Good idea or not?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.telegraph....amily-passengers.html

1/ Banning novice drivers from carrying passengers altogether.

2/ Ban on carrying anyone other than family members as passengers.

3/ Leaving things as they are.

4/ Your suggestions.

[emmie]

not sure how you could implement a ban on young drivers carrying passengers, it's a good idea in principle. Can't see it working though

[woofgang]

There is a difference of fact between "young" and "novice" drivers, I didn't learn to drive until I was in my mid thirties. You could make newly qualified drivers used a probationary sticker and ban probationers from carrying passengers but policing it would be hell.

I do think that there should be a ban on private cars as there is on minibusses of carrying more passengers than the car is designed to carry.

[emmie]

as you said, how do you police it.

[Mick-Talbot]

It is bloody stupid.
When I was seventeen my mates and I went all over the country in a car with no problem at all, why should todays kids be denied that right?

What about seventeen year olds who spend most of their waking day with their partner?

"I'm of to town...I will pass you at the bus stop and see you there" ...ridiculous.

[237SJ]

Unless compulsory ID is introduced in this country I don`t see how they can ban someone from carrying family members. Even ID doesn`t prove a family link. I think that`s a daft suggestion. I do think that everyone should re-take their test every 10 or 15 years though. I`ve seen some dreadful examples of driving lately.

[albaqwerty]

How about the youngster who passes his test, has car and offers a lift to other siblings to get them to college or school?

[emmie]

i think that people should retake their tests a lot sooner than 10/15 years, going on some of the drivers i have come across.

[emmie]

alba, the problem being is that when you are that age, and we have all been there, you think you are invincible, nothing or no one can touch you. Get into a motor vehicle and maybe you lose all sense of danger, and seemingly the statistics bear out what is being said, that some are not ready or safe to drive others around.

[Gromit]

5/ Compulsary retesting of drivers over 60 every five years.

[emmie]

so you think it's only people over 60 who should be retested, rather ageist wouldn't you say.

[albaqwerty]

True, Em, the youngster I was thinking about is 23.

Compulsory retesting every 5 years (maybe 7) for every driver.
However, who would pay for that?

[Mick-Talbot]

that some are not ready or safe to drive others around.


Then they should not have been given a licence, em.

[emmie]

MT, but they are aren't they, pass your test, go directly to jail, do not pass go..

[Mick-Talbot]

How can they be safe to drive but not safe to carry a passenger?
Where is the logic?

[emmie]

because the law is saying that some new drivers end up killing themselves and others into the bargain. Once you pass your test you are free to go on any road aren't you? and just because you passed your test doesn't mean to say you are automatically a good driver.

[emmie]

http://www.saferroads...ualified-drivers.html

[Mick-Talbot]

So where is the logic?

We will let you drive because we don't care if you kill yourself, new young driver

We will let you onto the roads where you could cause the deaths of other road users, new young driver.

But for god sake we will not allow you to carry a passenger and put their lives in danger ...For Funks Sake do you think we are stupid?

Again, I ask "where is the logic?"

[Gromit]

Not ageist em10, the data proves it

Road death figures 2008 (the last year I could find broken into age groups)

55-64 year olds 194 deaths
65+ year olds 482 deaths

[emmie]

gromit, suggest look at the link i provided, and i didn't say it had logic, nor did i say that it could be implemented, calm down you will give yourself a coronary.

[Prudie]

Better to add more elements to 'learning to drive' than just the test. An awareness course with some hard hitting reality shocks might make young drivers who pack their car with mates and then show off think twice.