http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...in_page_id=1770

As if young drivers don't have enough to pay out for, being raped for insurance and general cost of learning to drive as it is now, this is ridiculous. sure there are idiots on the road who have just passed and think they're Lewis Hamilton but this is blatant money making. I feel real sorry for anyone learning to drive after Wednesday if this goes through.

good, bout time haha

its only being announced and wont go through

They've been saying this for years

This has been a rumour going around since the dawn of time.

I hit 17 today and had my first lesson a few hours ago, if this goes through, i'll still have to do the crap they ask for on there unfortuantly. Personally I think it's a silly idea, it means more unexperienced people who can't afford regular lessons to use parents as thier tutors (more road risk to other drivers as parents aren't qualified, don't habe dual controls). Will definatly increase the amount of drivers without a licence, and they think this is saving lives? Wait until people are being knocked down by uninsured and unlicenced idiots, maybe that will jolt their minds.

I'm not saying its a bad idea, it will increase the new drivers skills but I really don't think it counter-acts the consequinces.

Just my 2p.

its bollocks. there are plenty of pensioners on the roads who cant control their bowels never mind a car. they're the real danger

this rumour was going around since i was about 14

70 year old and a 90 year old in collision round my town last week, most of them haven't got a fookin clue what day of the week or what county they are in when they get behing the wheel, i've lost count the amount of times these old jokers have been the real causes of accidents in this country, they encourage overtaking because of the fact that they all drive soooo slowly, and swerve all over the bloody road, so nobody wants to stay behind them. This is what usually happens, then are un-aware that the accident has occured (cos they never use their mirrors), so drive off content at what a nice day it is. RE-TEST the old, don't punish the young people who may need to get around.

Rant over. (for now)

They've been saying this for years

True. Doesn't ever seem to happen.

no doubt this isnt going to happen BUT....

i think it would deffo be a good idea to increase it to 18.

you should still be allowed to drive at 17 under a provisional licence though

this would give people alot more time to take driving lessons and drive with thier rents

as a result i dont think you would see so many young people passing within a matter of a few hours of lessons- which is where i think the real danger lies.

young drivers would not rush straight into thier lessons to pass asap, they would still want to be able to drive, and they would be able to, but only accompanied by someone experienced. having a whole year of driving before being allowed to take the test would without a doubt increase the overall level of driving amoungst the young as they would have real driving experience and not just a few bullshit hours behind the wheel learning the manouvers and mirror, signal, manouver

would probably have an effect on insurance prices and illiminate alot of uncecssary deaths!

its bollocks. there are plenty of pensioners on the roads who cant control their bowels never mind a car. they're the real danger

if only we were allowed sigs on here i`d have that quote :-D

It is stupid though, inexperience is inexperience at the end of the day, doesnt matter how old you are, if youve not done something before then theres a strong chance youre going to be shit at it, no matter whether youre 18 and younger or 80+

It is stupid though, inexperience is inexperience at the end of the day, doesnt matter how old you are, if youve not done something before then theres a strong chance youre going to be shit at it, no matter whether youre 18 and younger or 80+

i completely agree with that. age shouldnt come in to capability x

I'm not saying its a bad idea, it will increase the new drivers skills

i don't think it will mate, how many people on here actually carried on driving the way they did in there test after they passed?

i do believe some thing needs to be done, as in restricting new drivers cars like they do on motor bikes, and not being able to carry passengers after a certain time or some thing. then i would believe they were doing it to help road safety, but putting up prices just makes it a blatant cash cow, just like speed cameras.

They have been saying this since before I learnt to drive! That was over 3 years ago now!

If it does go through all it will do is increase the accident rate of 18 year olds, I think.

70 year old and a 90 year old in collision round my town last week, most of them haven't got a fookin clue what day of the week or what county they are in when they get behing the wheel, i've lost count the amount of times these old jokers have been the real causes of accidents in this country, they encourage overtaking because of the fact that they all drive soooo slowly, and swerve all over the bloody road, so nobody wants to stay behind them. This is what usually happens, then are un-aware that the accident has occured (cos they never use their mirrors), so drive off content at what a nice day it is. RE-TEST the old, don't punish the young people who may need to get around.

Rant over. (for now)

yeah but who's more likely to vote? teenagers or or the elderly? thats why they would never do this to the old, the only way to stop shit like this happening is to use your votes wisely people

They have been saying this since before I learnt to drive! That was over 3 years ago now!

If it does go through all it will do is increase the accident rate of 18 year olds, I think.

And then they will up it to 19.

I agree with donnybuger, almost lost my front end to an old bloke in a galaxy who went attempted to go straight across lanes on a dual carrigeway roundabout with me next to him, making me slam the anchors and swerve against the kerb of the roundabout and then he shouts at me for being a bad driver. Idiots.

Or the bloke who pulled out in front of me as i came level with a junction, who then said i didnt see you??? ok it was wet and raining but i had dipped heads (3000k bulbs (yellow)) and foglights on, i was practically on top of him when he pulled out.

After you pass 60 you should be made to do and pass the theory test and hazard perception as a refresher , then again at 65, if you fail then a driving skills refresher course and the theory + hazard test taken again must pass before turning 61 & 66 or license is provisional untill pass achived (L plate rules). At 70 should be fully retested and and the theory + hazard every 2 years, with fails meaning a full retest and a driving skills course and liscence returned to provisional (L plate rules) untill passed.

Edited 6 May, 200818 yr by Cymro

as a result i dont think you would see so many young people passing within a matter of a few hours of lessons- which is where i think the real danger lies.

young drivers would not rush straight into thier lessons to pass asap, they would still want to be able to drive, and they would be able to, but only accompanied by someone experienced. having a whole year of driving before being allowed to take the test would without a doubt increase the overall level of driving amoungst the young as they would have real driving experience and not just a few bullshit hours behind the wheel learning the manouvers and mirror, signal, manouver

would probably have an effect on insurance prices and illiminate alot of uncecssary deaths!

bullshit.

its not the lack of driving skills that cause crashes, other wise every one that passes there test would crash. its drivers attitude towards driving that cause more of the serious crashes that new drivers have. dealing with there attitude towards driving is the only way to cut the numbers of these accidents.

and i very much doubt that insurance prices would fall as insurance company's are not stupid, and they don't live in a fantasy world were were upping the driving age would make some young drivers stop driving like twats while showing off

Personally I think it's a silly idea, it means more unexperienced people who can't afford regular lessons to use parents as thier tutors (more road risk to other drivers as parents aren't qualified, don't have dual controls).

If your instructor has to use his dual controls on you then you are obviously not getting the hang of driving. For every lesson I had with my instructor I had 2 with my dad. My dad never commented on my driving - just reminded me of things I should be doing so that I remembered to do them. Thats the best way to learn. I think my instructor used his controls once - when some on pulled out on me and he'd not taught me the emergency stop.

I'm not saying its a bad idea, it will increase the new drivers skills

i don't think it will mate, how many people on here actually carried on driving the way they did in there test after they passed?

That is because they don't teach you to drive - they teach you to pass your test! I had tippex on the window of my instructors car, and for bay parking I had to line it up with the space, full lock on and bobs your uncle. Was taught to parrallell park by doing a certain amount of turns with the wheel each way. MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE POWER STEERING LIKE HIS. So how do I do it in my car?!?

And if they change the age where does my bro stand? He was 17 last month and has had about 5 lessons. Will he now have to wait till april 09 to book his driving test? Or will he have to stop learning and start again next year?

i only had like 18 hours experience before my test and i went from a total n00b at 17 to passing

coming upto my 2nd year NCB without any accidents, couple of close calls I've learnt from, but no crashes

i have mates who've had like 3/4 crashes in the same amount of time and tbh I've never really driven like an angel. the closest I've come to a crash is in traffic stoppin and starting. sexy girls are sooooo damn distracting lol

its bollocks. there are plenty of pensioners on the roads who cant control their bowels never mind a car. they're the real danger

Quality quote!

If your instructor has to use his dual controls on you then you are obviously not getting the hang of driving. For every lesson I had with my instructor I had 2 with my dad. My dad never commented on my driving - just reminded me of things I should be doing so that I remembered to do them. Thats the best way to learn. I think my instructor used his controls once - when some on pulled out on me and he'd not taught me the emergency stop.

That is because they don't teach you to drive - they teach you to pass your test! I had tippex on the window of my instructors car, and for bay parking I had to line it up with the space, full lock on and bobs your uncle.

I agree with the first part of what you're saying, you need real driving experience on the road with your Mum or Dad or someone to really learn a bit about driving. I think this is where I really learnt how to control the car when I was just starting out. I've got mates who have one lesson a week and that's it, and I just think you're not going to do as well if you don't get some experience aswell as lessons.

This raising age is rubbish in a way, in places like America and Australia they can drive at 16. I'm not saying we should follow this or it means they must be better drivers, but it shows it can be done and work.

I don't mean to offen any of you younger drivers, it was only a few years ago I took my own test.

I think the legal driving age limit should increase to 18 and younger drivers should be encouraged not to take it until they have finished their A-Levels. This is a topic that has been mentioned before but for the following reason I think the test age should be raised. I know that if driving was out of the picture, not just learning but what happens after, the additional freedom, the way I thought that the teachers no longer had any hold on me ect. ect. then I would have done so much better on my A-levels than I actually did, my mind set was shot and being able to drive was a big factor in that rebellious confidence boost.

The new driver and young driver accident ratios are two different things, something the Daily Mail fails to mention, this is a newspaper that plays to stereo types, the later someone learns to drive, in general, they are usually worse drivers.

The legal driving age has always been in dispute. It will more than likely be staying as it is for now.

Most the stuff about this tougher test I've already done on my driving lessons. hmm anyway glad I'm 18 and licensed :p

restricting new drivers cars like they do on motor bikes

agree with that. there's nothing stopping a 17 year hopping into a 911 and driving off (aside from money) the day they pass their test. a friend of mine bought a 4 grand mk4 1.6 golf for his first car and wrote it off taking it home from the garage that day.

PSW Polo:

Your totally right. I think that personal experience with my dad really taught me how to drive - my instructor only really showed me the manouvers. I would of done the test in my own polo if it hadn't of been for the fact it was a shitty N reg with no power steering, no instructors mirror or dual controls. They do test people in their own cars but I;ve heard they tend to favour people who've had a instructor.

We'll see how it turns out - my brother is doing the exact opposite to me and I'm waiting to see how he does in his test. The only other cars hes driven was parking my polo and a drive down private road in my corsa where he did a excellent 3 point turn.