Naked Science Forum
General Discussion & Feedback => Just Chat! => Topic started by: ukmicky on 11/02/2006 23:44:30
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A new European law is being considered where every driver will be requiring to retake their driving test every five years.
Do you agree with the proposed changes. Yes or No answers please.
If you drive for a living please state occupation[:)]
Michael
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It's a great way to create lots more employment for driving examiners, but someone is going to have to pay their salaries.
It is consistent with the ever increasing cost of bureaucracy imposed from Brussels.
Ofcourse, one can compare the regular retesting that a pilot has to undergo in comparison with the more less rigorous regime for car drivers, but flying a plane is an expensive business, and relatively few people can afford to do that unless it is a part of their career.
The other problem is, does it really address the primary problems associated with risks on the road. It is generally assumed that the greatest risk is during the first five years of driving, not with the experienced driver who has been driving for 10 or 15 years. Retesting drivers after 5, 10, 15, 20, ... years of driving experience will not address this problem. Far more sense to retest drivers each year for the first 5 years after gaining a licence than it would to wait until those 5 years have elapsed and then test them as they continue to accumulate experience in driving.
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I DONT THINK WE SHOULD TAKE A DRIVING TEST EACH YEAR,BUT REGULAR REACTION AND EYE SIGHT TESTS MIGHT NOT BE A BAD THING,HERE IN SWINDON, NO ONE SEEMS TO RECOGNISE A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT,OR IF THEY DO, THEY CANT BRAKE QUICK ENOUGH TO STOP AT IT(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff238%2Frayhinton56%2F36_1_57.gif&hash=b69379b383ce6adcfd638e522964ae73)
RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
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thanks but what happened to the yes or no answers [:)]
Michael
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Micky,
Sorry to inform you mate but your question here is factually inaccurate.
The EU is not about to force anyone into retaking the driving test every 5 years or any number of years for that matter. By your statement, it sounds like many of us may lose the priveledge of driving although some deserve to...
What is being motioned presently is laws charging all EU nations to implement driving assessments of all drivers of all categories of vehicles at 5 yearly intervals.
At your 1st assessment you may reach the standards required to continue as you have for however long you have had your licence. However, each and every one of us will have a total of 3 assessments in a one year period and we will be advised to take further training in any areas of weakness that are highlighted. We will then be reassessed to ensure that we have sufficiently improved our driving standards.
Those who either fail to or choose to take further training will have the drivers licence for the vehicle category revoked sending them straight back to L plates like they deserve.
Do I agree with the proposed changes...YES!!!
Oh, you know my occupation - don't you![:D]
WIth regards,
The Chief.
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quote:
Sorry to inform you mate but your question here is factually inaccurate.
The EU is not about to force anyone into retaking the driving test every 5 years or any number of years for that matter. By your statement, it sounds like many of us may lose the priveledge of driving although some deserve to...
What is being motioned presently is laws charging all EU nations to implement driving assessments of all drivers of all categories of vehicles at 5 yearly intervals.
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Hi chief
Inaccurate Hmmm.
OK maybe I didn’t give enough information, but that is only because it is impossible to find any detailed information regarding the proposed changes (why is that) and ok there is a slight difference between a test and an assessment but the end result is the same, after 1, 2, or 3 assessments you pass and keep your licence or fail and lose it. It’s a driving test.
It’s OK for you because you've had many thousands of pounds worth of training to standards which go far beyond what the public are required to achieve. You’re also trained to keep your cool under stressful conditions which will help with any conditions encountered whilst driving during your assessment.
To Joe public this proposed assessment is a test with two possible outcomes fail and lose your licence and possibly your job or pass.
Some people can't and don't deal with pressure very well and go to pieces when closely monitored and as a police officer you should know and understand that. That doesn’t mean however that they can't drive to the standards required under normal everyday conditions. People who don't deserve to lose there licences will lose there licences and jobs due to the stressful conditions of the test/assessment or will lose their licence's because they haven't got the balls/ nerve to go through the harrowing conditions of being assessed or tested again and that's wrong.
It’s also wrong because of the cost of the assessments/tests which a lot of people will not be able to afford and so will lose there licence. What happens if someone no longer owns a vehicle and can't afford to hire one for the day. Is it fair that non Eu residents will be able to drive here without having their driving assessed.
Also when we originally passed our test under the law we were entitled to drive without re-test or assessment right up to the day we die. Provided we remain medical fit enough and don’t break the law that is.
Everything in life has risks and common sense should be used when deciding the best ways to tackle them if they need to be tackled at all . As far as i'm concererned this proposed law lacks common sense, they need to stop harrassing us motorist and deal with the real issue's facing the world/europe.
PS Can you really imagine the queen,prince charles,tony blair or tttttwo jags prescott driving around the streets of London doing their assesments[:D]
Keep up the good work,
Michael
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NOI USED TO DRIVE HGV AND STAFF CARS /ARMY.
(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi48.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Ff238%2Frayhinton56%2Fkrustytleska.gif&hash=b6ef6a5edd582b0334bab4f20bb3730f)
RE-HAB IS FOR QUITTERS.
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Hi Michael,
I think you'll find that this is one law they won't be in a hurry to introduce! It would be like Turkeys voting for Xmas!
As you know I am certainly in favour of re-testing, but I can see there being big problems ahead.
First of all there's the infrasructure. There are some areas of the UK where the waiting list for driving tests is already as much as 3 months. How the heck are they going to cope with 30 times the volume they can barely cope with now!
I reckon each re-test will be booked at least 6 months ahead so that should give the driver plenty of warning and time to brush up!
I doubt initially if the test will be very hard. I suspect it will be similar to that of a taxi driver.
Hardly rocket science and anyone who fails it then they deserve to! All the average driver should need is two or three lessons to brush up their technique. If someone has been driving 5 years or more then surely they should be able to pass a basic standard of competence to drive test!
I do understand that there are some who would find it difficult when under pressure but surely, driving on a crowded motorway or busy city centre is more harrowing! For those who actually avoid such situations then the problems they have to face might be a way of coming to terms with their driving phobias! So it could be a good thing!
Also, you are forgetting the feel-good factor of those who pass!
I do however see one problem: Already about 1 in 20 drivers don't have a full licence, yet they drive unaccompanied. I can see this figure multiplying many fold if lots of drivers fail the re-test. The worst part is that those who drive illegally on a provisional licence will not be called up for the re-test which means they will still slip through the net.
I suspect the government will have to issue new driving licences to everyone, to make sure that this loophole is plugged!
In view of the structuring of the re-testing, I can't see it being implemented for maybe five or more years at the very least.
Tony
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Don't believe it will happen - enormous public resistance. Would it be a good thing - on balance yes. We live in a re-traing culture now. There is an understanding generally that skills need to be honed. Companies that get their employees to take post test retraining find that their accident rates go down. I guess the best (idealistic) way would be for their to be positive incentives (lower insurance) for those who retrain and repass their test. Alternatively introduce it gradually, so those who pass their test now, know they will be retested in 5 years. So my answer? yes and no!
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I take an annual test akin to that run by the UK's Institute of Advance Motorists. This involves a one hour classroom review of the principles of defensive driving followed by a series of test drives, in a variety of driving conditions, alternating with a colleague, and assessed by an instructor, taking around two and a half hours.
Given the quality of driving I routinely see each day on the road, and the statistics of road traffic accidents, I am wholly in favour of this proposal.