Postby Pontoneer » Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:01 pm
Hmmm , they want to ban new drivers from motorways, just after announcing that learners are to be permitted on them ?
Ban on night driving - I appreciate that many new driver RTCs happen at night - but isn’t this because that is the only time many can get on the road ?
IMHO there should be an element of night driving in instruction , otherwise a daylight only learner will have little or no experience of driving to the limits of visibility with lighting, anticipation of oncoming drivers and when to dip headlights , even when to turn lights on as darkness falls ( the number of ‘dim’ drivers I see in mornings and evenings oblivious to having no lights on is shocking ) ; hazard perception during darkness or on urban roads with cyclists and pedestrians harder to see due to lights of other vehicles also needs to be taught .
Stopping people gaining the above experience is not the answer , on the contrary , getting them out there and gaining experience, if need be under supervision of an experienced driver is . I’d suggest an ‘experienced ‘ driver might be one who has held a full licence for five years , for the purposes of being able to supervise - a simple rule which does not fail when an older driver may only have driven for a year .
I myself was taught largely by my dad ( he was a haulage contractor , HGV Class 1 , motorcycle instructor in the army , and more , although not AD , a very competent and experienced driver ) I passengered all over the country with him when driving trucks , cars , towing caravans for many years before I started driving , was allowed to drive cars , vans and a Series 1 Land Rover around his haulage yard and on sites from my early teens , hence had car and clutch control mastered long before going on road . Of course , I cycled on road from primary school age , as with all my peers did the National Cycling Proficiency Test - which taught the rules of the road and the all important ‘road sense’ - do kids even get the chance to do that nowadays ?
Nothing has come home from my 9 YO son’s school - ever - about taking bikes in ... at my primary school part of the playground was painted out with road markings and regular lessons given , up to said test , and schools took part in a county wide contest , in which I led the winning school team and took first individual place myself .
I take my own son out on his bike under my supervision and protection, and have just recently started him on go-karting , which he loves . When he’s 14 , he will be encouraged to drive , initially under my supervision , at a local motorsport venue , which allows drivers from that age .
Starting people young on road skills is the answer , not restricting activities later - which will only result in slower learning or not learning at all .