Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Ronniej
Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 239 Location: Blackwood, by Lanark, Scotland
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 6:47 pm Post subject: 80th ANNIVERSARY OF INTRODUCTION OF DRIVING TEST |
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It was mentioned on the radio this morning that this is the 80th anniversary of the introduction of the driving test.
This must have been long overdue as road casualties were much higher than they are today in spite of there being far fewer cars on the road.
I began driving in 1965 and, at the time, there were quite a few folk around who had never been required to sit a test as they had taken out a license before a test was required.
I recall seeing some public information films that had been prepared to explain the driving test to the public.
They were incredibly amateurish and were probably the inspiration for Harry Enfield's character Mr. Cholmondley-Warner. |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4766 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
The first driving test actually took place on 16th March 1935.
1st June was the date when it became compulsory.
Quote: | 1935
Voluntary testing was introduced on 16 March 1935 by the Road Traffic Act, 1934, to avoid a rush of candidates when the test becomes compulsory. Mr J Beere was the first person to pass his driving test, at a cost of 7/ 6d (37.5p)
Compulsory testing was brought in on 1 June 1935 for all drivers and riders who started driving on or after 1 April 1934:
around 246,000 candidates applied
the pass rate was 63%
between 9 and 16 half-hour tests were conducted each day by 250 examiners |
[img][/img] _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Rick Site Admin
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22477 Location: UK
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clan chieftain
Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 2041 Location: Motherwell
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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June 1965 Post Office Telephones Z Type van. _________________ The Clan Chieftain |
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Peter_L
Joined: 10 Apr 2008 Posts: 2680 Location: New Brunswick. Canada.
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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April 1963. In my Dad's 105E Van.
I was 17 years and 2 days.
Which means I have had a driving licence for over 19,000 days or 52 years.
I passed my motorcycle test in April 1962. Honda 50 Reg plate 1927 HE.
Last edited by Peter_L on Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Ronniej
Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 239 Location: Blackwood, by Lanark, Scotland
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:04 pm Post subject: |
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June 1965 Post Office Telephones Z Type van.
I was 22nd Feb 1965 in a Driving school Triumph Herald.
Strangely enough my first vehicle was an ex-GPO Z type van reg no. MYF440. Funny, I can remember its number but have to think about the reg no. of my Hyundai. |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4766 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
If we're swapping dates.
August 1959 in a '34 Austin Ten Four wide body.
Ronnie: is this the film you mean?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbbERUEsQ4Q _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Ellis
Joined: 07 Mar 2011 Posts: 1382 Location: Betws y Coed, North Wales
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2015 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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Friday 13th August 1971 in a Mini Clubman Estate, UCA 817J and it was pouring with rain.
I remember many people who had driving licences but had not tried their driving tests. _________________ Starting Handle Expert
1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet |
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goneps
Joined: 18 Jun 2013 Posts: 601 Location: Auckland, New Zealand
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 3:37 am Post subject: |
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Ha! At least two instant failures there: one for parking right on a corner, and another for following too closely before pulling out to overtake. And they were in the parts supposedly showing how it should be done!
Richard
PS. Anyone spot the hand-cranked cine camera in the opening titles?
Last edited by goneps on Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:09 am; edited 1 time in total |
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ka
Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 600 Location: Orkney.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:05 am Post subject: |
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Does anyone know when the centre white line was introduced? _________________ KA
Better three than four. |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4766 Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:02 am Post subject: |
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Hi
According to wiki
Hi
Quote: | In England, the idea of painting a center white line was first experimented with in 1921 in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. Following complaints by residents over reckless driving and several collisions, the Sutton Coldfield Corporation decided to paint the line on Maney Corner in the area of Maney
In 1971, a correspondent for the Sutton Coldfield News wrote an article in the newspaper recalling the event.
The line was put down as an experiment as there were a lot of accidents there, even in the early days of the motor car. The experiment proved to be so successful that the whole country adopted it as a standard road safety device, and later foreign countries paint lines on their roads, as well.[citation needed] |
I know this is still needing a citation for proof and I note, from the spelling, that it was probably written by an American. _________________ Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Ronniej
Joined: 02 Dec 2008 Posts: 239 Location: Blackwood, by Lanark, Scotland
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:39 am Post subject: |
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These films were made with a serious purpose but compared with the sophisticated media presentations of today they now have a slightly comic appearance.
The test candidate makes a lot of fundamental mistakes and I believe the examiner would have been justified in stopping the test rather than award a pass certificate.
I have often thought that driving in the ‘30s might have been the golden age of motoring and regarded taking my old Morris round the by-ways of the Scottish Borders as being close to these halcyon days.
I am now beginning to review this opinion.
New drivers could take to the road with virtually no control.
Many roads had been built for horse drawn traffic and unsuited for the car.
There was little understanding of how small levels of alcohol could impair driving.
The car itself would give little protection in the event of an accident.
Does anyone else have thoughts on what was motoring’s Golden Age, if indeed, there ever was one? |
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christine lowery
Joined: 30 Sep 2009 Posts: 496 Location: wallsend tyne and wear
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 8:39 am Post subject: |
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I remember the 50/60s as a navigator for my uncle, the quiet country roads, with no road signs and the adventure of not being quite sure as to your exact position.but standing for what seemed like hours in traffic jams in nearly every large town as the bypass hadn't been built and
it took what seamed like days to travel anywhere involving towns
so I thing today is the best time to have your own transport be it 2,4, or more wheels
Christine |
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Ray White
Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6371 Location: Derby
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 10:07 am Post subject: |
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When I was a sixth former, our Head Master, who was a bit hard of hearing, boasted to a group of us that when he started driving, tests had not yet been introduced and so had never taken a driving test. I remember whispering to a mate "and it shows". Next thing I knew Head had given me a clip round the ear... " I heard that, White!" |
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Riley Blue
Joined: 18 Jun 2008 Posts: 1750 Location: Derbyshire
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:34 pm Post subject: |
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A story about driving tuition: my Dad was recalled from survivor's leave towards the end of May 1940 after HMS Kelly had been torpedoed in the North Sea. The reason for his recall - Dunkirk.
He was sent on a trawler from Ramsgate to pick up whoever they could but, being a naval explosives 'bod', he was sent ashore to blow up the kit left behind by the army.
He was told to drive whatever vehicles were mobile into a tight group, plant explosives and blow them to kingdom come - only trouble is, he'd never driven before so a very rapid driving lesson took place.
On returning to Blighty, he thought he'd better learn to drive but it being wartime, lessons were hard to come by so he asked one of my uncles to teach him, which he did (when Dad was at home between ships), in the vehicle he drove most days, a fire engine.... _________________ David
1963 Riley 1.5
1965 Riley 1.5 |
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