To think that anyone who has been driving a Tesla for a while, should have to redo the driving test before being allowed back in a normal car?

[Confusedmom25]

'D'H driving right now and im scared at how much he has deskilled. But if i say anything, it will result in a massive row. Surely im not the only one who thinks this

There a very scary guardian article about Tesla cars and unexplained accidents. Just published today. There's no way I would get into one of those cars after reading it. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jul/05/the-vehicle-suddenly-accelerated-with-our-baby-in-it-the-terrifying-truth-about-why-teslas-cars-keep-crashing

Teslas are cheap to buy / lease, and cheap to run when compared to an equipment ICE vehicle, so I’m not sure that comment makes much sense! They are the modern day version of the Ford Mondeo :)

How far would you take it though? For five years I've driven manual cars with zero sensors or cameras, not even reversing sensors. I am totally reliant on my neck, windows and mirrors.
I borrowed a much newer car the other day and barely had to move an inch, I felt a bit like a slug.
I doubt the permanent driver of that car would cope well with one of my old things.

I don’t know about Tesla drivers, I’d say about two thirds of drivers should probably re-take the test.

I don't think it's just tesla. Most newish electric cars basically drive themselves for the most part, and it is scary how little driver input is needed. Mine barely has a single button, everything is voice or touchscreen activated, and as soon as I'm on a motorway or straight bit of A road, it will tell me it's taken over with "acc" and will brake, accelerate, steer, and apart from the occasional "stay focused on the road ahead" voice command it shouts every so often, I find it's very easy to forget you're even driving. Even without motorway/A road driving, it parks itself, maintains an (excessive) safe distance from the car ahead, pulls you to the centre of the road if it's not happy with your driving position and just generally wants to be in charge. I often wonder how much harder I'd find driving a regular car now, as it can make you become a very lazy driver. But in some ways it's also alot harder to drive. The worst part is, trying to turn off all these automatic safety functions requires trying to shout at it, or scrolling through a million different menus on the screen (not safe) as it will reset and add the functions everytime you start a new journey. It tried to drag me into the side of a cyclist the other day as I went to go round them, as it assumed I was veering onto the wrong side of the road! I feel I'm constantly white knuckled, gripping the steering wheel as it randomly decides it's not happy with your driving position and will quite suddenly and aggressively yank you into a hedge/oncoming traffic, depending on the mood. There is also a dreaded camera pointing right at you while you drive, and it will occasionally shout "don't get distracted" if you so much as blink, and yesterday I got "only smoke in moderation!" I think I must have rubbed my face, I don't smoke. Also will not let you move the car without your seat belt on. Very annoying, when I'm trying to move it 2 foot on the driveway to get the bin out.... Buckle up! Because god forbid you nudge it with the wheel bin, it's all lights and sirens and I still don't know how to actually calm it down when this happens, just have to mash the buttons on key fob a billion times. I do miss my old school (80's) racing green mini sometimes!

How weird. Surely there could be more people hired to apply the test.

Don't most newer cars have quite a few automatic features? Generally I think they make things safer and I suspect most people manage to switch between without a problem.

You’d think. Yet they can’t even hire enough to deal with the current workload, never mind a huge increase in testing.

No I disagree. They encourage you to switch off imo and let the tech take care of things.

I think when driving, we should be absolutely 100% focused on the job at hand, and fighting against tech that has decided there is a problem when there isn’t goes against that focus and draws it elsewhere.

EV or ICE, it’s EU regulation that means that new cars have lane assist, speed assist, automatic emergency breaking, reversing sensors, daytime running lights etc. It makes driving safer. The UK is pretty safe by world (and European) driving standards.

My car has a birds eye view camera that I can turn on with a button and it’s amazing. Why reversing by craning your neck and running the risk of not being able to see anything shorter than the height of your boot is morally superior of beyond me.

I don't drive a Tesla but I drive an automatic. If I drive a manual (which I do every time we return to the UK) it takes me a day or two to get back into the groove of doing it. But I haven't totally forgotten the skills; they're just rusty.

Don't all new cars these days have some of the extras like the cameras? You can't compare anything to 15 years ago really.

I think it would be impractical tbh. Also are Teslas really that different from any new model automatic? I've never driven one.

Like a fine whiskey, you mean?

Where do you draw the line though? I recently got an automatic having driven mainly manual for over 20 years and having not driven an automatic for 15 years. It took me some getting used to but there was no need for another test!

Stupid.

I drive an automatic. Yes it's lazy and easy.

But I can still drive a manual as have been doing fir 30 years. Still drive one every 1 ir 2 weeks. No need to retake test.

The whole point of the manual test is uiu xan drive a manual and automatic. If yiu choose to drive an automatic you are still able to drive a manual.

It's like saying if yiu pass your test but don't drive regularly for x years yiu need to take your test again.

I drive an EV, have done for 12 years. I rent a car a couple of times a year in Ireland and have no issue at all with manual, nor with being on the other side of the road to home. I miss my reversing camera but can live without it.

Maybe as has been suggested some drivers are just not very good and a decent newer car masks it?

Well no, but the OP named Teslas, not me, so that's what the thread is already about.

These are the things I'm talking about. If their car is programmed to brake for them instantly when something moves into their path to keep them a set distance away, but mine's not, they cause me to respond urgently to avoid an accident when they do it to me.

Obviously I must pay attention and react accordingly, but more than ever there are people performing unsafe manoeuvres with no fear, like a group of teenagers on their phones sauntering out into the road, expecting everyone to make way for them.