mind you I was actually paid to do mine so it wasn't too onerous ).
I learned to read the road further ahead & consequently anticipate better - I frequently notice that I've spotted & reacted to something before people several cars ahead have.

[Agent]

Best thing I ever did driving wise was to get my HGV licence.....
I learned to read the road further ahead & consequently anticipate better - I frequently notice that I've spotted & reacted to something before people several cars ahead have.

Or a learn them to ride a bike

[dave87]

Depends on the person though surely ?
I wouldnt say I was an less mature at 19 than I am now at 21, almost 22.
Then again, I know plenty of 21+ year olds who should never be on the road.

What I'm saying is that there will be a culture shift - those amongst society who would turn into boy racers at 17 would instead do it a 21 - because that is when they get the chance to...

[Butcher]

The simple fact is though that new drivers do not have enough compulsory training. Not enough (or in some cases, any) night time driving, no high speed driving (i.e. motorway), and no accident avoidance training. If young people are forced to sit through 100 hours of normal lessons, I don't think the situation would improve as much as it could...

Very true, I had never driven at night before passing my test (learning in the summer makes it awkward), and the only high speed stuff was a few bits of dual carriageway driving.

[Theo]

Making Pass+ lessons a compulsory part of learning to drive would be a start. That involves poor weather driving, inner-cities, motorways and night driving, if I remember correctly.


I paid for these additional lessons before I took my test, and I'm really quite glad that I did. We're in the UK - poor weather, lot's of cities, motorways connecting cities.. and errr.. there isn't an 8pm curfew (yet!).

[Gerrard]

I was quite fortunate that my Dad was a driving instructor, so managed to get a fair amount of experience with driving at night, poor weather and dual carriageways before my tests.

Personally, I had no trouble with motorways at all. I think inner city driving is far more difficult, mainly with increased traffic and getting into the correct lanes. Having lived in Southampton for 4 years, it's a nightmare if you have no knowledge of the area. You usually have to get into the correct lane about a mile and several junctions before your turing off (it's all mainly traffic lights in the city centre).

[chrestomanci]

That's just one of many ideas that they are toying with implementing, I thought that learning age could be 16 along with 100 hours driving? and also they are talking about not being able to take the test until your 21.

Thats basicaly the system in France. Young people can start learning at 16, but cannot have a licence to drive on their own till they are 18.

At 16 (or whenever) a young driver has to have a minimum of 20 hours lessons with a driving school. Once the school thinks they are safe, they then have 2 years driving with their parents, and must log a minimum of 3000 Km in that time. Then when they are 18 they go back to the drving school who test them again (check they have not picked up any bad habiits) and give them a licence.

I beleve there is also a direct access system for new drivers over 18, but all drivers must observe a lower speed limit for their first year after they pass.

[Howard]

I was quite fortunate that my Dad was a driving instructor, so managed to get a fair amount of experience with driving at night, poor weather and dual carriageways before my tests.

Personally, I had no trouble with motorways at all. I think inner city driving is far more difficult, mainly with increased traffic and getting into the correct lanes. Having lived in Southampton for 4 years, it's a nightmare if you have no knowledge of the area. You usually have to get into the correct lane about a mile and several junctions before your turing off (it's all mainly traffic lights in the city centre).

That's the only thing that irritates me when I don't know where I'm going and I'm trying to follow my GPS and watch the road at the same time, trying not to cut people up