The only people who would abide by new laws are those who already obey the law and don't cause problems in the first place.

Our roads are just about the safest in the world. There is always room for improvement, but I think most drivers do a good job.

I do think dieseldogg's first idea would reduce the number of accidents on the roads. And I'd enforce the use of mobile phones whilst driving with the inroduction of much heftier fines. I think that would make the arrogant/ignorant wake up.

Edited by Trilogy on 12/12/2012 at 18:47

Not at all UT-I've taken and passed so many different driving related tests in my life another one wouldn't worry me.

Car test-1968 pass first time.

M/c test 1995 pass first time.

M/c advanced test 1997 pass first time (examiner police class one rider)

Numerous upgrade courses with serving and ex-police instructors Rospa

2002 DSA instructor (car) theory test(part 1) 100 questions passed first time marked 99/100.

2002 DSA instructor (car) driving ability test(part 2) passed second time 2 faults

2002 DSA Instructional ability test (Part 3) passed second time graded 4

DSA instructor (car) qualified for 8 years -3 DSA check tests- ended up graded 5.

DSA Instructor theory test retake 2006 including the new hazard perception test -passfirst time.

And yourself?

Would you advocate a 17 year old being perfectly legally able to get into a Ferrari and drive it at 100mph around? You do a lot less damage in a slower car. Same goes for limits on motorbikes as well. My views on this subject are well known from other threads and on the DT.

Personally I'd raise the minimum driving age to at least 18 (I would also do the same for many other "adult" things like marriage, joining the armed forces, etc) - maybe even 21 if it could stop all those idiot students from causing mayhem on a Friday/Saturday night. - hopefully once they're finished with college and (if they can get one) have a job they might learn some road manners and respect for others.

Re-testing everyone every 10 years (at least) and every 2-3 over (say) 70 or 75 (including eye tests results [done as part of your normal test, a bit like a human MOT]), plus legally having to declare all ailments that may affect driving (and if on a list would have to be verified by your GP to say you were ok to drive).

Much harsher penalties for really bad driving (including drink/drug driving [well over the limit]) including lifetime bans.

MOTs to be carried out separately from dealerships/garages by independent firms or VOSA centres, with govt inspections (e.g. hidden cameras a la Watchdog) paid for out of initially a small levy on the MOT, then subsidised by big fines for any person/organisation providing MOTs that undertake dodgy practices. I've never had an MOT delioberately failed by any of my cars' dealerships, but there are quite a few who still do. Might be a bit overkill though.

End ambulance-chasing. Insurance companies should not be able (if you don't want them to - this would also apply to screenscrapers like Moneysupermarket & co as well) to pass on your details to "claims management companies" (or "recommend any) - all claims should be entirely processed by the insurance company unless the person insured wishes to go elsewhere for advice, car hire, etc. Any "claims management" firm who wishes to conduct business shall pay into a fund similar to the MOT fund to pay for inspections and investigations, then be subsidised by hefty fines against those breaking the rules/law (which would also have the power to close businesses and ensure directors/owners never can run a firm again. Hopefully this and better detection of gangs who try and defraud insuance firms by deliberately causing accidents could reduce premiums significantly.

Include motorway driving as part of the driving instruction and test.

I think clearly identifying new, inexperienced drivers for a certain period is a good idea - I used some "P" plates on my first car for 6 months after getting it, so it would help give other drivers some warning that I was there and to give me a bit more room/patience, which I also gave for similar drivers afterwards - I don't think it should be considered as analogous to a "dunce" hat. If other drivers use "P" plates as a way of bullying other more inexperienced drivers, then they shouldn't be on the road themselves and should be reported for such behaviour.

Variable speed limits at different times of the day on certain roads (e.g. past schools or frequented by children going to/from school), including motorways and A roads (a bit like that on the M25 [I won't go into the camera fiasco though - that's the DoT's fault, not the concept). A good example could be a single lane A road - a 20mph limit past a school at (say) 8 - 9.30am, 12noon - 2pm and 2.45pm - 4.30pm, 30mph otherwise; further down the road (say on an unlit stretch in the countryside) have a 60 limit (50 or lesson windy sections) during the day, 50 or 40 at night. Use of LED signs could be trialed in such areas where regular accidents occur because of people driving too fast on unfamiliar roads (especially at night and on unlit roads). Worth a try, at least in accident blackspots.

Bring back the traffic cops as separate entities (like those on trains) with better funding (paid for by reductions in bureaucracy elsewhere) to properly enforce both existing traffic laws and any new ones.

But faster, more powerful cars give people "confidence" (often misplaced) to attempt dangerous overtaking manoeuvres - you may get away with it if you're an experienced driver, but an inexperienced one is much more likely to crash as a result - you'd be really dumb to try the same manoeuvre in a 1 litre 65bhp supemini with four blokes in it than if you were driving a 2 litre Golf GTi.

I would make the same argument for some "safety devices" on cars - they often encourage people to drive faster or take more risks, because the gizmo can supposedly "save" them in the event of partially losing control or not seeing an obstruction. What happens when you're recklessly overtaking a lorry on a single lane A road and don't see the motorbike turning left into your path? ABS won't help you much as you'll likely be doing nearly 70mph when you see the bike at 10m distant - its about good judgement, which inexperienced (note - I don't say "young") drivers will not have for a few years at least.

I'd rather not let make that mistake in a vehicle that could cost them or any passengers their lives - my friend's example was a good one - he borrowed his Dad's BMW (you don't have to be a rich person to drive one), which was capable of 140mph+ and 0-60 in less than 7sec. He was bombing along a country lane at night with some other friends and lost control around a corner, over-corrected and hit a car coming in the other direction. If was driving something like my old car (a Micra) a) he never be going as fast, and b) would never contemplated going round the corners so quickly because it couldn't handle it, and wouldn't have had the accident, or at least not as serious a one.

His ability as a driver did not match the capabilitie of the car he was driving - a bit like some racing drivers cannot hack F1 cars or similar and are not allowed a licence to drive such vehicles because it would a danger to others as well as themselves.

Hence why I believe that inexperienced drivers and motorbike riders should be restricted to low power/speed vehicles for the first (say) 5 years after passing their test, which would be re-set if they had a serious fault accident or were banned from driving - the same would also apply to anyone with a serious driving ban/conviction (even if it meant having to sell their car and replace it with a basic low powered one). To me, to have the "right" to drive, you should be responsible - if you can't be, you don't deserve to drive.

Edited by Engineer Andy on 13/12/2012 at 20:46

The reason why roads are safer over here is because engineres like me design all those lovely safety systems you wish to rely on if you're caught attempting something reckless. I remember one person saying the best safety feature would be a sharp spike sticking up out of the steering wheel towards the driver.

BTW - you don't need to drive recklessly to have fun, and nor should you take needless risks for you own amusement which puts others at (potentially) harms way (you don't know who is around the next bend or about to emerge from a concealed entrance/junction). Why not try track days - at least you can drive fast in relative safety and at your expense?

Edited by Engineer Andy on 13/12/2012 at 21:03