Young drivers could face a two-year ban on driving at night under a radical overhaul of the driving test system being proposed to cut road deaths.

 

The shake-up would force teenagers to wait an extra year - until they are 18 - before taking their test.

And if they pass, they will then be subject to the two-year night-driving curfew and be restricted to carrying no more than one passenger.

 

The restrictions would be lifted only if they passed a second test at the age of 20, effectively making them learner drivers for up to three years.

 

The ideas are being put forward by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA), which sets the driving test, to try to halt an increase in the number of fatal crashes involving drivers aged between 17 and 20.

 

In 2005 there were 542 fatalities in such crashes and statistics show that young drivers are significantly more likely to have an accident after dark and when they have a car full of friends.

 

But some driving campaigners say the proposals are so draconian they will be counterproductive -encouraging more teenagers to drive illegally, especially as the cost of getting a licence would soar from about £1,000 to £3,000, largely because of the extra lessons involved.

 

I agree with some of that but upgrading the standard driving test would be more preferable for me.

 

It is ridiculous for instance that a 17 year old can pass his test then take his dad's Ferrari out on a motorway for instance, I think motorway competence should be bought in before a full licence is issued and also skid pan training, young drivers have no idea how to control a car in the wet for instance and they should not be let out on the road till they do.

 

I would change the test to the following

 

Theory - the current test

 

Practical 1 - the current test

 

Practical 2 - after they have passed Practical 1 they have to be instructed in motorway and skid pan driving then pass the Practical 2 test before full licence given

 

Also newly passed drivers should have a plate on their cars that shows the other drivers they are newly qualified and also be restricted to cars under 1100cc for the first 2 years of their driving life

I agree with most of it apart from the fact that it'll cost more. However I don't want to drive so it won't affect me.

GREAT NEWS... less boy racers on the roads...

 

one thing, though... I think a re-test should be compulsory for all over-65s.... THEY are the road menaces these days.

GREAT NEWS... less boy racers on the roads...

 

one thing, though... I think a re-test should be compulsory for all over-65s.... THEY are the road menaces these days.

 

Agree on both points.. A lot of people seem to forget that OAP drivers whose eye-sight and reaction times are failing can be as much of a menace on the roads as the 'boy racers'...

 

True Russ, pensioners are a damn pain on the road, only today I had to wait ages to find a safe place to overtake some little old man in a Rover who was doing under 20 in a 30 in perfect weather conditions, flashing lights on full beam and tooting made not a blind bit of difference as he was probably deaf too. When I finally overtook I saw he was about 85-90 and his head barely over the steering wheel, wtf is he doing on the road ?? his type are more dangerous than a chav in a Nova

eurgh how awful <_< -_-

i dont mind doing extra tests or learning for a bit longer but waiting until 20 is ridiculous -_-

it's not just their infirmities, though...it's the style of driving that's changed dramatically these past 10 or 15 years.... I only passed my test 2 years ago, with a 15 year gap between tests...and taking the 2nd test was totally different - not just the paperwork and theory... the actual driving.

 

I was nearly killed (on a pedestrian crossing!) by an elderly lady in Bristol a few years ago.... she hadn't even seen me crossing! Luckily, my reaction was quick and I jumped backwards... if I'd have been a kid, she'd have killed me. She stopped just down the road, oblivious to what she'd done, but got the fright of her life when I ran up to the car and started banging her window screaming blue murder at her.... :D

it's not just their infirmities, though...it's the style of driving that's changed dramatically these past 10 or 15 years.... I only passed my test 2 years ago, with a 15 year gap between tests...and taking the 2nd test was totally different - not just the paperwork and theory... the actual driving.

 

I was nearly killed (on a pedestrian crossing!) by an elderly lady in Bristol a few years ago.... she hadn't even seen me crossing! Luckily, my reaction was quick and I jumped backwards... if I'd have been a kid, she'd have killed me. She stopped just down the road, oblivious to what she'd done, but got the fright of her life when I ran up to the car and started banging her window screaming blue murder at her.... :D

 

lol bet she did :lol: yeah I have a lot of respect for elderly people but I think that there needs to be test taken by them every 5 years from 65, I don't think retesting at 65 goes far enough tbh as physical and mental decline is quite sharp in later years and someone of 65 is still usually pretty on the ball and would probably pass at 65 so I would test at 65, 70, 75, 80 and so on, every 5 years till the person dies.

 

I know that sounds ageist lol but elderly drivers really are by and large a menace

but if there is a night driving curfew how many crashes will there be because of people speeding home so they don't get into trouble with the authorites for driving in the dark!

But some driving campaigners say the proposals are so draconian they will be counterproductive -encouraging more teenagers to drive illegally, especially as the cost of getting a licence would soar from about £1,000 to £3,000, largely because of the extra lessons involved.

What is reason for more lessons?

 

Agree on both points.. A lot of people seem to forget that OAP drivers whose eye-sight and reaction times are failing can be as much of a menace on the roads as the 'boy racers'...

 

Rubbish. Most car accidents involve males between 18 and 25 - see http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/youngdrivers.pdf. Yes, old people do have worse eyesight, granted, but they drive a lot less and often much more carefully. Simple facts show the worst drivers are the youngest. Rather than retest the elderly, they should retest drivers every year for the first five years of their licence, that would make them more attentive and hammer home the safety points.

Rubbish. Most car accidents involve males between 18 and 25 - see http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/info/youngdrivers.pdf. Yes, old people do have worse eyesight, granted, but they drive a lot less and often much more carefully. Simple facts show the worst drivers are the youngest. Rather than retest the elderly, they should retest drivers every year for the first five years of their licence, that would make them more attentive and hammer home the safety points.

 

But the elderly can get forgetful as they get older, so it wouldn't exactly hurt to retest them. Could prevent an accident.

But the elderly can get forgetful as they get older, so it wouldn't exactly hurt to retest them. Could prevent an accident.

 

Yes I agree, better to be safe than sorry

 

Things need to be done about the chavs on the road but elderly drivers need to be clamed down upon too

 

I think it's a good idea - the amount of "boy racers" in my 6th form is unreal - I don't know of one of them that hasn't had an accident. :lol:

 

And as I'm not planning on driving for a while yet (and I'm 18 already), I don't mind the change because I won't have to wait :D

Good. Far too much congestion on the roads and the majority of 17-19 yos don't NEED a car. Agree with the OAP front too...

but if there is a night driving curfew how many crashes will there be because of people speeding home so they don't get into trouble with the authorites for driving in the dark!

Good point there! :unsure: However I still agree with all this plus Russ' point about over 65's.

Its all ridiculous. that would be stupid to have to do two tests and have a curfew.

 

i disagree

This is ridculous! Basically they are making us wait till we are 20 years old till we can fully get to drive on the road, whatever time, as may passengers. It is awful, and this is all done because of iditos that think they are bad when they race through streets, thinking they are bad, when in fact they are a liablilty, this is what i hate about the world today, it portrays the youths are pathetic yobs who have nothing better to do with their time. This is because they are not giving us something to do with our time. they are closing most of the youth centers (well in my area) due to lack of funding, and the only other places are clubs i.e karate, swimming etc: which is great but sometimes they just want to socialise and chill not be working to have fun. THis is not me personally, i make great use of my time... on here ;) only joking when i am not, i am out taking my dog for runs, swimming, playing football with lads on my street, i find it hard to believe they have done this. but they have been trying to do something like this now for ages i, myslef am just hoping that it doesn't go through.