Conference terri::cars_uk

Do they all drive Volvos?

    Re .1
    That is exactly the point, they toughened up the motorcycle test, and
    since then the accident rate has fallen *in real terms* despite higher
    recorded mileages. Meanwhile, the car accident rate has continued to
    increase. So the obvious question was, why not toughen up the car test
    in the same way ?
    
    Their answer seems to underline that their reason for making the bike
    test tougher was not to make biking safer, (that could have been done
    better by making the car test tougher !), but to get people off bikes
    and into cars. The reason given for the drop in motorcycle accidents is
    that the average age of motorcyclists has risen (around 30 years old),
    and us BOF's don't have so many accidents. If they made the car test
    tougher, then more youngsters would be attracted back to bikes, (which
    ought to reduce the carnage on the roads, because they won't be driving
    cars), but the govt don't like that idea.
    
    re .3
    They are frightened of motorbikes because they represent freedom - a
    quote from Easy-Rider   :-)
    
    Rob

I don't think it's necessary to make the driving test tougher, but I
think it'd be a good idea if people had to take it every five years or
so.  It's amazing how quickly some people seem to totally forget how to
drive!

Maybe there should be more emphasis on driver courtesy, as many accidents
would appear to be caused by a "well the other driver can stop" sort of
attitude when someone can't be bothered to observe give way signs.

It'll never happen though.

Chris.

    Like the idiot this morning who over-took me at a Pelican crossing just
    after the lights had changed back to green and nearly took out the old
    guy who was still crossing the road... they probably didn't have
    zig-zag lines in the 1950's when he took his test...

    Definitely a need for a tougher written test for car drivers. Currently
    you only have to sign your own name.
    
    Tony.

    
    As I understand it a tougher written test is on the way -- sometime.
    The Government will probably also do something about YNQD's (young
    newly qualified drivers) - P plates or something as this group cause
    more than there fair share of crashes. 
    I support the idea of retests. If people knew that they were going to
    be retested I feel they would take more interest in the rules instead
    of promptly forgetting them after passing the test. The attitude seems
    to be that one only needs the rules to pass the test after that they
    don't matter? I don't think retests will happen. The death rate on the
    roads is coming down but this is more to do with better car design and
    medical services (BASIC flying doctors, paramedics). From what I have
    read the number of accidents is not falling.
    
    Ian.
    

    
    	Heard on Radio 210 news as I was going home last night, a spokesman
    for, I think it was Hampshire police, stated that deaths on Hampshire
    roads were 30% down and injuries were down a similar amount in the last
    quarter compared wth 10 years ago.  This was put down to improvements
    in car design and roads.
    
    	If someone can remember the story in greater detail or accuracy,
    please feel free to correct me.
    
    				Malcolm.

    
    Sorry for a worthless note, but I just noticed this note and thought
    how odd the title was :-
    
    You know, in the same way as Crooked Politician.
    
    If you heard the news about Johnny and his mate Winston this morning,
    you'll know why it struck me. :^)
    
    Mark