Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[pigtin]

Frankly I find it difficult to imagine that any sane (or otherwise) politician that wishes to remain in employment would endorse this scheme.

http://dizzythinks.net/2007/12/will-tories-support-government-on.html

[Rick]

I bet the 500 hours thing is thrown into the ring, then at a later date this, oh-so-unexpectedly, gets reduced to (say) 100, and we all feel relieved that we got off lightly...

Its like planning applications, always go in asking for much more than you really want, wait for it to be thrown back, come back with a more modest counter application, and it gets through planning

R
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[pigtin]

You old cynic Rick, would our elected representatives pull that sort of stunt?... You're right! they would.

[peter scott]

My view may be slightly colored but from the spelling of the "L" word I think this is just some devilish foreign plot.

Peter

[pigtin]

The spelling of the 'L' word grated with me but this guy is one of the most respected political bloggers.

[Uncle Joe]

But think of the employment opportunities it will create for driving instructors...500 hours is maybe 4 students per year...and how many people take their test each year?

What a coup for any government! Unemployment down to zero in one stroke....

[pigtin]

You would have the choice: either save for years for your childrens education. Or save for their driving lessons... perhaps we can look foreward to a race of illiterate drivers, or people in hock to the banks for most of their lives.

I am so horrified at what's happening to this country, that I think I'll go down the pub.

[Penman]

Hi
This so called respected blogger has just accepted as read a bit of scaremongering deceitful misreporting from the Mail and Torygraph.

The Transport Sub Committee, following a long investigation into Learning/Learners and Inexperienced Driver Crash records, has made a report to Parliament which is now being turned into a consultation paper.
This paper will be issued during this spring, following representations from the organisations and individuals who normally get these documents, plus any other concerned people who ask for one (Yes that includes YOU if want to) the DfT will then use the results of the consultation to draft a white paper which then has to survive however many readings in both Houses of Parliament before it can possibly receive the Royal Assent.

The proposals do not, in any case, include any prescribed number of lessons, merely suggestions that accelerated short period learning does not seem to instill proper attitudes in new drivers, and that an extended period of learning with progress charted by proffesionals should be more effective. This is for all ages of Learner.

Signed as a

DSA ADI, Fleet Driver Trainer, NDIS and Speed Awareness Course Instructor, RoADA Gold pass holder.
Penman

[Uncle Joe]

Pigtin: Do you mean to say that tomorrows kids could be more illiterate than some of todays? now I wish I had a pub to go to!

Penman: In your opinion, do people that take an intensive driving course make better or worse drivers?

[pigtin]

Sorry Penman; I'll never quote a "respected" blogger again: But he did just say "there were talks going on." How many ridiculous laws, that we now accept as normal, started in this way?
Better a bit of "scaremongering" now than to wake up one day and find ourselves saddled with it? although I have to agree the present system of training leaves much to be desired... Perhaps the government might subsidise training from the billions that they extort from from motorists in road and petrol tax? No...I thought not.

After over 54 years of driving, I have to seek the doctors OK to renew my licence this year. I imagine that unless he thinks that I am raving mad or likely to drop dead at the wheel it will just be a formality. Now that IS frightening.

Don.

[47p2]

More charges on the way for large vehicles going into London.

Mr Ken Livingstone looks to be doing his best to keep us out of the capital

Check this out

Prices on this page

Ken Livingstone.....WAP
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One of Britain's Fine Cars

[Penman]

Hi UJ

The typical Monday to Friday intensives which are generally done 2-1 in the car are alright for someone with a reasonable amount of previous experience who has found that they forget too much between lessons.
But the biggest drawback is the amount of actual driving time they seem to give people.

6 hrs a day shared between 2 people over 4 days with perhaps another 2 hrs on the day of the test, unless the instructor has to drive using the motorways to access a test centre up to a 100 miles away from where the tuition has taken place. (Yes this often happens)

According to DSA figures it currently takes 40-45 hrs tuition plus private practice for the average pupil to reach the pathetically (IMHO) low standard which permits a new driver to drive on their own.

Please note the word average, there are quicker pupils though I would contend that I don't see as many "naturals" these days as I used to 37yrs ago when I entered this profession.
That is possibly because they are more likely these days to learn privately, when I started fewer families had cars.
but it might also be because in too many cases they have spent too long watching the atrocious driving of their parents and think that is the right way to do it.

[Penman]

Hi pigtin
Sorry if I offended.
He was not someone I have come across before, but the Mail and Torygraph are renowned for stirring things by misquoting or misrepresenting proposals, or as in this case possible proposals, as done deals.
I don't know the reason for your need for a certificate, but in a couple of years I too will need to get a scrip when I renew my licence, but only because I want to retain my Cat D1 restriction 101 in order to carry on doing my college minibus driving and also retain my C1.
Driver who are renewing at age 70 and don't want to keep those additional categories can self certify.

Was it not stupid though that those of us who started driving before 1997 could drive a 7.5 tonne truck having possibly only previously driven something the size of a Mini?

[pigtin]

No offence taken Penman.
My father had a motorcycle for two weeks in 1932. In 1955 he applied for a licence again and was given one for all classes of vehicle. It was a total nightmare when he later bought a car and was let loose on the roads after two lessons.

About fifteen years ago I started motorcycling again: I enrolled for a course and then took my test again (proof of the first one having mysteriously disappeared from my licence) It was the most enjoyable thing I had done for years although it took me two attempts to pass.
It improved my car driving to an incredible extent, it's amazing how the lack of protection on a bike sharpens you up.

In the 50s and 60s, most young men would start with a bike, and then go on to a car...
It must have improved their driving skills. Or did it just make things easier for the instructors?

Don.

[Uncle Joe]

Personally, I have a tendency to agree that motorcycles have a tendency to improve driver skills. Maybe it is the fact that if you know that you will get hurt if you have an accident, you drive safer. Perhaps a lot of safety devices encourage the thought ''it can never happen to me!'' Who knows?

Could the lack of ''naturals'' also be due to the fact that as pigtin says, back in the day, the first vehicle would be a motorcycle, and not a car? So roadcraft was possibly learned in a different way?

I suspect that motorcycles make for less nervous drivers as well. This was brought home to me about 5 years ago when I started to take my PPL. The instructor tried to rattle me, and failed. His comment? How long have you been a motorcyclist? They're the only ones I can never frighten!