To think that all drivers should be made to resit tests

[DoublyTroubly]

Given how bad some of the drivers I see on the road are (especially but not always older drivers) I think that everyone should be made to sit a light-touch test every 5 years. If you can afford to drive then you can afford to pay £40ish to take a test, it would ensure everyone kept up to date with the latest driving rules and have the added bonus of employing more driving test examiners. If you're not good enough at driving to pass a test then surely you're not good enough to be on the streets!

So, AIBU or is this a no-brainer?

[Hmmnotkeen]

Id prefer it if the current laws were more thoroughly enforced before worrying about the test. It's very evident that many many drivers don't think there's much risk in using a mobile phone (personally I'd make texting whilst driving a bannable offence).

Walking just the other day with DS and waiting at a crossing- I had a feeling the driver wasnt going to stop for the red light (was going too fast). He didn't. But if I had decided to cross there's every chance he would have hit us.

[Zampa]

I would rather the laws of the road were fully enforced and that there were proper penalties for breaking the law.

65 hours community service for killing a cyclist isn't going to change people's driving habits.

[BarbaraofSeville]

MrsDeVere, it's not the difference between driving a Clio and a Galaxy, which all count as cars, it's about driving a whole different class of vehicle - get any bigger than a small van and you are into Light Goods Vehicle terriority - they're a different class for licencing and taxation. I think the limit is 3500 kg.

Anyone passing their tests before 1997 can drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, with or without trailers, including a total weight of 12 tonnes as a medium sized van or minibus with a trailer and up to I think 12 or 16 passengers. The handling, stopping, visibility and parking of these is massively different to normal cars, hence requiring training and passing a test in these vehicles.

You and your Galaxy or similar are perfectly safe, whatever age you are.

[EveOnline2016]

I would fail my test. Not because I am a bad driver but because of nerves.

It took me 5 attempts to pass my driving test because the nerves got the better of me.

[EveOnline2016]

Also I would want to do the test in my car. Then all the faff of finding childcare and making sure I'm not working.

[GiddyOnZackHunt]

On the A12 at the weekend we had:
Young women crammed into a small car where the driver was using her phone. Twice.
Old chap who treated white lines and corners with gay abandon. We were mesmerized by the sheer awfulness.
Middle aged man in Audi who tailgated me. Quite where he thought I could go as I was overtaking slower traffic and was following two other cars, I don't know.

I think the decrease in actual traffic police resources spotting poor driving in favour of cheaper speed cameras hasn't helped. Not all bad driving is excessive speed related.

[Marynary]

Anyone passing their tests before 1997 can drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes, with or without trailers, including a total weight of 12 tonnes as a medium sized van or minibus with a trailer and up to I think 12 or 16 passengers.

Not if you have had to inform the DVLA of a medical condition.