Comments on: Transport Solutions in a Flash of Inspiration http://abrightonboyblogs.co.uk/2010/01/transport-solutions-in-a-flash-of-inspiration/ One man's collected random thoughts and pronouncements on the world in general Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:06:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jon Silverhttp://abrightonboyblogs.co.uk/2010/01/transport-solutions-in-a-flash-of-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-417 Jon Silver Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:36:19 +0000 http://www.jonsilver.me.uk/jonsblog/?p=197#comment-417 As I said, Stuart, the first category of people who should be made to retake a test are those who have caused road traffic accidents. As for driver frustration, that would be alleviated if the roads were less overcrowded and with less bad drivers around. We didn't used to have such a road-rage problem when I was a kid in the 1970s and even into the '80s. I still think a more difficult driving test is the way forward, with more circumstances under which a re-education & retest programme should be mandatory. As I said, Stuart, the first category of people who should be made to retake a test are those who have caused road traffic accidents. As for driver frustration, that would be alleviated if the roads were less overcrowded and with less bad drivers around. We didn’t used to have such a road-rage problem when I was a kid in the 1970s and even into the ’80s. I still think a more difficult driving test is the way forward, with more circumstances under which a re-education & retest programme should be mandatory.

]]> By: Stuarthttp://abrightonboyblogs.co.uk/2010/01/transport-solutions-in-a-flash-of-inspiration/comment-page-1/#comment-406 Stuart Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:41:04 +0000 http://www.jonsilver.me.uk/jonsblog/?p=197#comment-406 Not completely with you on this one Jon.The elderly, people who have driven more than 10 years and those who took the test before 1985 are far from the most lethal car drivers. Indeed as the driving test has been tightened then post test driving standards have, arguably, declined.But I think you might agree that the real danger to anybody on two wheels or the pavement is not the driver's skill - but his/her attitude. That's a bit harder to fix. IMHO one of the problems is the increasing management (traffic lights/lane control etc) that bottles up a driver's frustration. Many younger drivers lack the negotiating skills older hands learnt who eyeball each other at junctions and roundabouts.What to do? Not sure.One idea is to make a cycling proficiency test mandatory before you can apply for a motorbike licence and a motorbike licence to be mandatory before you can apply for car licence and so on. Then at least car and lorry drivers would be more aware of the vulnerability of other road users. Not completely with you on this one Jon.

The elderly, people who have driven more than 10 years and those who took the test before 1985 are far from the most lethal car drivers. Indeed as the driving test has been tightened then post test driving standards have, arguably, declined.

But I think you might agree that the real danger to anybody on two wheels or the pavement is not the driver’s skill – but his/her attitude. That’s a bit harder to fix. IMHO one of the problems is the increasing management (traffic lights/lane control etc) that bottles up a driver’s frustration. Many younger drivers lack the negotiating skills older hands learnt who eyeball each other at junctions and roundabouts.

What to do? Not sure.

One idea is to make a cycling proficiency test mandatory before you can apply for a motorbike licence and a motorbike licence to be mandatory before you can apply for car licence and so on. Then at least car and lorry drivers would be more aware of the vulnerability of other road users.

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