Young Drivers

[number8]

In view of the numbers of cars on the roads nowadays, is it time we had a moratorium on driving tests for young drivers? Or more specifically, young male drivers. I suggest three years. At 17/18, young men are neither mature enough or responsible enough to be in charge of a car (the accident stats speak for themselves). By not allowing them to drive until they are 21, hopefully they would have matured enough to take control. Plus of course, this three year delay means that that's 3 years of old people stopping driving with less people to take their place. On the subject of old people driving, a mandatory re-test every 3 years after 65/70?

[linseli]

Anyone who passed their test more than 5-10 years ago doesn't know what is involved in passing a driving test now.  Theory/hazard perception tests have to be passed before you can take the practical. Yes it's money-making for the govt and not rocket science but you do a lot more now than answer a couple of highway code questions.  The practical test lasts longer now to test concentration and you have to demonstrate basics like how to test oil levels or fill your radiator up.  All v simple but I know people who passed their tests years ago who can't do this without help (very scary).

Previously, if you made a mistake (even a serious one) the examiner had the discretion to still pass you if they thought that overall you were OK. That discretion has been removed - too many minor faults and it's an automatic fail.   

I started to learn 10 yrs ago then went abroad to live before finishing - when I came back I couldn't believe a) how road conditions had changed and the sheer volume of traffic and b) the test was v different. Even though inexperienced when I passed I'd already proved a higher standard than was needed 10yrs earlier. Boy racers will still be idiots at the 21 and probably 41.  I'm with sft42 on this - make it hard to get a licence and educate the young how dangerous cars are but at the moment you can pass a test at 17 and nobody looks at your driving skills again until you're 70.  Resits for all - every 10yrs like getting your passport renewed.  Retests could be done in simulators which the bigger driving schools already have leaving the overstretched examiners to deal with the learners.  But if won't happen - people always think they are good drivers and the problem is everyone else on the road!