Novice drivers
Posted by Graham Stringer, MP for Blackley and Broughton, at 09:18, Mon 17 September 2012:
The prosecution and conviction of a number of professional footballers for driving offences, some of which resulted in deaths, have highlighted a much bigger problem that of the novice driver and in particular young novice male drivers.
Britain has one of the best road safety records in the world. Improvements in road and car safety and the success of anti drink driving campaigns have led to a dramatic reduction in the number of people killed and seriously injured. However the figures for young drivers aged between 17 and 20 have deteriorated badly! The percentage of qualified drivers killed in this age group has almost doubled.
Three times as many young male drivers are killed as female drivers, even though statistically women have a lower pass rate in driving tests than men. One of the causes seems to be young male drivers showing off to their friends, the more people in the car the more likely the young male driver is to crash.
It is a sad and shocking statistic that young male drivers are now the biggest killers of young women in this country.
What then is the best way to reduce accidents involving novice teenager drivers who are not only a danger to themselves but also to other road users? There is evidence from Sweden that increasing the length of training has a major impact on reducing accidents. A twelve month minimum period of learning to drive with a specified number of hours of professional tuition would almost certainly reduce the number of deaths, it would also in effect raise the minimum age for holding a full driving license to 18 years.
Insurance companies now have the facility by installing a ‘box’ in an insured car to monitor the driving patterns of the driver. If the fitting of this ‘box’ was made statutory insurance companies could reward good driving behaviour with lower premiums and ban driving at night (when a lot of fatal accidents occur). Reducing the alcohol limit from 80 milligrams to zero for young novice drivers would also reduce accidents.
The Government seems to have washed its hands of trying to deal with this difficult subject, the fact remains that nearly 2000 young drivers have died since the Government came to office. Simple changes in the law as I have described could reduce this teenage carnage on our roads dramatically, the Government should act.
Comments
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Posted by Andrew Hickey, 09:33, Mon 17 September 2012: (Is this post abusive?) #
I signed up to hear from Graham Stringer nine years ago. The first I heard from him was last week. I've moved house *twice* in the intervening time.
I'm glad to see that this incompetent buffoon has *finally* started making the most cursory attempts to communicate with his constituents, but it's far too little, far too late for someone who, when I was his constituent, had the single worst response rate of any MP in the country to letters from his constituents.
Meanwhile, I joined the Liberal Democrats six years ago, because when I moved away from Stringer's constituency I discovered what it was like to have a *good* local MP in John Leech.
Posted by JANIS DOLAN ADI, 12:23, Mon 17 September 2012: (Is this post abusive?) #
As a driving instructor of many years standing, I want to add my support to this campaign, with the exception of the minimum age being changed from 17 to 18. I think this would make no difference as the majority of young drivers are sensible and capable. I would hate to alienate a whole generation for the bad behaviour of a small section. There needs to be an improved respect for the road, as often people use it as their own personal highway, they think no one is watching (which is why so many can get away with what they do, until they take that bend just a little bit faster than before and leave the road)and then they kill their passengers whilst showing off. I have seen the way some people drive, every day, someone cuts us up or overtakes on a roundabout on the inside, insane and dangerous. They only get away with it because other good drivers like myself, can see them coming and keep away, that's defensive driving, but it also serves to reinforce these bad drivers' beliefs in their own abilities, and invicibality. It has to end. Voluntary codes don't work on some people.
Posted by syed ali, 12:57, Mon 17 September 2012: (Is this post abusive?) #
Novice drivers for the first 2 years of driving after passing a full driving test should be only permitted to drive car upto a maximum of 1,000cc and have a maximum speed of 70 mph. Before any new driver can drive on a motorway an additional one month course of motorway tuition should be compulsary after passing a full test.Anybody convicted of speeding or driving with out due care within 2 years of passing a test should have thier licence revoked and undergo another driving test.Anynew driver should undergo modules of training i.e skid prevention , ice and snow driving, night time driving these should form part of a fixed term driving tuition course,
Posted by KARMA BROWN, 15:10, Mon 17 September 2012: (Is this post abusive?) #
Zero tolerance re alcohol should be mandatory for ALL drivers - to say one day you cannot drive after drinking-next day having had a birthday you can now drive seems silly to say the least -
I am sure no one drives better after consuming alcohol
Posted by Beryl Hawke, 20:05, Mon 17 September 2012: (Is this post abusive?) #
Some common sense at last. This would make a massive improvement on the roads. I would also like to see ALL new drivers on the roads (immmigrants, asylum seekers etc.) take tests to establish their capability to drive on roads in the UK.
Posted by JANIS DOLAN ADI, 04:01, Tue 18 September 2012: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thanks to all of you who replied. To clarify a few points made. Drivers from other countries can drive on our roads for one year only before having to take tuition and test for uk licence. As soon as they have their uk provisional their international licence is revoked, i believe. I also believe the driving standards agency and dvla could do more to communicate the legal requirements of driving in the uk. At present there seems to be no reaching out to folks from any community, but are very keen to control and repremand and dictate to the driving instructor community probably because we can be readily contacted. A captive audience whose livelihood depends on being able to keep teaching.
I could fill this page and more with my thoughts on this subject but will have to be brief.
People who get caught for drink, drug and dangerous driving offences do lose their license. They may have to resit the tests to get ut back. If they collect more than 6 points in the first 2 years they lose that licence.
Posted by JANIS DOLAN ADI, 04:01, Tue 18 September 2012: (Is this post abusive?) #
Thanks to all of you who replied. To clarify a few points made. Drivers from other countries can drive on our roads for one year only before having to take tuition and test for uk licence. As soon as they have their uk provisional their international licence is revoked, i believe. I also believe the driving standards agency and dvla could do more to communicate the legal requirements of driving in the uk. At present there seems to be no reaching out to folks from any community, but are very keen to control and repremand and dictate to the driving instructor community probably because we can be readily contacted. A captive audience whose livelihood depends on being able to keep teaching.
I could fill this page and more with my thoughts on this subject but will have to be brief.
People who get caught for drink, drug and dangerous driving offences do lose their license. They may have to resit the tests to get ut back. If they collect more than 6 points in the first 2 years they lose that licence.