The driving test should be even tougher

I don’t think having a tougher test will make any real difference – It would only remove the most incompetent – It is easy enough to “bone up” for the test – The problem is the careless – inconsiderate – and lawless impatient driver –

Lets face it – we have over one MILLION uninsured drivers – removing those and their cars from the street would help a lot.

The we have those that want to remove Speed Cameras so they can go as fast as they like.

Then we have those wanting to remove traffic lights so they push through junctions as fast as possible ignoring road conditions.

Then we have those that think waiting one minute at a traffic light is too long.

No – You have got it wrong AGAIN!!

An addition.

Removal of licence for a year if you have two accidents in two years.with a retest.

Removal of licence for a year f you have two speeding tickets in two years.with a retest.

Removal of licence for a year if you contravene other traffic acts (except parking) in two years.with a retest.

More road surveillance with UNmarked traffic camera cars to catch more of those impatient inconsiderate and irresponsible car drivers I see every day when I drive my car.

I passed my motorcycle test at 16 – my car test at 17 – bought a car at 23 – got in and drove it without a problem. In fact drove it for 55 years without accident or insecurity .

But I have seen greater and greater numbers of bad drivers around – these are not learners – or new drivers – just bad divers on the road. I’m sure the vast majority of them would actually pass the test – then totally ignore the behaviour used to pass the test – just become bad drivers again – Nothing to do with the test – and unless the test included a very long psychiatric test will not do anything.to curb this tendency.

In all honesty – I found driving on motorways far easier than driving in heavy traffic – never had problems in my confidence – just problems with bad drivers – you know the ones that still speed – use mobile phone – retune their radios – turn round to chat with the back seat passenger.

All nothing to do with the test – but everything to do with common sense and obeying the Law!!!!!!!!!

I do think there should be a test for Long term migrants – not those on holiday – to ensure they know and obey ALL the differences between the two sets of traffic laws.

The current driving test plainly isn’t tough enough, given how many bad drivers there are on the road, and I don’t see how 10 miserable minutes of “independent driving” during the test is going to prepare anyone for anything. I would also agree with Richard that punishment for bad driving is at the moment ridiculously mild. And I do wonder whether the minimum age at which you can drive shouldn’t be raised.

The driving test is not designed to *create* an expert driver – but to decide whether you are competent to drive and have read and ‘understood’ the highway code.
If you feel “lacking in confidence” about a part of road system – the answer is simple – go along to your local friendly driving school – explain your problem – and they would be happy to devise a few lessons to cover the problem.

It is your responsibility – not the government’ s- or your test centre responsibility – to be competent. The highway code gives all the instructions needed to use the UK highways properly..

Any test will not totally ensure that you will feel confident – experience gives you that confidence. Any form of longer test would require some form of long psychiatric sociological physiological test to be effective .

It is obvious too many drivers conveniently “forget” the highway code after passing the test – no test will stop that – Harsh punishments would.. I honestly felt the driving test was adequate to test my competence.

I don’t think it is the test as such – it isn’t designed to *create* an expert driver – just that the driver is competent to drive the vehicle – and has read and ‘understood’; the highway code.

If you don’t feel “confident’ about a particular part of the road system – The answer is simple – Go to your local friendly driving school – explain your problem – they would be happy to devise a few lessons to cover your problem.

It is your responsibility – not the Government – or testing centre – to be competent.

Far too many drivers – after passing the test – “forget” the highway code . No test will stop this – Harsh penalties will.

I felt my test was completely adequate. for all areas of the road system

My 19 year old Son has just passed his test. In addition to the official lessons, we bought a small car for him to practice in.
I not only gave him point to point driving experience, without giving directions, but we also covered night driving in all conditions, including driving round the peak district at night in the rain, which many an “experienced” driver would be out of their depth. Plus driving at higher speeds on dual carriage ways.
I wanted to know he could cope with most driving conditions within his own comfort zone and for my peace of mind. We have also since covered motorway driving. I also made sure he could make a controlled stop very early in his driving experience, something the driving school did.t cover until the week before his test.
Yes there is pass plus, but the discount on his insurance was far less than the cost of the course.
We know experienced drivers who try and avoid right turns, or driving at night or in the rain.
Maybe like others say a refresher course may help.
Many experienced driving standards are far worse than many a young driver.

A periodic test, say every five years, and also a medical examinaton at the same time would sort some people out.

My daughter drove on a non-public area by herself after I was satisfied that she was not going to crash the car and that improved her confidence. She passed her test first time.

I think the test should be split into two parts.

The first part should be easier than the current test. My heart goes out to those trying to pass nowadays – the traffic, the cut and thrust, the aggression, all make life especially tough for timid newcomers. Having demonstrated a basic competence to control the car safely, they should be “let out on the roads” to get some experience. Some restrictions will be needed – zero blood alcohol limit, no driving between 9pm and 1am, no more than one passenger, etc.

Within 12 months they are required to take a second part test. This should be tougher than the current test, more in line with the RoSPA and Institute of Advanced Motorists tests.

Existing drivers can keep their “full” licences on grace. But any proven infringement of motoring law means their licence automatically reverts to a “first part” licence. And they must keep to first-part restrictions; and pass a second-part test within 12 months to continue driving.

I’m an ADI and have been training learners for 7 years. I think the current DSA tests (theory and practice) are good but blunt instruments for ensuring that those who find driving ‘doesn’t come naturally’ get sufficient training. Driving is a serious and a dangerous business, not an everyday right as some would like to assert. The difficulty with these tests is that they don’t measure ‘attitude’. Making pass plus mandatory within the first year would help by doing a check on how a new driver’s attitude is shaping up. I think the police need to be more proactive and also covert in catching and prosecuting motorists who behave badly and then courts need to take a much tougher line with the worst offenders. Eg someone who causes death by dangerous driving goes to jail and then is NEVER allowed to drive again; 12 points = not just a year on the bus, but automatic reversion to a provisional licence and the need to re-take an extended driving test. I would also scrap the concession whereby EU and some other citizens are excused the need to take the UK tests. Our UK roads are different from elsewhere so it makes sense that all who drive on them should be checked to the same standard.

When someone passes thier Driving Test they are at the legal minimum allowed to drive on the road unsupervised.Sadly many people then drop below this level, and they do not improve untill they for whatever reason take an advanced driving course or they have to retake the Test due to an accumulation of points. Many people forget just how much pressure is on a person trying to pass the test, and many take the sight of an L Plate as a challenge to get past at the earliest opportunity or to drive as close to the boot as is insanely possible.The test is all we have to judge a persons competance on the road, and I feel that everyone should undertake it every ten years to maintain the minimum standard, and anyone convicted of a serious driving offence should automatically have to retake an extended test.

I passed my test about 6 year ago. It took me two years to learn to overcome my fears and over a year to undergo 8 driving tests before I passed at last. My fear of driving was rather overwhelming as in the course of my job, I see how people involved in traffic offences and accidents, are affected and affecting the others. I also took 3 advanced courses after I passed my test.

Although the instructors were tough, and that is fair, I did not feel pasing the test was about real driving. I could not navigate my way while driving and I kept getting lost. It is a skill that instructors do not teach and the test does not include. I was also unable to get on motorwasy or drive at night.

I asked an advanced driving instructor to give me lessons on motorways, in bad wheather, rural areas and at night so that to make sure I drive safely.

I strongly feel that taking a course every few years is a good idea but it should not be suject to another test. It is not fair to loose somone’s licence unless an offence is committed.

You can’t test everything nor will it make people obey the law or highway code. As has been pointed out the test is only there to ensure that the driver is competent to control a car on the road. Experience is up to you.

Yes, drivers should be made to take retests particularly if they break the law and if they are involved in an accident for which they are to blame. Also if it can be shown that they are incompetent or driving unreasonably there is also a case for making them take the test before being allowed to get behind the wheel again.

If someone is guilty of disregarding the rules of the road they should have to take the written test. It might just help to curb their anti social behavior.

As an ex Fire Service driving instructor I’ve always thought that a learner driver is allowed drive a high powered car on a motorway immediately after passing his test is crazy.
This was discussed on numerous occasions, the decision being absolute lunacy, the general feeling being :- a new driver should display green L plates for 6 months and only allowed after that to be allowed on motorways and at night with a competent driver.
I’ve had 28 years as a 1st line appliance driver.

Many experienced drivers believe that they are safe drivers because they have not had accidents, though accidents are often avoided by prompt action by other motorists.

Some old people carry on driving when they are no longer fit to do so, and definitely need a re-test and regular medical examinations. Those that pass could be rewarded by lower insurance premiums because they are likely to be among the safest drivers on the road. In fact being prepared to take a periodic retest is the sort of attitude that any sensible driver should have.

Some 15 years ago I passed my Advance Motorist test, and a couple of years ago I was reassessed. Interestingly, the police driving instructor said that if anyone were to drive as an advanced motorist on the test that a learner would normally take, they would fail it! This is because a learner test is highly weighted to safety for an inexperienced driver, whereas an advanced motorist has more experience and can safely take other actions (e.g. not necessarily putting on the handbrake every time you come to a halt).

Many driving instructors admit to teaching students to pass the test rather than to actually drive properly.
As a professional lorry driver with 30 years experience, I have seen the standard of driving in the UK deteriorate beyond recognition and in a variety of different ways and for different reasons and as with most government departments DVLA/DVSA look for a single solution to rectify the problem the proverbial one size fits all, which of course will never work. The first and most important thing that should be done is to have the complete highway code written into law as with other European country s so that there is no confusion about what you must do in a given situation, and what you must know to be in charge of a vehicle on a PUBLIC highway. The next issue that needs to be addressed is the Technology in the modern motor vehicle, much of which has been installed into vehicles to make them safer and easier to drive. and as such have allowed less skilled drivers to pass the test as it stands, and creating another genera of bad driving including a number of people completely unaware of the size and power of their vehicle and how it will behave in a given situation.

So the revamp of the driving test in the UK needs to be taken right back to the beginning and started afresh with the training given.
1. theory :- as we have a nation of people of all levels of educational abilities how can we to hand
them a book to read and expect them all to understand it as it is intended.
Solution Classroom based with a written exam!

2. Control :- Modern vehicles can accelerate 0-60 in seconds with very light steering and abs etc.
and as such one of the biggest problems is drivers disregarding the road regulations
because their vehicle can beat the oncoming vehicle, or indeed the reverse is also the case
the driver who hesitates as they’re not quite sure they can manage a manoeuvre
Solution Off road training in a verity of vehicles until fully conversant with the size and capability of
the vehicles and their limitations including on skid pad.

3. The Road:- As the road is a very dangerous place with other road users who may be a danger to us as
well as road users who are vulnerable to us we are now in a much better position to deal
with this while concentrating solely on learning to drive on the public highway , depending
upon the place you live you may not experience all types of road or obstacle and/or many
road signs my never be encountered.

solution Carry out road training along with simulator training this would allow for motorway driving
to be incorporated without endangering any other road users and could be tailored to suit
area and any other situations not encountered on local roads

4. Refresher:- A refresher of road theory should be undertaken every 5 years to keep knowledge up to
date accompanied by public service films produced by the DVSA of the most commonly
forgotten/flouted regulations and of course enforcement..