To think Driving should be taught in schools

[Bathsheba]

Is it just me or is there an increasing/significant number of posts in AIBU where "I can't drive" is either brought up at the beginning or added "by stealth" later on in the posting.

I think in a modern world, driving is SUCH an important life skill and SO required for life that it should be formally taught in schools so that, in time no-one would be able "not" to drive...if however they chose to, or used their money differently that would clearly be their choice rather than being hampered by an inability to do it...

But you don't need to drive. Far better really if people didn't, for the enviroment really. If people are happy enough to take public transport then that's great. Far better to teach first aid, finance, proper cooking etc. Though I have just passed my test 2 days ago and am so so happy!

I don't know about teaching it at school, but I'm amazed there don't appear to be more 'virtual driving school' games/ pieces of software.

I was actively looking for a game which would teach DS the basics of highway code, driving situations etc, but I couldn't find anything?
I'm sure if I'd had a chance to make all those bumps and mistakes before I'd ever been allowed to get into a car it would have
a) saved my parents a fortune
b) allowed me to pass on my 17th birthday

Does anyone know of such games exist? (I mean practical ones, rather than Highway Code theory etc)

Brilliant idea! I can only dream for a time when the skills of the average driver are on a par with the writing, mathematical and analytical skills of the average school leaver!

The idea of spending millions upon millions upon milions to take teenagers out of academic lessons, and then to unleash them from school at 17 with one thought in their minds - get a car - or else to waste the instruction by not being able to afford a car (like ?% of British households?) and / or not getting a job that needed driving skills doesn't seem like a great use of resources to me.

The idea of people who need to learn to drive as part of their job or carer plans being able to get an nterest-free loan to do so appeals more.

i think it would be great if it was taught in school. me and dh both don't drive but would like to (just not got round to it so far really...), but if that was scheduled into schools and done automatically as part of the curiculum i would be in favour of that idea

Yes, I'd agree in fact. Being able to drive is really, really useful. My best friend at school didn't learn for years because her father - let me say again, her FATHER - wouldn't teach her in case she damaged his car. My mum started to teach her because she felt so strongly that all women should know how to drive.

Well, he's dead now; de mortuis nil nisi bonum. [mutters] But it would have been great if the school had offered it as an option.

I'd also like all schools to teach shooting but I would guess that's a non-starter Must look into learning myself and taking ds.

I can't drive and have on intention of learning so ner.

Anyway, it would cost billions to implement so it will never happen. All taxes raised from now to eternity have been ear marked for bailing out feckless banks.

Her father wouldn't teach her to drive? Couldn't she have had driving lessons from a driving instructor instead of relying on/waiting for family to teach her Choosy?

(genuine question not having a go!)

I don't agree OP. I didn't drive until I was 26 - lived in London so didn't need to and couldn't afford a car anyway. DH only learned this year. It's not an essential skill, more of an convenience, and an expensive, dangerous and environmentally unfriendly one at that

I don't think it's a good idea to learn at school - enough is already squeezed out of the cirriculum as it is.

Also, if lots of people learn to drive but perhaps can't afford a car for a few years, they presumably wouldn't have to retake lessons or a test. There are enough crap drivers on the roads already surely!

What's wrong with people not driving? I can drive, but refuse to own a car now.

Also, how would you teach it in schools?
a) the students would have to be 17
b) you would (or at least should) need qualified instructors
c) would it be just one car per school? If more how would they afford petrol/insurance etc?

It's not practical for schools. Also it would put a lot of driving instructors out of the job. My dad being a driving instructor will have biased me here.

Cornflakemum > I believe there is something out there which is the hazard perception test. Which is worth a try. Here it is

I think time would be better spent on other things.

I also think that would send the message that to get around you must drive a car, when that is hardly helpful from an environmental pov.

I do drive, but try not to. I'm fitter as a result, and the air is cleaner.

I don't know, but I don't think it's the role of schools to teach driving, and it would be a logistical nightmare, wouldn't it?

Far better approach (IMHO...) would be soemthing like:

Ages 11-16/18:
Road Safety
Traffic Safety
Highway Code (Theory) - all supported in an on-line environment, for 'practice'

Then, as Blu says, some form of financial help (interest free loans etc) for those people who will use it for vocational purposes.

I'm sorry to pick on your comment, Firawla, but if you've 'just not got round to it' then it obviously isn't that much of a priority for you.

I don't really think it is a school's responsibility to spoon-feed every last little skill a person needs in life - people need to learn to be proactive and pursue new skills for themselves.

In schools in the US you can do Driver's Ed. But then look at the US! I wouldn't want the uk to be as car-centric as that.

I don't drive but I passed my test in 93 and have hardly driven since as DH needs car for work and we don't really need two cars most of the time.

However I did notice something on DC's secondary school website about "Driving School" for year 11/12 (I think) so maybe they are doing something about driving in school.

I don't agree either! Why should people learn to drive? Isn't it a choice? As long as you are not relying on other people to drive you around, then you should be free to take public transport or walk or whatever you like. I get tired of drivers (ie my DP) complaining that non-drivers are burdens on drivers.

YABU. It doesn't bother me in the slightest if someone drives or doesn't drive - am struggling to see why it would impact on me personally ? I'm just absolutely aghast at the price of driving lessons these days.

Not being able to drive - and not being able to pay for lessons has cerainly hampered my nieces chance of good jobs.
I'm all for it. Don't they do this in America?

"I'm just absolutely aghast at the price of driving lessons these days."

It's crazy isn't it? Crazier is just how little of that is actually profit for the instructor

I did a driving course at school in canada.
It only covered the theory if I remember correctly. Then you did the lessons with whoever.

Yes - don't believe the 'You can earn up to £30,000 per year' tripe. What those adverts don't mention is how many hours a day, every day you'd have to work (presuming you could actually attract the pupils), that you're self-employed and have to pay your own tax & NI, that you have to lease the vehicle from them at a silly rate per week.....

Perhaps to teach some theory might be OK.

But with some pupils leaving school barely able to read and write, I don´t think it´s a priority tbh!

I'm glad I didn't have to learn in school. I was just not ready at 17. It gobbled up most of my earnings from my Saturday job and caused me so much stress and upset that it interfered with my A-level work; I just could not do it, and didn't need to. I went to uni in a small town then moved to London.

I eventually passed at 27, when I could afford it and was looking for a challenge!

I would hate to think of any more pressure being put on teenagers to pass tests.