Driving Tests every 25 years?

[Scrambledeggyegg]

I’m learning to drive right now... I’m in my mid 30s. I think everyone should have to retake their driving test every 25 years. To both raise revenue and get higher standards of driving. I feel if you have nothing to improve then nothing to worry about. If you’re good enough to pass the test you deserve to drive on the road. If not, then buses for you.

But those people haven’t been doing nothing since they took their tests - they’ve been building on their skills, experiencing a myriad of driving conditions, learning how to deal with other drivers and emergency situations.

Oh god absolutely this. There's so much you won't learn for a good few years even after you pass your test.

I don't think there should be regular driving tests, but I do think people should have to do a 3 hour refresher course every 3-5 years or so. Something along the lines of speed awareness but for everyone, and also covering changes to highway code and topical issues such as motorway driving skills and how to safely pass a cyclist.

many people just had 10 lessons and then did a test, so much fewer hours of lessons than is normal now. Theory test knowledge is bound to be way out of date

I actually had about 30 hours of lessons and I passed a mock theory test recently (when my son was learning). I passed my test in 1990.

OP currently everyone on the road has taken and passed more tests than you have.
People prove their skill in driving every time they drive.

Why don't you actually get a driving licence before commenting on what the rest of us should be doing?

exactly.
Have you got a test booked yet, incidentally? I hope you dont fail and have to wait another 6 months

This!

If it was to snow your lessons would be cancelled. Last time we had decent snow I purposefully went out when it was quiet to see how it feels to drive in the snow so i wasnt caught off guard .

@Scrambledeggyegg the vacancy has already been filled, Liz Truss has been elected.

It would never happen. Test centres are struggling as it is.

I can see your point though. I passed my test in 2007 and drivers have got worse over the years. Tailgating, pulling out at junctions and roundabouts without even looking, dangerous over/undertaking. There's no way a lot of people would pass including people like my MIL who drives everywhere at 30mph because "she's a careful driver and wants to look after her car". She'd fail straight away for failing to make progress.

I think the solution is a better police presence on the road. More people should be pulled up on their unsafe driving habits ... but again, insufficient resources.

It's also worth knowing that middle aged drivers have better reactions when driving than youngsters do, because they have the experience to anticipate situations on the road.

There are some awful drivers on the road but much is to do with personality, not skills. And I don't think we're about to start doing personality tests before we let people behind the wheel. Quite apart from the issue of people changing personality when they drive - I saw a meme last week which was along the lines of when people walk and get in each other's way they apologise and say "after you". When they get in each other's way when they drive they try to ram each other and swear. It's largely true.

I agree, or even every ten years. But I don't think it would work logicistically, not without a lot of money and investment in testing centres and examiners.

OP I live in Portugal. You haven’t experienced bad driving until you’ve driven in Portugal. U.K. drivers are really not that bad on the whole.

Retesting sounds sensible, but the evidence is against it. New drivers (who've just passed their tests) are higher risk. Middle aged drivers who haven't passed a test in years are lower risk. Retesting wouldn't touch the former.

No idea what the logic of 25 years would be. Every few years once past 70, or within a year after any points acquired might make some sense maybe?

This has been looked at, several times in fact, by various government administrations going back to the 1970s. It's not necessary and it's not cost-effective. The administrative cost (and burden) would be enormous, and the practical gain negligible. The people who cause accidents on the roads tend to be newly qualified drivers or those in their 20s anyway, which this proposal wouldn't capture because the majority of drivers would be in their early 40s by the time their first retest came around (assuming they first passed aged 17 or 18).

This is one of those things that the right-wing press gets hold of every so often and likes to get itself in a froth over, like cyclists, the death penalty, or benefit fraud. But the amount of outrage-frotting is disproportionate to the impact of the thing itself.

Why not just encourage more people to do advance driving courses

I kinda agree and am questioning why so many posters are jumping on op just because she doesn't yet drive, you don't have to be driving to notice how appalling the standard of driving is in the uk.

I have been driving for about 25 years and I find driving getting worse. I think it would be great for drivers to retake their tests and also agree with some kind of refresher course if caught speeding, tailgating, lane hogging. There are so many RTCs we really need to look at the system as a whole and figure out why there are so many dangerous drivers out there and how we can make the roads safer for everyone.

Upskilling 😂

We should probably have to do something similar to America where they have an eye test and a theory type bit plus a bit of manoeuvring refreshing every 10 years or something.

What you're suggesting and the terms and reasoning around it is quite hilarious though so do carry on.

You are a great advert for my view that people should be made to pass an IQ test before they are given a provisional.

I agree, in fact more often.

You've hit a sore spot op with the pps who think it is their human right to drive a car.

I don't drive. Personal choice- one of the main reasons I don't drive is because I believe the planet needs way fewer cars on the road. I'm lucky that there is public transport where I live, but being a driver would certainly make my life easier. But I choose not to.

I've been a passenger on a couple of journeys lately and was shocked by the dangerous driving I saw on motorways. Most recent example was a driver far too close to a car in the middle lane - with their left indicator on??? Presumably trying to intimidate the car in front- and to then try to undertake???

I'd suggest a different solution- lower the bar for removing people's licenses when they've been caught driving dangerously.

I’d say every 10 years and 5 years over 65 with mandatory eye tests.
driving isnt a right and there are so many appalling drivers of all ages

Liz I’m sure there are other things you should be focusing on in your new job.

But would be pointless with the current infrastructure.

did you not get the memo? IQ tests are a flawed concept.

oh come on now
you have never driven alone so dont talk bullshit about driving changing over the years

Well how can you tell the OP does not
live rurally
have children at schools miles apart
have a disability that requires them to drive not walk
not live on a bus route
not have to commute by car due to no public transport
not have elderly parents that need them to have a car to take them to appointments
...... the list goes on and on
Just because you see it as a privilege doesn't mean for someone it's not a necessity. Anyone living outside of a largish town it's a lifeline to work, Drs, schools, food and heaven forbid holidays