Newly qualified young drivers should be restricted

[davieG]

From the BBC - Full story with 'facts' here

Newly qualified young drivers should be banned from night-time motoring and carrying passengers of a similar age, Cardiff University researchers say.

[cambridgefox]

I agree,you have no experience of speed, distances of other drivers when you 1st pass,and maybe for a few years after.i was a sensible driver when i passed many years ago,until my mates were in the car.i had an citreon AX GT,which was too fast for a 1st car,so perhaps a maximum 1000cc engine could be implemented for 2 years also.

[Finnegan]

So what.

I'm twenty four and I still haven't learned to drive, should I do so in time for next year I'd be exempt - despite no prior experience?

[davieG]

So what.

I'm twenty four and I still haven't learned to drive, should I do so in time for next year I'd be exempt - despite no prior experience?

By then you'll turn over night into a sensible, sober, mature adult like the rest of us. When you've been through it you'll notice the difference - trust me and look forward to it!

[Finnegan]

By then you'll turn over night into a sensible, sober, mature adult like the rest of us. When you've been through it you'll notice the difference - trust me and look forward to it!

My Tuesday morning hangover says otherwise.

[cambridgefox]

My Tuesday morning hangover says otherwise.

Changing the subject slightly,my driving instructor told me to stop the car once,as he had had a heavy night and wanted to be sick!

[Tommeh]

Yeah agreed. I had a pretty hideous smash a month after passing tearing into a roundabout and catching the curb on entry at about 60 was very lucky there were no injuries fir me or my mate and only a £300 bill for the car repairs. Been fine since 3 years on but it's really not the way to learn. Saying this however there isn't much funnier than seeing yoofs in Saxos giving it gas at the lights then tearing them to shreads.

They should also be made to take a course on motorway driving.

[Fosse Boy]

Perhaps making the Pass Plus scheme compulsory would be a good idea? Remember my instructor banging on to me about it when I passed, but I didn't have the time or money to do it.

[Guest Bilo]

Not a bad idea to be honest.

Though like Tommeh, there are few things in life more satisfying than battering a 1.1 Saxo full of chavs into submission.

There could be a limit on cc and bhp imposed as well, as I've seen more than enough rich kids bought a GTI or some other powerful car by their parents that they just can't handle. The problem with the proposals raised by Cardiff Uni is enforcement, the manpower required by the police to do so would be hideous, especially at a time of funding cuts. Though in theory, I agree with the proposals entirely.

[Alexikokopops]

Not a bad idea to be honest.

Though like Tommeh, there are few things in life more satisfying than battering a 1.1 Saxo full of chavs into submission.

There could be a limit on cc and bhp imposed as well, as I've seen more than enough rich kids bought a GTI or some other powerful car by their parents that they just can't handle. The problem with the proposals raised by Cardiff Uni is enforcement, the manpower required by the police to do so would be hideous, especially at a time of funding cuts. Though in theory, I agree with the proposals entirely.

This happened in my girlfriend's first year halls when she was in her fourth year.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1867777.ece

[Bellend Sebastian]

This happened in my girlfriend's first year halls when she was in her fourth year.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1867777.ece

I'd send the dozy twunts for a 12 month stint with the British Antarctic Survey if I didn't feel sorry for the poor sods who'd be saddled with them

[dandannieldanok]

That's a load of bollocks, accidents happen and always will no matter what 'restrictions' you put in place. Roads are dangerous full stop.

[StanSP]

I don't agree with the restriction.

I learnt to drive quite a bit at night as well as during the day (I know not everyone will have done but just going by own experience) and I feel comfortable.

Instead of putting a total restriction on it, why don't they just make it compulsory to do some night lessons before you take a test?

Also, if you pass your test at 17, don't drive at night for 2 years, what happens when you're 19 and need to drive at night for the first time?

[Finnegan]

Let's do it like they do in Finland.

Then we can all go on to be motorsport pros.

[dandannieldanok]

Young drivers aren't helped as there are millions of poor role models out there on the roads. I must get at least 10 separate occasions per journey (over 10 miles) where some middle-aged bloke is up my arse trying to goad me to go quicker because I'm deemed too slow at the 30mph limit.

The stats don't lie, a large percentage of traffic accidents are caused by youths who drive dreadfully, but you can't restrict it for one age group when the other age groups are not a lot better themselves. Experience = complacence.

[Bellend Sebastian]

Although the fact that road deaths have fallen dramatically is obviously great news, I do always find it a bit bizarre that as a nation we seem a bit blase about all those people dying. I'm struggling to remember the last time someone died on a passenger plane travelling to or from the UK, but whenever it was, the deaths on the roads since are almost certainly into 5 figures, but I'm not aware of anyone being excessively scared of travelling in a car

[Alexikokopops]

That's a load of bollocks, accidents happen and always will no matter what 'restrictions' you put in place. Roads are dangerous full stop.

The point isn't that people are trying to completely eradicate accidents, but identify common causes. Obviously there are a billion different factors that can cause accidents, but if research shows that a large number of accidents are a result of a particular factor that can be controlled, then it's foolish to not even entertain the idea of removing that factor. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I don't think we should be so dismissive.

So what.

I'm twenty four and I still haven't learned to drive, should I do so in time for next year I'd be exempt - despite no prior experience?

"She said restrictions on new drivers could be in force for as long as two years and could also include a total ban on alcohol. She said a debate would have to be had over whether to limit the restrictions just to young drivers or all new drivers"

[Finnegan]

some middle-aged bloke is up my arse trying to goad me to go quicker

[dandannieldanok]

The point isn't that people are trying to completely eradicate accidents, but identify common causes. Obviously there are a billion different factors that can cause accidents, but if research shows that a large number of accidents are a result of a particular factor that can be controlled, then it's foolish to not even entertain the idea of removing that factor. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, I don't think we should be so dismissive.

The only common cause are cars on the road. It's far too widespread to narrow it down and start restricting things. If anything young drivers know more than older drivers. When I was practising for my theory test, both my mum and dad took it and failed it.

And yes Finners it was pretty poor wording

[Lillehamring]

Young drivers aren't helped as there are millions of poor role models out there on the roads. I must get at least 10 separate occasions per journey (over 10 miles) where some middle-aged bloke is up my arse trying to goad me to go quicker because I'm deemed too slow at the 30mph limit.

The stats don't lie, a large percentage of traffic accidents are caused by youths who drive dreadfully, but you can't restrict it for one age group when the other age groups are not a lot better themselves. Experience = complacence.

spot on.

whilst new drivers may face increased risk due to a lack of experience, this can be controlled by increased caution, and any such restrictions could help.

but there are still many many poor drivers that have been driving for years.

what next, restrictions on drivers from overseas? i'm sure driving tests in certain countries are practically non existent. A maximum age cap, to keep those pesky pensioners of the roads?

it's all well and good, but i'd prefer to see the resources used to properly police the existing laws on things like mobile phone use whilst driving,

and whilst it is still legal to drive after drinking, the roads will always be unsafe.

personally, i'd like to see greater restrictions on people who commit traffic offences - longer/indefinite bans and mandatory retesting following a ban, which will reassert correct driving procedures and generate funds to pay for the more thorough policing of motorists.

and no, i don't drive

[Jon the Hat]

The only common cause are cars on the road. It's far too widespread to narrow it down and start restricting things. If anything young drivers know more than older drivers. When I was practising for my theory test, both my mum and dad took it and failed it.

And yes Finners it was pretty poor wording

Yeah. Like newly qualified doctors know more than Consultants.

Of course there are bad drivers of all ages, and good drivers of all ages, but the stats don;t lie, and we are supposed to protect our young people. It is certainly worth looking at how we improve standards.

[StanSP]

Yeah. Like newly qualified doctors know more than Consultants.

Of course there are bad drivers of all ages, and good drivers of all ages, but the stats don;t lie, and we are supposed to protect our young people. It is certainly worth looking at how we improve standards.

That doesn't mean banning them totally during certain parts of the day though?

[Jon the Hat]

That doesn't mean banning them totally during certain parts of the day though?

Probably not, but like most of these proposals this was desgined to a) Get media attention, b) start a debate and c) generate work for the university consultancy in question.

[Alexikokopops]

The only common cause are cars on the road. It's far too widespread to narrow it down and start restricting things. If anything young drivers know more than older drivers. When I was practising for my theory test, both my mum and dad took it and failed it.

And yes Finners it was pretty poor wording

I'm assuming the entire point of this research was to test the theory that "it's far too widespread to narrow it down and start restricting things".

[The Padster]

Don't agree with the banning at certain times of the day etc. But somebody on the BBC made a good comment about when you learn to ride a motorbike you can only use certain engine sizes until you've passed more tests to upgrade, that in my opinion is the best way to do it.