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Test revamp ‘could increase joy-rides’
GOVERNMENT plans for a revamp of young learner drivers' lessons and tests could end up encouraging more joy-riding, York driving instructors warned today.
Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly announced yesterday that learner drivers might face having to take their practical driving test in two parts, with one part including the traditional manoeuvres such as reversing and the other including candidates being asked to follow road signs to a certain destination.
Learners might also have to obtain a test-readiness certificate, showing they had driven in many different road conditions before even being allowed to take the test.
Ms Kelly said: "Too many new drivers are involved in road accidents and are not properly prepared for driving alone. It is time for a new approach to learning to drive. We must make sure that novice drivers are safe drivers when they have passed their test."
But the Government resisted calls to raise the minimum age for holding a driving licence from 17 to 18, and also held back from imposing restrictions on newly-qualified drivers.
Ministers also made it clear there would be no requirement to have purely qualified-instructor training for learners and that candidates could, in theory, sit for the test having been taught solely by their parents or another qualified driver.
There could also be a star-rating system for driving instructors so that learners can make an informed choice based on pass rates and a review of driving instructor training and testing.
York driving instructors were unimpressed by the changes. Paul Wright, of Progress School of Motoring of Wigginton, warned that if the Government was going to make it more expensive and difficult to take the test, more youngsters might be tempted to take a chance and drive without a licence or insurance.
"It's just a money-making exercise," he said.
He also felt that Ministers should have bitten the bullet and made it compulsory for lessons to be given by qualified instructors.
Gordon Potts, who formerly ran the Gordon School of Motoring in Wigginton, said he had taught many teenagers who had been given a course of a dozen or so lessons as a 17th birthday present.
After the money ran out, and before they had been ready to take the test, he had often seen them out on the road, driving without a licence or insurance. If costs rose further, he feared this would become even more commonplace.
The Press has been seeking to discourage joy-riding with its Live Now, Drive Later campaign, which has produced a hard-hitting film to be shown to teenagers in schools across the country.
7:57pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Silver, York on 8:34pm Thu 8 May 08
Ok...so the tests are already complicated enough before I passed they had it in 3 stages, theory practical and something called show me tell me where you had to do some **** about basic maintenance so adding complications is a bit stupid as it is....
Ok...so the tests are already complicated enough before I passed they had it in 3 stages, theory practical and something called show me tell me where you had to do some **** about basic maintenance so adding complications is a bit stupid as it is....
Posted by: puffingbilly, York on 9:01pm Thu 8 May 08
back in the early 60's in the army, when my 17th birthday came up, we had to have a weeks driver training
mornings was theory and did practice on a static vehicle trainer,learn how to change a wheel, also to do first works on the vehicle, [oil,coolant, tyres and other levels etc] also learning the art of double de clutching. in the sfternoons out you went with your military driving instructor on the road with some packed lunch
on the Friday afternoon of that week a goverment tester came to take you for a driving test
once that was past, you had to do more training learning how to tow and reverse 2 and 4 wheel trailors both loaded and unloaded, then onto further driver training in the Catterick tank ranges with trucks, day driving then night driving
back in the early 60's in the army, when my 17th birthday came up, we had to have a weeks driver training
mornings was theory and did practice on a static vehicle trainer,learn how to change a wheel, also to do first works on the vehicle, also learning the art of double de clutching. in the sfternoons out you went with your military driving instructor on the road with some packed lunch
on the Friday afternoon of that week a goverment tester came to take you for a driving test
once that was past, you had to do more training learning how to tow and reverse 2 and 4 wheel trailors both loaded and unloaded, then onto further driver training in the Catterick tank ranges with trucks, day driving then night driving
Posted by: larkin, leeds on 9:37pm Thu 8 May 08
This is nuts!!!!
More kids will just drive a car with out any test they do it now some have been banned several times they still drive so whats the point!!
How are these kids going to find the grand wanted to get them over a test absolute crap!
This is nuts!!!!
More kids will just drive a car with out any test they do it now some have been banned several times they still drive so whats the point!!
How are these kids going to find the grand wanted to get them over a test absolute crap!
Posted by: Bemused, York on 9:56pm Thu 8 May 08
Ill thought out New Labour legislation - AGAIN!
Ill thought out New Labour legislation - AGAIN!
Posted by: cynical, York on 7:53am Fri 9 May 08
[bold]'Joy Riding'[/bold] Can we start to use words that express this as a crime instead of a nice hobby.
'Joy Riding' Can we start to use words that express this as a crime instead of a nice hobby.
Posted by: Wangy, York on 9:45am Fri 9 May 08
Bring back hanging.
Posted by: dodgydave, york on 10:57am Fri 9 May 08
Is it me? Or will there be a charge for each test? Thereby increasing revenue?
Also, when are we going to realise that this government wants to remove as many drivers from the road as they can, by making it harder to pass the driving test, less people will be willing to learn. They are wanting to increase the amount of penalty points people can receive for speeding, therefore increasing the chance of being banned, oh and before someone comments on my driving, without even knowing if I have a car,or even drive, then I do have a clean licence, no points in the last 8 years! So it is not about me being hard done to, it is about common sense. I am sick and tired of the motorist being blamed for the environment, when if you look into unbiased studies, like the united nations study, you will see that cows produce 18% of carbon dioxide, that is more than all cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together.
We have greater technology to access oil, than ever before, there are still many many oil fields we can gain oil from, and we are still believing the hype from this shower of cow S**T, that we HAVE to pay more for our fuel! And now we HAVE to pay more for the right to drive!....last one out, turn the lights off!
Is it me? Or will there be a charge for each test? Thereby increasing revenue?
Also, when are we going to realise that this government wants to remove as many drivers from the road as they can, by making it harder to pass the driving test, less people will be willing to learn. They are wanting to increase the amount of penalty points people can receive for speeding, therefore increasing the chance of being banned, oh and before someone comments on my driving, without even knowing if I have a car,or even drive, then I do have a clean licence, no points in the last 8 years! So it is not about me being hard done to, it is about common sense. I am sick and tired of the motorist being blamed for the environment, when if you look into unbiased studies, like the united nations study, you will see that cows produce 18% of carbon dioxide, that is more than all cars, planes and all other forms of transport put together.
We have greater technology to access oil, than ever before, there are still many many oil fields we can gain oil from, and we are still believing the hype from this shower of cow S**T, that we HAVE to pay more for our fuel! And now we HAVE to pay more for the right to drive!....last one out, turn the lights off!
Posted by: Stevie in Selby, Selby on 12:48pm Fri 9 May 08
I welcome anything that makes the driving test more stringent. Far too many drivers have no idea about driving safely, sensibly and considerately.
What people forget is that it may cost a bit more to pass the test, but if drivers are safer then there will be fewer accidents and everyone's insurance premiums will go down - so in the long run, it could save everyone money.
But more important than saving money, it will save lives. How many more young and inexperienced drivers need to kill themselves and other people before the government takes some action? There's no reason why someone aged 17 should be unsafe driving a car, but they need to be properly prepared for driving alone, for which the current testing regime is grossly inadequate.
I welcome anything that makes the driving test more stringent. Far too many drivers have no idea about driving safely, sensibly and considerately.
What people forget is that it may cost a bit more to pass the test, but if drivers are safer then there will be fewer accidents and everyone's insurance premiums will go down - so in the long run, it could save everyone money.
But more important than saving money, it will save lives. How many more young and inexperienced drivers need to kill themselves and other people before the government takes some action? There's no reason why someone aged 17 should be unsafe driving a car, but they need to be properly prepared for driving alone, for which the current testing regime is grossly inadequate.
Posted by: Peter, york on 6:02pm Fri 9 May 08
[quote]It's just a money-making exercise," he said.
He also felt that Ministers should have bitten the bullet and made it compulsory for lessons to be given by qualified instructors[/quote]
And your not money grabbing insisting on only qualified instructors.
It's just a money-making exercise," he said.
He also felt that Ministers should have bitten the bullet and made it compulsory for lessons to be given by qualified instructors
And your not money grabbing insisting on only qualified instructors.
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