Should there be a driving licence refresher test?

dzsfah2xoynme9 · 01-12-2020 2:29pm #1

Something like every 10 years. Nothing mad, just to see if you understand the rules of the road properly. The standard of driving out there is absolutely horrendous. No indicators, wrong lanes, no ideas at roundabouts, no mirrors, tailgating, full beams on in Broad daylight, no lights on in pitch darkness, driving around in fog or heavy rain with just drls on. Just some of the the stuff I've witnessed. If you're driving around in a 2 tonne metal box you should know how to drive it properly.

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 2:32pm

I agree. This thread pops up every few months. Standard is atrocious. Especially use of indicators at roundabouts, driving too slow, bad parking etc etc.

Without trying to generalise, old people shouldn't be let near the wheel of a car. You have your bus pass. Use it

corner of hells · 01-12-2020 2:52pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I agree. This thread pops up every few months. Standard is atrocious. Especially use of indicators at roundabouts, driving too slow, bad parking etc etc.

Without trying to generalise, old people shouldn't be let near the wheel of a car. You have your bus pass. Use it

The statistics are fairly clear about the age profile of people killing themselves and others in RTAs , lots in thier 20s.
When do you become old ? I'm in my 50s with no points and never caused an accident , so if I keep driving with that record when do I have stop ?

On lighter note , why not just do away with roundabouts ?

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 2:55pm

corner of hells wrote: »

The statistics are fairly clear about the age profile of people killing themselves and others in RTAs , lots in thier 20s.
When do you become old ? I'm in my 50s with no points and never caused an accident , so if I keep driving with that record when do I have stop ?

On lighter note , why not just do away with roundabouts ?

I was more talking about people above 70. It is a medical fact that your peepers and reaction time gets worse with age. I would recommend a re-test every year over the 76 and re-test every two years from 70 to 76.

Anyway, i agree get rid of roundabouts

dzsfah2xoynme9 · 01-12-2020 2:55pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I agree. This thread pops up every few months. Standard is atrocious. Especially use of indicators at roundabouts, driving too slow, bad parking etc etc.

Without trying to generalise, old people shouldn't be let near the wheel of a car. You have your bus pass. Use it

Well I had 2 close calls at roundabouts today. People indicating to go one way then actually going the other way and cutting me up. And neither of them were old. I just think a lot of people are clueless. I'm not a perfect driver myself but I always make sure I use my correct lanes, mirrors, indicators etc. If I keep my standards up they won't slip. I become complacent and that's when accidents happen.

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 2:57pm

Genesis Bald Storekeeper wrote: »

Well I had 2 close calls at roundabouts today. People indicating to go one way then actually going the other way and cutting me up. And neither of them were old. I just think a lot of people are clueless. I'm not a perfect driver myself but I always make sure I use my correct lanes, mirrors, indicators etc. If I keep my standards up they won't slip. I become complacent and that's when accidents happen.

Sorry, i should have put in my initial post that i think there is a high proportion of all drivers that are useless.

A trend i have found lately is N drivers seem to be worse than L drivers. Maybe overconfidense. I don't know

plainbiscuits · 01-12-2020 2:59pm

I think the Theory test at least should be completed every few years. New types of Road Signs and Rules etc do change all the time and would make everyone at least aware.

atr2002 · 01-12-2020 2:59pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Without trying to generalise, old people shouldn't be let near the wheel of a car. You have your bus pass. Use it

Ha ha ha

atr2002 · 01-12-2020 3:00pm

corner of hells wrote: »

why not just do away with roundabouts ?

They're the safest form of junction

ByTheSea2019 · 01-12-2020 3:02pm

I don't think it's lack of knowledge but carelessness and complacency. I think there should be compulsory dashcams for everyone. If people knew that if they're in an accident, the way they were driving will be studied they would behave differently. Also, they would know that someone who is really annoyed about being overtaken dangerously or something like that could report them even if there's no accident.

Your Face · 01-12-2020 3:03pm

I agree with use of the road being at a sub-standard level.
I regularly seem to be the one who is dealing with others mistakes. I dont whether its their incompetence, stupidity or ignorance. Probably a combination of all those things.

Having said that, I wouldn't like to have to sit a driving test every 10 years due to other peoples incompetence.
The expansion Garda Traffic Corps is what I would propose.

corner of hells · 01-12-2020 3:03pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Sorry, i should have put in my initial post that i think there is a high proportion of all drivers that are useless.

A trend i have found lately is N drivers seem to be worse than L drivers. Maybe overconfidense. I don't know

I'd go for that , a high proportion of drivers are just crazy.

mr.anonymous · 01-12-2020 3:03pm

No
The current rules should be enforced by traffic police (in addition to the speed vans).

corner of hells · 01-12-2020 3:03pm

atr2002 wrote: »

They're the safest form of junction

I'm joking.

tayto lover · 01-12-2020 3:04pm

I have seen some terrible driving from all ages and sexes.
I know both young and old drivers who are excellent.

I’d make a refresher test mandatory for anyone convicted of careless or dangerous driving in court.

Punish the offenders and not the competent drivers.

Plumbthedepths · 01-12-2020 3:04pm

Genesis Bald Storekeeper wrote: »

Something like every 10 years. Nothing mad, just to see if you understand the rules of the road properly. The standard of driving out there is absolutely horrendous. No indicators, wrong lanes, no ideas at roundabouts, no mirrors, tailgating, full beams on in Broad daylight, no lights on in pitch darkness, driving around in fog or heavy rain with just drls on. Just some of the the stuff I've witnessed. If you're driving around in a 2 tonne metal box you should know how to drive it properly.

Just get rid of Audi's and BMW's, I don't believe indicators come as standard.

ElJeffe · 01-12-2020 3:04pm

No. I've driven all over the world in a truck and on my motorbike and Ireland has some of the highest standards I've come across.

01-12-2020 3:06pm

I don't think it'd make a lick of difference.

People will do exactly as they do in the original test.

- Feed steering wheel through hands
- Check mirrors often
- Indicate on time
- Keep appropriate distance from car in front
- Etc, etc

As soon as the test is over they'll throw them all out the window.

I've no idea of stats or studies but I'd argue Ireland ranks in the top few % when it comes to civilised road use.

Half an hour in Rome is worse than 20 years in Ireland.

tayto lover · 01-12-2020 3:06pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Without trying to generalise, old people shouldn't be let near the wheel of a car. You have your bus pass. Use it

Yet it’s young males 18/24 who are involved in the majority of accidents according to the Insurance Companies. Explain that?

RandomViewer · 01-12-2020 3:07pm

Not a licence refresher but maybe a full medical every time it's due renewal

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 3:07pm

ElJeffe wrote: »

No. I've driven all over the world in a truck and on my motorbike and Ireland has some of the highest standards I've come across.

Spain and Portugal spring to mind with anything goes on the road type of drivers

RandomViewer · 01-12-2020 3:08pm

tayto lover wrote: »

Yet it’s young males 18/24 who are involved in the majority of accidents according to the Insurance Companies. Explain that?

Old dude hits your car , pays for the damage, insurance never knows,

Plumbthedepths · 01-12-2020 3:09pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Spain and Portugal spring to mind with anything goes on the road type of drivers

Italy, especially Verona and Rome are scary but what an experience.

GLaDOS · 01-12-2020 3:10pm

I assume most drivers know the rules, they just don't care.

People going through late orange/red lights is a common one. They know they shouldn't, but they do it anyway.

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 3:12pm

tayto lover wrote: »

Yet it’s young males 18/24 who are involved in the majority of accidents according to the Insurance Companies. Explain that?

I agree also that young pups a lot of the time are no better, it's more speeding, showing off, drink & drugs rather than capability. I'll assume a lot of the crashes involve one of those

GarIT · 01-12-2020 3:13pm

You shouldn't be able to renew a driving licence. It should expire after the 10 years and you have to do another test if you want another licence.

Coybig_ · 01-12-2020 3:13pm

mr.anonymous wrote: »

No
The current rules should be enforced by traffic police (in addition to the speed vans).

Speed vans are a waste of time.

We send a ton of them to motorways, which are responsible for 3% of road fatalities. Literally the safest roads to drive on.

On the other hand, there is a clear problem with many regional or local roads where many treat them as their own personal F1 track. Police the areas that require policing and stop trying to shamelessly buffer statistics in non-problem areas and generate cash through fines.

They would be better off putting a speed counter at sites of Irish deaths - and tell people that someone has died there on/below the speed counter.

After that a theory test which must be completed every 10 years, and a full driving test every 3 years for over 70's.

Halenvaneddie · 01-12-2020 3:15pm

Considering how boomers were given them by the government back in the day without sitting a test , yes

lawrencesummers · 01-12-2020 3:16pm

Retesting people is wishful thinking when the current waiting time for tests is gone up to 30 weeks, espically when the majority of people are decent drivers.

That said getting kicked down to a provisional licence should be a common sanction from the courts for a level of road traffic offences like drink driving or reaching max penalty points.

That will hurt the offender nicely by increasing insurance premiums and making them get a slew of driving lessons before resitting their test.

PMBC · 01-12-2020 3:20pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I was more talking about people above 70. It is a medical fact that your peepers and reaction time gets worse with age. I would recommend a re-test every year over the 76 and re-test every two years from 70 to 76.

Anyway, i agree get rid of roundabouts

Funny.
But I agree even as I get closer daily to 68. Reaction times are slower as is concentration. But you can mitigate those by driving more slowly and 'preventatively'. I estimate Ive driven 15,000 liles last year and almost a million since starting at age 23 and only had one accident when I collided with a cow around this time of year at 6.30 pm and he happened to be in the middle of the road.
The insurance industry could be supportive (lol) by giving a small reduction to older drivers who successfully pass repeater or advanced driver tests.

Wibbs · 01-12-2020 3:23pm

I would say yes. Taken say every ten years past 40, every five past 60. Though I would agree with others above, Ireland's drivers are not the worst by a long shot and the notion we are smacks a little too much of the usual lack of self confidence in the Irish psyche. We're better than the Spanish on average as one example. Drive a few hours there and you're likely to see a car in a ditch. We also do better in the stats compared to Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Belgium... Even though our roads themselves outside motorways can be bloody awful in places.

Wibbs · 01-12-2020 3:25pm

PMBC wrote: »

The insurance industry could be supportive (lol)

lol indeed P. And pigs might fly. Bad driving may be penalised by them, good driving isn't rewarded.

Graces7 · 01-12-2020 3:25pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I was more talking about people above 70. It is a medical fact that your peepers and reaction time gets worse with age. I would recommend a re-test every year over the 76 and re-test every two years from 70 to 76.

Anyway, i agree get rid of roundabouts

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 3:27pm

Graces7 wrote: »

Graces7 · 01-12-2020 3:27pm

atr2002 wrote: »

Ha ha ha

Especially in deep rural areas....

Plumbthedepths · 01-12-2020 3:27pm

Wibbs wrote: »

I would say yes. Taken say every ten years past 40, every five past 60. Though I would agree with others above, Ireland's drivers are not the worst by a long shot and the notion we are smacks a little too much of the usual lack of self confidence in the Irish psyche. We're better than the Spanish on average as one example. Drive a few hours there and you're likely to see a car in a ditch. We also do better in the stats compared to Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Poland, Belgium... Even though our roads themselves outside motorways can be bloody awful in places.

I'm driving for 25 years. Cars, buses and trucks. Only ever involved in two crashes neither of which happened in Ireland or my fault. The standard of driving on the continent is appalling and amusing. You frequently ask yourself did that just happen. Irish drivers by and large are slightly better than their European counterparts despite what threads such as this would try and convey.

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 3:34pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I'm driving for 25 years. Cars, buses and trucks. Only ever involved in two crashes neither of which happened in Ireland or my fault. The standard of driving on the continent is appalling and amusing. You frequently ask yourself did that just happen. Irish drivers by and large are slightly better than their European counterparts despite what threads such as this would try and convey.

This backs up your point i suppose

https://etsc.eu/euroadsafetydata/

Kimbot · 01-12-2020 3:37pm

MOD Moved to Motors as its more appropriate in there, please take note of local charter.

duffman3833 · 01-12-2020 3:37pm

I disagree with having to re do a full theory test again. You would need more theory test centres and the waiting times would increase a lot. If convicted of any driving offence, then yes, they will need to do a test but no need for everyone to do it again.
The point about dash cams is good, make them mandatory but should be built into cars from manufacturers (without GPS as i dont want them know my location all the time, google knows enough

)

Plumbthedepths · 01-12-2020 3:45pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

This backs up your point i suppose

https://etsc.eu/euroadsafetydata/

I have friends in the UK that make the same claim about appalling UK drivers,as made here about here Irish drivers. The stats don't bear out the claims based on your graph.
My comment was based on my experience driving in mainland Europe. There is a very strange desire in Irish people to belittle their countryman on a wide range of topics, something I can't say I have noticed widespread elsewhere . Maybe the UK to a degree but they are 4 different countries and regional differences.

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 3:57pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I have friends in the UK that make the same claim about appalling UK drivers,as made here about here Irish drivers. The stats don't bear out the claims based on your graph.
My comment was based on my experience driving in mainland Europe. There is a very strange desire in Irish people to belittle their countryman on a wide range of topics, something I can't say I have noticed widespread elsewhere . Maybe the UK to a degree but they are 4 different countries and regional differences.

I have driven a small amount in England, around the berkshire area where there a roundabout it seems every half mile and i found their road compliance to be quite good. Maybe because of said roundabouts, but i'm sure people gripe about same frustrations that we do over here

ohnonotgmail · 01-12-2020 4:33pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I have driven a small amount in England, around the berkshire area where there a roundabout it seems every half mile and i found their road compliance to be quite good. Maybe because of said roundabouts, but i'm sure people gripe about same frustrations that we do over here

they certainly do lane discipline on motorways better than we do.

liamog · 01-12-2020 4:34pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

they certainly do lane discipline on motorways better than we do.

I've seen UK motorway police enforce lane discipline, I've only ever seen Garda sit in the furthest overtaking lane.

Jim_Hodge · 01-12-2020 5:12pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I agree. This thread pops up every few months. Standard is atrocious. Especially use of indicators at roundabouts, driving too slow, bad parking etc etc.

Without trying to generalise, old people shouldn't be let near the wheel of a car. You have your bus pass. Use it

Bus pass is useless when there's no bus service in the area.

RandomViewer wrote: »

Not a licence refresher but maybe a full medical every time it's due renewal

You mean like it is at the moment?

Charles Babbage · 01-12-2020 5:51pm

duffman3833 wrote: »

I disagree with having to re do a full theory test again. You would need more theory test centres and the waiting times would increase a lot. If convicted of any driving offence, then yes, they will need to do a test but no need for everyone to do it again.
The point about dash cams is good, make them mandatory but should be built into cars from manufacturers (without GPS as i dont want them know my location all the time, google knows enough )

Theory testing can be done in various ways. Have it down at the school on a Saturday, no need for new centres.

Theory testing every 10 years seems very reasonable and the authorities screwed up when the new licences were introduced and people had to go to NDLS centres that this was not required.

Isambard · 01-12-2020 5:54pm

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I agree. This thread pops up every few months. Standard is atrocious. Especially use of indicators at roundabouts, driving too slow, bad parking etc etc.

Without trying to generalise, old people shouldn't be let near the wheel of a car. You have your bus pass. Use it

I have a bus pass...no buses though.

It seems to me it's young people and middle aged women the worst drivers. Too impatient in the first instance and incompetent in the second.

I'm not sure what a second test would achieve, if you've been driving ten years you surely know how to control a car. a proper (State) Medical now might be another matter. There are indeed a good few older drivers on the road who shouldn't be, signed off by their doctor's as medically OK.

Stevieluvsye · 01-12-2020 5:59pm

Isambard wrote: »

I have a bus pass...no buses though.

It seems to me it's young people and middle aged women the worst drivers. Too impatient in the first instance and incompetent in the second.

I'm not sure what a second test would achieve, if you've been driving ten years you surely know how to control a car. a proper (State) Medical now might be another matter. There are indeed a good few older drivers on the road who shouldn't be, signed off by their doctor's as medically OK.

who drive high end cars. Epitomy of "i don't give two fcuks about road etiquette"

jmreire · 01-12-2020 6:14pm

Plumbthedepths wrote: »

I'm driving for 25 years. Cars, buses and trucks. Only ever involved in two crashes neither of which happened in Ireland or my fault. The standard of driving on the continent is appalling and amusing. You frequently ask yourself did that just happen. Irish drivers by and large are slightly better than their European counterparts despite what threads such as this would try and convey.

If you really wanted a comparison. you would find Russian very educational, and try taking a truck and trailer through Istanbul some time for the auld bit of excitement. 😀

Wishbone Ash · 01-12-2020 7:43pm

PMBC wrote: »

... when I collided with a cow around this time of year at 6.30 pm and he happened to be in the middle of the road....

He??

Sweet Jesus. How could you think a cow was male?

Isambard · 01-12-2020 7:48pm

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

He??

Sweet Jesus. How could you think a cow was male?

it's the hormones theyn feed them with

mikemac2 · 01-12-2020 7:48pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Half an hour in Rome is worse than 20 years in Ireland.

This poster speaks the truth

Never was I more scared using a pedestrian crossing than the city of Rome :eek:

PMBC wrote: »

only had one accident when I collided with a cow around this time of year at 6.30 pm and he happened to be in the middle of the road.

Don't leave us hanging

Was the cow alright?

Should there be a driving licence refresher test?

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