A New Way of Thinking as Regards Testing?

DrumSteve

I was going to put this in learning to drive but I thought it might get better exposure in here( if mods want to move it though ive no problem with that, also this is not a rant at driving testers).

Basically I think that now is the time for us to review how we work the driving test and how it is done in this country. I believe that the current system is unfair due to the one off nature of the test. Some people (myself included) found it very hard to get in a car with someone sits there with a pen and a pad and judges you. Nerves do get the better of people who might otherwise be great drivers and people who shouldn’t pass do due to either a tester’s perception of them or just good luck on the day.( i think we may need sgs again for some of these suggestions)

Maybe a system of continuous assessment would be beneficial to everyone involved. I know it might take longer than to do than the current test but I think if people took a lot longer to learn their driving skills they would stay with them for longer (plus also help to improve many of the bad habits that road drivers use on a daily basis). I also propose that we have a tiered licence system as not everyone on a provisional would be a bad driver but they would not be qualified to drive on motorways. In addition to this I would like to add that the lowest possible alcohol level be enforced on learners.(I know some of this is similar to the current system but bear with me…)

Tier 0: No driving. This tier is for schools and no actual physical licence is given out. However once a week information on various driving rules are passed out to schools to give kids a grounding in knowledge of the road.

Tier 1: (minimum age of 16)People cannot drive on their own and can only be out during certain times under strict supervision of a qualified instructor (i.e at times of least traffic). They learn all the rules of the road and they cannot progress to the next tier for at least 3 months. At the end of this they progress.

Tier 2: People focus now on driving in traffic again accompanied by either a qualified driver or full licence holder at all times. During this time they will learn road techniques that will eliminate bad habits. At the end of this there is a short test on brake/clutch/acceleration/observation and also the rules of the road again. This should go on for roughly 6 months. If the test is failedthey have to resit within 1 month.

Tier 3: People now work on all advanced road techniques such as overtaking/ turnabout and so forth. During this period driver’s can drive on their own to build up confidence but only during daylight hours. All night driving must be accompanied by a full licence holder. At the end of this is a short test only judged on the advanced techniques and the rules of the road.

Tier 4: (which is optional and might be a bit speculative) Drivers can learn advanced techniques such as driving on slippery surfaces or ice driving. This will come in addition to their full licence.

Again this are just thoughts of mine so don’t kill me. I would like to see the test changed to encourage drivers to learn how to drive and keep that knowledge as opposed to just passing the test and pissing all that knowledge away. In the end if we promote better driving we will save lives and make driving better for everyone involved. If I can think of anything else ill edit my post.

peasant

Personally, I think continous assessment is a good idea for the leaving cert, but in a driving test a good dose of nerves is a good thing.

Basically, what's assessed in the driving test is not only your driving skill, but much more how well you have mastered basic vehicle operation and control.
If the presence of an examiner throws you all out of kilter and you mess up your gear shift or mix up your pedals ...then basically you shouldn't be on the road. There will be much more stressful situations later on, if you can't do your basic control without thinking ...how will you concentrate on traffic.

Behind the wheel I have no time at all for nervous people and I much rather the driving test sort them out.

Anan1

I have to agree with peasant on this one - anyone who can't drive consistently safely in the presence of a tester is not yet ready to drive unaccompanied, IMO.

DrumSteve

continous assessment is good for the leaving cert but not driving? thats bollocks imo. so i can go out,get ten lessons and maybe scrape a pass if i hold my nerves together?

I never suggested we get rid of having a tester in the car i just suggested that the tests are staggered so people get better at driving over time and build up their driving knowledge. A one off test does no one any favours as how is a tester meant to get a proper gauge of your driving habits in 25 minutes?

peasant

Regardless of how many continous assessment tests you have in the run-up, there will always have to be one final test before someone signs off on letting you out on your own.

Now I think we all agree that that the driver education before that test could be much improved with some mandatory driving hours under tuition at night/ on the motorway, etc ...but I fail to see how more tests at that juncture would improve or change the end result.

dudara

I think that driving education has to be bought into the schools - a la Driver's Ed in the U.S.

Schools are one of the few channels available to provide consistent, structured education.

DrumSteve

i do think that it would contribute greatly especially as regards building up driver confidence. also having different parts the test under different instructors would elimanate claims that "the tester was in a bad mood" or whatever and would actually give greater insight as to driving habits over time. how is a tester really meant to gauge you on a once off? If you are forced to drive good over a long period of time then those good habits will stay with you.

peasant, I can see the point in what your saying but i think there is significant room for improvement in this country of showing people how to drive and more importantly, drive safely.

Anan1

DrumSteve wrote: »

A one off test does no one any favours as how is a tester meant to get a proper gauge of your driving habits in 25 minutes?

All the test really proves is that the driver is capable of driving to a minimum standard for those 25 minutes. It's by no means enough, but anyone who can't even manage that minimum has no place driving unaccompanied on our roads. As I see it, the first step is to enforce current laws re learners driving unaccompanied.

peasant

DrumSteve wrote: »

i think there is significant room for improvement in this country of showing people how to drive and more importantly, drive safely.

absolutely no disagreement from me on this one

Some element of driver education in school, no driving without a properly qualified instructor in a dual control car and more compulsory hours in different conditions (night driving, motorway driving, unknown route driving) would go a long way to achieve that IMO.

If it makes you happy, I'd even throw in the odd test along the way

DrumSteve

Anan1 wrote: »

All the test really proves is that the driver is capable of driving to a minimum standard for those 25 minutes. It's by no means enough, but anyone who can't even manage that minimum has no place driving unaccompanied on our roads. As I see it, the first step is to enforce current laws re learners driving unaccompanied.

yes but as per my previous post doing it over time improves the standard of learner driving and also knocks that old suggestions that the tester had in for you (in certain cases). 25 minutes in a car does not a good driver make and as i've said before how can you properly judge someone in this time?

Judge someone over a period of time (with multiple tests) and assess their driving that way. a one off does no one any favours either the drivers who are capable of driving but defeat themselves before they even get into the test or the testers who are forced to get in to cars with people who clearly arent up to the standard.

DrumSteve

peasant wrote: »

absolutely no disagreement from me on this one

Some element of driver education in school, no driving without a properly qualified instructor in a dual control car and more compulsory hours in different conditions (night driving, motorway driving, unknown route driving) would go a long way to achieve that IMO.

If it makes you happy, I'd even throw in the odd test along the way

consider me happy then lol

Shires

dudara wrote: »

I think that driving education has to be bought into the schools - a la Driver's Ed in the U.S.

Schools are one of the few channels available to provide consistent, structured education.

Yes please.

If I was leader, I would give the filth the power to compel people to resit their test (or lose full license). Unsure what conditions I would impose.