Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

.. first thing I'd do is make learners take their driving test in a Moggy Minor or similar, drum brakes, on crossplies, to get a good feel for what's going on with road surfaces, and learn how to plan ahead for junctions etc. No parking gizmos, electronic fripperies, just back-to-basics motoring.



What would you change or introduce, seriously or otherwise (without getting party political)?

RJ
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[PAUL BEAUMONT]

I'm with you on that Rick, but I would go further, requiring learners to keep a log book of driving experience and demonstrate that they have covered at least 2000 miles of miscellaneous traffic conditions before they sit the test. It is ridiculous that a 17 year old can sign up for £99 worth of instruction and pass their test after about 4 hours on the road, and then be let loose in a go-faster Corsa on the motorway.

And second I would create highways such that you can get to Leeds Bradford Airport without having to embark on something like a safari!

Paul

[Jason]

i'm with you both on the learning subject, but I would say that new drivers should be taught about basic mechanics too.......I only read the other day on another car forum about a lad....he let his car jack down with the axle stands under the fuel tank.....needless to say there was fuel everywhere
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"people with money buy a Rolls Royce, people with taste buy an Alvis".

[peter scott]

[Penman]

Hi

[kevin2306]

I would make it compulsory for every car drive to have to drive a full 12 months on a Motorcycle,

Kev

[D4B]

[mikeC]

[Bitumen Boy]

Abolish speed humps. All of them. No excuses.

Introduce fines for people who park small cars tight up to the wall in carparks, so you think there's a space when there isn't. Actually I think they should be shot, preferably against the same wall, but I doubt that would be politically expedient...

Set and enforce minimum standards of highway maintenance. Not just concentrating on potholes, but bad drainage, sunken gullies and covers, weak haunches, white lining/catseyes and dangerously polished surfaces too. The penalties would need to be hefty, but fines only take money away from maintenance, so I suggest that we simply jail the councils' bean counters, or perhaps pillory them for a few days in the centre of a busy roundabout...

Stop highway authorities placing unnecessary traffic lights all over the place, and possibly ban them altogether for new work. There are several sets that have gone in round here over the last few years where roads have been altered, and sensibly sized roundabouts would have been a better option in every case.

Set and enforce minimum standards for the length and gradient of entry sliproads on dual carriageways and motorways. Most constructed during the last few years are too short for safety under any circumstances, and many climb too steeply to allow smaller cars and goods vehicles to gain enough speed to merge safely.

Ban front foglights altogether, then set and enforce much better standards of headlamp beam setting. I find if I have to be out at night that not being dazzled to some degree by an oncoming vehicle is rare enough to be worthy of comment.

Abolish all 50mph speed limits on single carriageway roads. They're annoying and let's face it, the only purpose of them is to raise money in speeding fines.

Force a review of all pedestrianisation schemes, and set minimum design standards to ensure proper traffic flow - some of these schemes have just gone too far. Try driving across Cardiff city centre from south to north or vice versa and you'll see what I mean.

Force a review of all parking restrictions. There are a hell of a lot of double yellows in Valleys streets that were necessary when they were busy A roads, but are largely pointless now the bypass carries all the through traffic. Of course nobody takes any notice of them, and the restrictions aren't seriously enforced; but there are pinch points that could really do with sensible restrictions properly enforced.

Finally, seeing as we've gone so far with "safety" technology in modern cars, I'd take it all a wee bit further. Nobody is going to tell me that car manufacturers can't come up with a gadget to stop drivers tailgating other vehicles all the time, in fact these days they could even include sensors to allow for differing road conditions. Perhaps the reason we don't have it yet is that much of the road system would clog up altogether if people gave themselves enough room in front to stop safely, and that would embarass the government?

[goneps]

[bob2]

Well one thing I always mention is the stupid use of one way roads where there have been a big number of traffic accidents!!
Why do I or others have to do a big round to get somewhere because of other stupid users who cannot read the stop, give way etc signs and just carry on pressing the wrong pedal instead!
I'd say its about time to introduce a penalty system, say if you've had more than 5 accidents serious or not and they've been your fault, licence is taken away and you have to resit for the test!!
That'll teach many to observe road signs and also be courteous to other road users!!
I think this would be much more relevant than the current system where your license is taken away when you've had a number of fines!!
I'm talking mostly about my country in this case not the UK!

[Dobbin]

I don't have just one item but as a start I would:-

1. Ensure all highways are suitably maintanied, grass verges trees and bushes kept trimmed so that sign posts aren't allowed to be 'hidden' from view. I would fine councils for not maintaining them adequately.
2. Drivers could seek compensation (reduction in road tax) for damage caused by 'pot holes'.
3. All roundabouts need to have direction arrows on them. There are to many drivers now, who don't seem to know which lane to use, cutting up or across as they see fit.
3. Removal of all 'button' or 'painted' roundabouts.
4. Abolish speed humps.

[Rootes75]

I'd like a change to taking an HGV test. You have to take a test on a modern truck whereas your old classic is a lot more difficult to drive. I'd bring in a test to take to drive older HGV's/PSV's with limitations to only drive vehicles up to a certain age.

[Bitumen Boy]