To conclude there must be many thousands of people on the roads who have not passed the driving test.

[redange]

I cannot believe the appalling standard of driving i see every day. To 'Legally' pass a driving test today requires a higher standard of competency than 35 years ago. In order to pass today requires an awareness of Hazard perception, correct use of Gears (if in a Manual) understanding of speed and distance and before that a difficult theory test. Therefore, how is it possible that the standard of driving is infinitely worse. The only conclusion can be that many thousands of people are driving illegally and dangerously on the highways of the United Kingdom.

You are so spot on! I have a near miss most days from totally incompetent drivers. Am so over it and worry so much for my kids who are good newly qualified drivers but need to deal with twats on the roads.
My kids are obviously not perfect but I get so freaked out. I used to live in the ME and thought driving was bad there but the UK is an absolute Sh**show. then again when’s the last time you saw a traffic police officer on duty. 😩

The Polish person i knew through work ( pre lock down) had 2 cars, 1 polish registered, I UK registered. Despite their legitimate UK registered job there was no obligation on them to have either a UK licence or for both cars to be registered here. I liked him, he was good at his job, he was settled here. But despite that he had no issue at all in defrauding where he could.

I don't speak polish or Italian or French, and yet I've driven perfectly safely and legally in those countries.

Something I wonder is whether the advance in driving aids has contributed?
When I passed my test 20 odd years ago my first car had no ABS, no power steering, no airbag...
Perhaps the more modern cars give (some) drivers a false sense of security/safety?

I drive frequently on the busy western M25 section near Heathrow etc and have also seen a notable increase in the past few years of young men ( not so much women) in fast, newish premium cars zigzagging in and out, undertaking, cutting up, never signalling and generally being dangerously PITAS. There’s a lot of on and off slips and sections of multiple lanes but when people are driving normally it is fine. I’m torn between thinking these people are getting some kind of kicks out of alarming other drivers or that they are on drugs.

Yes, especially with the cameras and beeps that aid parking now.

I never had those when I passed my test.

???

Middle lane hoggers at 50 mph annoy me the most and so common here. I use the m5 multiple times a week due to it being the quickest way to cross the Avon and they are a nightmare. Then there’s the light jumpers at roundabouts, it’s like they haven’t noticed the traffic lights, saw a near miss yesterday. Finally why don’t cyclists have lights and reflective clothing, if I can’t see you I can’t avoid you - no street lamps here so it’s very dark

Or you haven't yet had a situation where you have been caught out. Motorway driving can be more straightforward than town driving.

Perhaps. My DS has some friends who've passed tests within the last couple of years and many of them don't seem to to be able to do a lot of things without sensors, screens etc.

I think honestly there are lots of reasons and people from all walks of life are shit drivers at times for all the reasons mentioned.

There are far more cars on the road than ever before and that doesn’t help.

Also a reduction in police hours to deal with it.

Crap transport infrastructure meaning people aren’t using public transport for the most part does not help at all.

I also think cars are more distracting and we’ve noticed some new roads have a lot of signage which is a big distractions.

And then we can talk about the dazzling headlights which make driving after dark absolutely hazardous.

I do think young drivers should have to do a certain number of hours and experience different road types, times of day and situations before they can pass. Like completing driving portfolio that a registered instructor has to sign off. And once they’ve passed they should have to do a specific number of motorway lessons before they can drive on motorways.

im not sure why the uninsured cars can’t be easily found and removed using the camera network.

Are they not now. My SIL had to take driving test as her south American licence was only valid for a year and same thing with a Canadian friend

and you had to listen to the engine and slowly push the choke in.

How would drivers be able to do the" motorway," ark of the portfolio before getting full license as you need to pass first. And not everywhere has motorways

Ah sorry just noticed you said the motorway but after test Apologies

Wouldn’t it be expensive though as he hasn’t passed a test

Oh no it's much cheaper At 18 ( only a couple of years ago) my DS had a years insurance on a 1.4 car as a provisional licence holder It cost £236 for the year
4 times that amount once test passed

I didnt think they were, although happy to be corrected

Lol I'm not even that old and can remember that. On an old Vauxhall cavalier I think

Likewise.

Cars here have optional indicators too.

Just looked it up. It varies depending on where their licence is from originally.

Woman in her 80s flew across a zebra crossing on school run today. Well over 30mph (in a 20 zone). She clipped a scooter handle & didn’t even notice.

Ah okay - would love for it to apply to everyone really - wouldve said outside of the eu but that wouldnt be fair I suppose given brexit

I think many drivers just don’t care. It’s mostly men.

I've seen some of these police interceptor programmes and a lot of the drivers with no insurance and driving badly seem to be Romanian. Which is EU. So yes probably could do with testing everyone

I feel like I see the same issues over and over again with town drivers - I did see an elderly man stopped dead (noticed his age because I was going to ask if he needed help) at a large, busy and confusing large roundabout READING A MAP! Literally blocking a whole lane. I felt awful for whatever he must have been going through but ffs!
The regular issues that drive me INSANE are drivers who do 35 on a national speed road - WHY??? A single lane road straight leading to the A12. Every fucking day I get stuck behind one car with a huge trail of vehicles stuck behind it because they failed to notice the road goes from 40 to national speed limit.

And.. second biggest issue - not understanding a zip merge. I can’t even articulate how fucking annoying this is, almost having my car hit daily by some dickhead who insists on pushing through because they insist the left lane has priority. There are 2 lanes for a reason