To think driving liscences should last 10 years then need renewing?

[BounceAndClimb]

Surely this would be a safer way of ensuring drivers are competent?
If they fail then it would prompt drivers to correct any bad habits they've slipped into, and makes more sense than doing one test, possibly as a teenager still, to assess a lifetimes worth of driving.

I know 2 people who I'm sure must have passed by fluke, one older family member has told me shes regularly in the wrong lane as the signs confuse her, and is often saying about being cut up etc.
And someone else I know has had 3 near accidents and written his car off within the last year, surely more regular testing would pick up drivers like this needing some extra support.

They do in Australia, though not as a competency assessment, just a money grab by the government.

$276.70.

YANBU. I've always thought this would be a good idea. Don't understand why we don't do it

Practically, how would it work? 10% of all drivers needing a re test each year would mean a massive expansion in driving test centres and driving examiners. Who is going to pay for all of that?

UK licences are renewed every 10 years if you are under 70 - www.gov.uk/renew-driving-licence

No testing required because there aren't enough driving test centres as the government cut them decades ago.

Oh and there is an argument the modern UK test isn't fit for purpose. There are plenty of people who can drive in good weather on quiet streets, but put them in a busy urban environment or on a motorway particularly in bad weather then they drive badly.

Considering the number of drivers on the road that don't have a licence or have had it revoked and are still driving, I really don't think re-testing thousands of competent drivers is the answer. I think there should be some form of re-test for older drivers - even if it's just to check that they can see properly and speed of reaction, rather than full re-test, might be a good idea.

Some people would behave themselves during the test and revert to shit driving ( like the van up my arse this morning) immediately afterwards.

Many drivers are competent, but choose not to be. For example, they know how to indicate at a roundabout, they just decide not to. If they were in a test situation, I'm sure they would abide by the rules (making a show of checking their mirrors, indicating, giving plenty of room to others) which would help ensure they pass their test again. But out of that test situation, they would go back to bad habits. Having to resit the test again may well pick up genuinely poor drivers, but it wouldn't necessarily pick up all bad drivers.

Funnel a charge per test would only be a small cost every 10 years per person but would produce money to fund extra assessors.

YANBU. But introducing it is easier said than done because there'd need to be a ton more driving examiners. Until we get to the point where self-driving cars can test humans. (I actually expect that during my lifetime driving will be either outlawed or close to outlawed; self-driving cars will be the norm.)

I don’t think it’s a bad plan. I’ve been driving for 20 years and I’m sure there are a lot more shit drivers out there than there used to be. It seems literally every time I drive anywhere now I get stuck behind someone crawling along at 25-30mph on a 60 mph road, people who just stop randomly on a main road without any warning, don’t indicate, cut you up etc etc.

PS: When we do get to the point where computers and AI can evaluate people's driving, I guess we wouldn't need periodic retests at all - those who choose to drive themselves will be continuously evaluated by The Machine. Indeed the use of telematics by insurers is already a step in that direction.

By renew, do you mean to have a retest because licences already need renewing every so often, more frequently after a certain age (Ireland).The waiting list is long to get a test as it is so I think that it won't work but I think you are right in theory. Retreating would be a good idea.

*Retesting

It's a good idea.

Maybe a workable solution would be for everyone to have a session with a driving instructor ever 10 years. The instructor would grade the driver as competent, OK, but could do with a refresher, or dangerous so loss of licence, further lessons and retest.

Drivers should have to pay, but even if renewal was around £100 it's a tiny tiny drop in the ocean in the costs of running a car (£10 a year).

Or maybe tax breaks for employers to provide driver training at work (we have driver training of various kinds every 3 to 5 years and it's some of the most worthwhile training we do).

So we'd need more driving instructors = more jobs, or more income for existing driving instructors.

Also a suitable job for ex police officers, especially older ones who are no longer fit enough for 'normal' police work (most of the people providing our driver training have been ex police officers).

A quick google has revealed 45.5 million people in the UK held active licenses in 2014. That’s an additional 4.6 million tests per year with the OPs proposal.

Currently, there are about 1.6 milllion tests per year. There is no way you can go from 1.6m to 6m tests by employing a few ex coppers and funding it from the fees.

It depends how petty the test was. If they are going to fail you on things like crossing your hands, taking more than one go at parallel parking etc then no, but if it's on general competence then yes.

Perhaps a mandatory test after banning

Yes I agree. Driving instructors have to be tested regularly so why not us?

Yes we would need lots more examiners but if you had to pay to be assessed then there's the money. More jobs can't be a bad thing.

Watch 100 year old driving school and you'll see why it's essential to check in with drivers once you give them a license. Some of the older generation didn't take tests!

I know lots of people who wouldn't pass now. If you're not up to standard to pass at any time you shouldn't be on the road.