"graduated driver licensing"

doopa

I realise its probably been on here before - but there is a news story on the BBC about it again:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11376809

Main points include -
zero alcohol limit for newly qualified drivers (I think this could be expected to be expanded to anyone that drives professionally - i.e. truck drivers, taxi men etc)

Speed Restrictions - i.e. R plates in the north. 45mph I believe.

No driving on the motorway

Ban on night-time driving

Other random quote: Their research will show that those in deprived areas are twice as likely to be killed or injured than those in affluent areas.

The system in New Zealand is pretty unique in this regard. Well unique that I've heard. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver_licensing_in_New_Zealand#Stages

I reckon the night-time one is a bit unnecessary however could be overcome by introducing something like Pass-Plus in England and Wales which is a test for nighttime driving and driving on the motorway (no restricted drivers there). If you pass you get lower insurance premiums. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pass_plus . Haven't seen anything similar here.

KamiKazi

"I see"

DublinDilbert

doopa wrote: »

I realise its probably been on here before - but there is a news story on the BBC about it again:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11376809

Main points include -
zero alcohol limit for newly qualified drivers (I think this could be expected to be expanded to anyone that drives professionally - i.e. truck drivers, taxi men etc)

Speed Restrictions - i.e. R plates in the north. 45mph I believe.

No driving on the motorway

Ban on night-time driving

Other random quote: Their research will show that those in deprived areas are twice as likely to be killed or injured than those in affluent areas.

The system in New Zealand is pretty unique in this regard. Well unique that I've heard. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver_licensing_in_New_Zealand#Stages

I reckon the night-time one is a bit unnecessary however could be overcome by introducing something like Pass-Plus in England and Wales which is a test for nighttime driving and driving on the motorway (no restricted drivers there). If you pass you get lower insurance premiums. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pass_plus . Haven't seen anything similar here.

They've had the same system in ontario/canada for years now. It works very well IMO.

Leonard Hofstadter

Why not have a lower alcohol level for ALL motorists, given that we all know it impairs driving?

Reduced speed limits are crazy, it will either be ignored by those on an R plate or else it will drive everyone else mental and force them to overtake which would result in more fatalities on the road.

People don't seem to realise that while slowing down needlessly on the road may make it safer for them, it is at the expense of other motorists who have better things to be doing than driving everywhere at 20 mph.

djimi

I dont agree with a curfew or not allowing motorway driving, and Im not even in favor of a reduced speed limit (more so for everyone elses sake), but I do definately think that there needs to be restrictions on how newly qualified drivers can drive. The idea that a 17yo can pass their test with a handful of lessons and a few hours on the road, jump into their fathers M5 and go pick up 4 of their mates to go driving seems utterly ridiculous to me.

The two biggest restrictions I would put in place would be the class of car a newly qualified driver can drive and how many passengers they are allowed to carry.

But as is always the case when this kind of thing is brought out, you can bring out all the laws and regulations that you want, but they wont be policed, and until the guards start doing a proper job of policing the roads and the laws already in place then no new laws are going to make a blind bit of difference.

furtzy

Reckon we're heading towards an EU wide graduated system in the very near future. Its what Brussels wants they have been talking about it for a while now