General Chat

You'd like it where I live, Kim.

New drivers -- no matter how old they are, btw -- are subject to a load of restrictions for the first two years.

For starters, zero alcohol, not the usual .08 limit.

There are restrictions to daylight hours, restrictions on the number of passengers ... I can't remember them all, but they're designed to keep young drivers' minds on the road, and off the road in situations where there are risks.

(Er, that's keep the young drivers off the road in risk situations ... not keep their minds off the road ...)

From what I've heard, they work. "Accidents" involving new young drivers are down.

I recommend it. Go lobby somebody!

Dear Grannie,
I have drove motorcycles all my life......but even I have been knocked off....once... In Italy by a drunken driver who did a U-turn in front of me and hubby,,, (he was driving).
We have only just bought our kids a car each, but they are 22 and 25, it was to help them out after Uni. but they paid for their lessons themselves and it was a ex-police instructor who gave them lessons,
when they were young, I also taught them road signs, rules etc, so they had a slight advantage.
Having said that, I have sat beside them both, and I am amazed how they get intimidated by other young drivers.... trying to get them to challenge them....


ha ha When someone winds me up, I admit I act like a old maid and slow down... they just pass and go their way.........

I think that's a very good idea Newby Kim - but don't quite know how it would be monitored - unless it was literally from the start. i.e. a ''certain'' level of licence be issued on passing the test, which would have to be exchanged after 12 months for the next (final) licence........ the logistics and paperwork would, I reckon, make this a no-no..... and certainly we don't have enough police to do things like catching criminals, let alone checking on these inexperienced drivers.

But certainly something needs to be done.

Whilst we continue to use the sort of licence that get's hidden away in wallets/pockets etc. catching ''offenders'' will be difficult - so why not have something that has to be displayed on the front AND back windscreens? That way (barring fraudulent licences) all other road-users could see it at a glance.

Far better perhaps to make the practical Driving test much harder - some time on a Motorway in rush hour, a half hour on a Skid-pan and so on........ but the cost of getting a licence would probably be prohibitive, and there'd be moans and groans from youngsters who would say they couldn't afford it - and, as you say, the rich Daddy would pay up.

I have very strong feelings about the cc of new driver's first cars.

I do believe they should be limited. We know of so many youngsters who have been killed here who had a high performance car of their own, had modified their own car or borrowed their parents car.

It has been heartbreaking when my children have lost youngsters they were at school with. How their own families cope I cannot imagine.

My son had an accident when road conditions were poor. No one else involved, he hit a low bridge.Whilst he was in casualty we asked the police officer who attended to speak with him and basically frighten the cr*p out of him, which he did. Having told son that he could be telling us that he had been killed really shook him up.

Sue x

Ahh well I,m a white van driver ... people who hesitate at roundabouts ,, start , stop , start ... are a nightmare .. people driving at 30mph in a 60 are dangerous... people who think they are driving a tank not a Clio when they have to pass between 2 parked cars ...ARGHHHH..
And people who have spent over 20 grand on their motor but don,t realise indicators where included ......
:))))))))))
Kim xx

I have always been complimented on my driving, and I put it down to being a motorcyclist first.....
years ago they used to say that motorcyclist made better car drivers, when I used to instruct, I used to say, and I still do
''treat every other person on the road like an idiot, never take for granted that they can drive as good as yourself.'' .

Not speaking for every other 17 yr old driver but my daughter passed her driving test at 17.We are not rich but bought and insured a Punto grande 1200 cc for her 18th birthday.She does not go mad and is aware of all other road users.She did ask for a scooter but we said no as to the same reason as what you are saying.Car drivers.My husband has had 2 motorbike accidents both not his fault but by older drivers. Annie

Sometimes we have to show some patience,
I drive very differently when I have my mom on board for example, she is 80 and has a very nervous, and just recovered from life saving cancer operation,so although I dont go too slow, I do have to drive slower on motorways, and A roads, than I would normally,so there is always someone it annoys, and they drive on my bumper,

last year I transported my daughters three tier cake 12 miles down a very busy, then winding country lane.....I was 'pooping' myself incase I had to brake hard, and I know it wound a few other drivers up.
I did not cause a hazard, but other road users showed no respect, even though my car was decorated to the hilt with ribbons and flowers....

I agree Tw .. CMD what worries me is the fact that at 17 if you pass your test and Daddy is rich and happy to insure you , you can drive what the hell you like , even if Daddy isn,t rich , you are still legally able to take at least a minimum of 3 passengers in your vehicle .
In my experiece as a motorcyclist, although we are taught to be very aware of other road users , car drivers are not so well instructed ..I really think that the laws governing new motorcyclists should be adapted to encompass new car drivers ...
Kim xx

My biggest puzzle are people who drive at about 40mph down a 60mph road when there isn't another car to be seen on the horizon. They always seem to be around during the early afternoon, and usually on roads that are too winding to overtake them on.

Maybe they don't like going fast?

I agree,
as an advanced motorcyclist, and ex instructor, the motorcyclist has always been encouraged to become better road users, and rightfully so.
I think that car drivers should undergo the same example........
cmd

I think all motorists should take a test every 5 years to keep them out of bad habits while driving. Any fines, points etc are deducted from the test results. That way, bad drivers (and I see some who leave me wondering how they ever passed their driving test) will be kept off the roads should they fail their test.

At the age of 16 you can apply for a provisional licence which after a CBT enables you to ride up to a 50cc "moped " at the age of 17 its a 125 cc on the road , If you do not take your test after 2 years you have to re test your CBT .. if you pass your test you are alledgedly restricted to a 33 BHP , for 1 year although the law is loose on this and rarely applied .
At 17 you can take your car test , if you pass , as long as you can afford the insurance , you can drive anything , taking 4 passengers or more with you ..
I think that for the first year after passing a car test a similar restriction should be applied , also that for 1 year no more than 1 passenger should be allowed ..
Kim