NEW car test and Speed limits

[martine]

Welcome Nettie!

Any ideas why the government don't think of restricting engine size of car a new driver can drive for the first year or 2 of passing their test - much like someone who passes a bike riding test on a 125cc machine? Seems sensible to me to limit power output of car for a new driver who currently can drive anything from a small car like a KA to a porsche 911 or worse still transit van!!!!

It was one of the ideas being considered with the DSA learning to drive review...not sure of current thinking though.

For someone like myself who is currently training to be an ADI I am finding some of the material a little illogical shall we say - I do like the idea of the pupil being told for example take me from point A to point B and not instructing on route as this is how real driving happens and will bring in the whole aspect of having to navigate and read road signs whilst driving the car! Planning and Observation being the key!

I don't understand how this will work in practice. Currently all the Learner test routes are published. I imagine all the 'navigate to point of interest' will be published as well. Even if they're not, won't a local have a huge advantage over someone who isn't? I like the idea but perhaps it would be better to get an ADI to sign off some specific areas of experience before taking the test.

How about an ADI checking:
* navigation in 'strange' area using road signs
* motorway
* high-speed (> 30mph) stops

To name a few?

[jont]

* navigation in 'strange' area using road signs

How many of us have failed that one on ADUK days?

[MGF]

I don't think the proposed test is one of navigation per se but whether or not a driver can maintain standards of driving whilst doing it.

[TripleS]

....for those who treat the limit on NSL's differently from red ring limits, a blanket reduction in the NSL might have been preferable!!

Yes, quite so.

In view of the increasing use of 'buffers zones' - for example a 200/300 yard stretch of 40 mph limit (that used to be NSL) before you arrive at the perfectly reasonable 30 mph limit for a village - I'm now disregarding some of the red ring limits in these buffer zones. I still respect 30 limits in towns and villages, but buffer zones are not a legitimate use of red ring limits IMHO.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[TripleS]

One of the consultation questions is: "Do you agree that our vision for road safety should be to have the safest roads in the world?"

I do not agree. If I did, I might instantly recommend banning recreational motorcycling. I think the vision should be to reasonably balance safety with the interests of an efficient transport system and of the enjoyment of recreational road users.

I don't mind them wanting the safest roads in the world, but there's a limit to the price I'm prepared to pay to have them - and the price is already too high.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[TripleS]

One interesting point which I learned from the consultation document is that ESP systems are to be required to be fitted to all new cars throughout the EU 'progressively from 2011'. This I welcome.

....and at this point our agreement becomes less certain.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[TripleS]

One interesting point which I learned from the consultation document is that ESP systems are to be required to be fitted to all new cars throughout the EU 'progressively from 2011'. This I welcome.

Doesn't this undermine driver responsibility?

I think it may have that effect with some people.

ESP: a system for reducing your risk of a shunt, but ensuring that those you do have will be nastier than they might otherwise have been.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[martine]

ESP: a system for reducing your risk of a shunt, but ensuring that those you do have will be nastier than they might otherwise have been.

Explain?

[waremark]

Any ideas why the government don't think of restricting engine size of car a new driver can drive for the first year or 2 of passing their test - much like someone who passes a bike riding test on a 125cc machine? Seems sensible to me to limit power output of car for a new driver who currently can drive anything from a small car like a KA to a porsche 911 or worse still transit van.

I am against that sort of rule. The insurance system effectively controls what cars young people can drive. I think it would be a pity to prevent youngsters getting experience in the family car. The number of young footballers able to run fast cars is minute, and I am not aware of a record of them killing either themselves or others. Every car on the market is quite fast enough to be a dangerous weapon if misused with more expensive ones having better safety systems. And actually I think low powered cars are in many ways more difficult to drive than more powerful ones.

Personally I would prefer to see my offspring in a 1.6 Focus rather than in the smaller lower powered car without ESP which insurance dictates.

[MGF]

The insurance system effectively controls what cars young people can drive. I think it would be a pity to prevent youngsters getting experience in the family car.

If the insurance system effectively controls what cars young people drive then how do they get experience of driving the family car?

[daz6215]

What happens when they drive on someone else's insurance then? How does the insurance control that?

[Gareth]

If the insurance system effectively controls what cars young people drive then how do they get experience of driving the family car?

By someone being willing to pay for it? The control is more obvious when it is the young driver that has to pay for the insurance, (assuming it is a typical young driver that has the typical lack of wealth).

[MGF]

If the insurance system effectively controls what cars young people drive then how do they get experience of driving the family car?

By someone being willing to pay for it? The control is more obvious when it is the young driver that has to pay for the insurance, (assuming it is a typical young driver that has the typical lack of wealth).

So the insurance system doesn't effectively control what cars young people drive. Parents do. I remember a 19 year old being quoted £3000 to insure an Escort RS Turbo nearly twenty years ago. Father insured it with him as a named driver.

[jont]

There are also situations where youngsters might be covered on company insurance and have access to high performance cars. On my gap year after my A-levels I had contemporaries given access to 3l Alfa's and the like - there was at least one serious accident which resulted in their employer reviewing the policy. Aged 17 I was working for Dad's company and would have been insured to drive his Rover 620 turbo. Sadly he wouldn't let me near it

[Gareth]

By someone being willing to pay for it? The control is more obvious when it is the young driver that has to pay for the insurance, (assuming it is a typical young driver that has the typical lack of wealth).

So the insurance system doesn't effectively control what cars young people drive. Parents do. I remember a 19 year old being quoted £3000 to insure an Escort RS Turbo nearly twenty years ago. Father insured it with him as a named driver.

That's a rather absolutist point of view, effectively ignoring how the situation is for most young drivers. Are you really saying that because a small minority have direct or indirect access to sufficient wealth then the general point is of no value?