Is getting a driving licence too easy?

[Pipeliner]

, but there are also just as many drivers who have had their licence for years who still disobey road rules and the law

Don't confuse being a good driver with obeying all the rules and legislation - the two often have nothing to do with each other.  Particularly legislation, which is usually written to protect the stupid.  Most road rules, I admit, make sense.

[Heiny]

But when do the drivers do a compulsory defensive driver course.  As learners and P plater's do they the neccessary driving requirements to undertake such a course.  As you say we all learn at different rates, some still don't have it after many years of driving. 

And thats exactly where the problem lies, not having "it" after many many years of driving is not good enough !!! thats why alot of these accidents and deaths happen. Public roads should not be a traiing ground for inexperienced drivers, it places them and everyone else in danger.
The defensive drivers course should be done and passed before people even get to go for their licence.

[alnjan]

The defensive drivers course should be done and passed before people even get to go for their licence.

So before a driver even has any knowledge of the basics you want them doing a defensive driving course.  Sorry mate, have to disagree with that call. 

[McGirr]

Question....So how many of us drivers could drive in the bathurst car race and we have years of driving experiance.

[Humbolt]

Question....So how many of us drivers could drive in the bathurst car race and we have years of driving experiance.

ME ME ME PLEASE.........

[Davepatrol]

Question....So how many of us drivers could drive in the bathurst car race and we have years of driving experiance.

Bathurst is completly differant as all cars are going the same way while cutting corners and using the whole width of the road, Years of driving means nothing as well, I know people who have had a licence for more than 40 years but would be lucky to drive more than an hour a day.

[gronk]

So before a driver even has any knowledge of the basics you want them doing a defensive driving course.  Sorry mate, have to disagree with that call. 

At least with a course of some description, they will learn the basics a hell of a lot quicker than ol' mum and dad can teach them..

And another pet gripe....what are people thinking when they let the learner drivers out onto the local freeway ??  they learn how to keep the car in a lane....and watch everyone else whizz past them at 110K's  ...what a dumb place to get their hrs up....teachs them nothing..

[Humbolt]

Yeah look i am sorry Davepatrol but i am not sure how many laps you would last in Bathurst or any other car race for that matter, professional or not, without high degrees of observation and anticipation.
I would have thought professional racing car drivers would be very safe drivers on public roads, partly due to their reputations.

[Alloy C/T]

Well now , talking to my niece the other day about the licence system, she was rather affronted that she would be required to go through the Ls then ps rigarmarole when she finally becomes old enough to " go " for her licence , she being all of 15 ,,, she made the point that she has been driving since she was 8yrs old [ 6'2" tall at 14yrs old ] and can drive and reverse the semi with trailer , drive the tipper and dog trailer [including reversing]  drive a tractor , drive a header , quad bike , motorcycle , v8 landcruiser ute and the 200series gxl ,

[Davepatrol]

Yeah look i am sorry Davepatrol but i am not sure how many laps you would last in Bathurst or any other car race for that matter, professional or not, without high degrees of observation and anticipation.
I would have thought professional racing car drivers would be very safe drivers on public roads, partly due to their reputations

All I'm saying is you can't compere racing car drivers in races to every day car drivers on the public roads. And I agree with needing high degrees of observation and anticipation.

[Humbolt]

Yeah look i am sorry Davepatrol but i am not sure how many laps you would last in Bathurst or any other car race for that matter, professional or not, without high degrees of observation and anticipation.
I would have thought professional racing car drivers would be very safe drivers on public roads, partly due to their reputations

All I'm saying is you can't compere racing car drivers in races to every day car drivers on the public roads. And I agree with needing high degrees of observation and anticipation.

Ok, i do agree with that 

I am thinking instead of defensive driving courses, you should take prospective young drivers to a dam (somerset, boondooma, moogerah etc for us) during peak season (Easter etc).
Let them drive a boat or similar for awhile. May very teach a bit of observation and anticipation 

[blackstump]

Well now , talking to my niece the other day about the licence system, she was rather affronted that she would be required to go through the Ls then ps rigarmarole when she finally becomes old enough to " go " for her licence , she being all of 15 ,,, she made the point that she has been driving since she was 8yrs old [ 6'2" tall at 14yrs old ] and can drive and reverse the semi with trailer , drive the tipper and dog trailer [including reversing]  drive a tractor , drive a header , quad bike , motorcycle , v8 landcruiser ute and the 200series gxl ,

well done to your niece for being able to wheel all of those things, and Im sure she will be a good driver once she does get her licence, however, the goose with no brains who has never been taught to drive properly is the one that will always bring you un stuck, whether it be through speeding, towing horse floats at 30kmh, impatience, or whatever.

We might think we are reasonably good drivers, but remember Mr.Magoo is out there among us and we can anticipate this, but when it all turns pear shaped, I will be glad I did my defensive driving course..



  

[alnjan]

At least with a course of some description, they will learn the basics a hell of a lot quicker than ol' mum and dad can teach them..

And another pet gripe....what are people thinking when they let the learner drivers out onto the local freeway ??  they learn how to keep the car in a lane....and watch everyone else whizz past them at 110K's  ...what a dumb place to get their hrs up....teachs them nothing..

When you think about it it teaches them a lot actually, maybe too much

[Heiny]

So before a driver even has any knowledge of the basics you want them doing a defensive driving course.  Sorry mate, have to disagree with that call. 

Your missing the point  , how could anyone do a defensive driving course before knowing basic driving skills  think about what your saying!!!!

The basics and defensive driving should be learnt before you are able to sit for your licence. Like I said before the public roads should not be a training ground where inexperienced drivers learn the basics. (for their good and everone else's)

Obtaining a licence has nothing to do with driving skill, its all about testing if you know the road rules.

[McGirr]

This is getting as good as the electrical section

[Chippy76]

This is getting as good as the electrical section

Might be time for the thread to be closed ........

Cheers Chippy

[Barry G]

Based on my observations last night I now believe driving to be so easy that a licence is not necessary.
Heading towards Melb on the Geelong Road between Werribee and Laverton.
Passed a little blue Metro with once-funky 'shades' stickers.
The 20-something Miss driving it had here white I Pod ear phones in and was tapping away to the music on the steering wheel.
I know it was before dusk as she didn't have her cabin light on, but was obviously still able to READ the ADVERTISING BROCHURE she had open and SPREAD ACROSS THE 'SPOKES' OF HER STEERING WHEEL !!!!!???

WWhat the FCUK?  Unfortunately no :police:handy to 'compliment' her on her 'skill'.   

[GSK33]

food for thought.
 Some coal mines use simulator training for there operators before sitting them behind the wheel of a real truck or other bits of gear. Crash and burn without the damage or injury. Gets you used to all the controls and you can throw all sorts of scenarios at you. Rain, ice, fire, breakdowns, emergency stops and so on. I'm not saying it's feasible for these to be used for getting a licence but we are in the computer age?
Just wish the simulator could teach me that a DC-DC charger is better for charging a battery then your car alternator...or is that the other way around?  
Cheers
Geoff

[alnjan]

Your missing the point  , how could anyone do a defensive driving course before knowing basic driving skills  think about what your saying!!!!

The basics and defensive driving should be learnt before you are able to sit for your licence. Like I said before the public roads should not be a training ground where inexperienced drivers learn the basics. (for their good and everone else's)

Obtaining a licence has nothing to do with driving skill, its all about testing if you know the road rules.

Interesting concept, where and when do they learn and do all this

[Heiny]

Interesting concept, where and when do they learn and do all this

Wherever they hold the defensive driving course I guess and once they are 16 or earlier it doesnt matter when as long as its before they sit for their licence.

[alnjan]

Wherever they hold the defensive driving course I guess and once they are 16 or earlier it doesnt matter when as long as its before they sit for their licence.

You are for real, aren't you.  your not just taking the ....

It's a bit like saying while you are still crawling and before you can walk, we are going to teach you how to run a marathon

[Heiny]

You are for real, aren't you.  your not just taking the ....

It's a bit like saying while you are still crawling and before you can walk, we are going to teach you how to run a marathon

Actually yes I am what could be so wrong with having driving experience before you get your licence

I new how to drive car and truck at least five years before I got my licence then when I hit the roads all I had to worry about was the road rules and looking out for inexperienced drivers.

I dont really think its a massively wild concept!!!!!

[alnjan]

No, not a massively wild concept, I am all for driver's learning and gain experience.  Just in todays world for a lot of families they are experiencing difficulties in try to get the learner drivers to come up with 120hrs driving time as it is. 

While the concept may sound good in theory, the logistics involved make it very difficult to implement. 

While you and many other older drivers may have had the advantage of being allowed to drive on private property prior to gaining your driver's license, the vast majority of todays drivers, just don't have that luxury.   

So out of curiosity, when did you do your Defensive Driving Course?

[Heiny]

No, not a massively wild concept, I am all for driver's learning and gain experience.  Just in todays world for a lot of families they are experiencing difficulties in try to get the learner drivers to come up with 120hrs driving time as it is. 

While the concept may sound good in theory, the logistics involved make it very difficult to implement. 

While you and many other older drivers may have had the advantage of being allowed to drive on private property prior to gaining your driver's license, the vast majority of todays drivers, just don't have that luxury.   

So out of curiosity, when did you do your Defensive Driving Course?

Hey Alnjan

Maybe it is only a good idea in theory but I think it would be worth a crack because it cant be a worse idea than what they have now, Im sure if the Government directed the sufficient funds into it that the logistics involved to implement a scheme could be greatly improved.

Yes I was lucky to be able to learn to drive on private property way before I obtained my licence, but why couldn't the Government assist with funding to create places where people can learn to drive out of harms way.

I have not done a defensive driving course but where we grew up was only unsealed roads and we learnt to handle a vehicle in most situations, our Dad would even take us out to different surfaces on our property and teach us how to hold a drift at speed and other manouvers that may have seemed like hooning at the time but also gave us the skills required to be better drivers when we did eventually get our licence and get out onto public roads.

Unfortunately we do not have acces to a large property anymore so my children will not have the same opportunity that we had but I will get them as much experience as possible before they get their licence, they already have motorbike experience at the age of 5 and 6 when we camp on private property they have turns at sitting on my lap steering at low speed (10-20kph) and I will give them more opportunities as they grow older.

I  will also be putting them through defensive driving courses to add to their skills as soon as possible.

This way I will not be sending them out onto public roads with little or no experience and having skills of how to react when operating vehicles in different situations. 

I think this is the very least I can do for my children because I do not want them to become another statistic. 

[pajnmaj]

I believe something needs to be done, I know time restrictions are a problem but realistically I would like my kids to take every precaution before entering the traffic with other people who think they don't break the rules (they do), that don't speed (they do) and people who are invincible on the roads...I am not just talking about P Platers.

I got my license 18 years ago and shouldn't have gotten my license. I knew all the road rules ( I love reading), I could park a car on a hill and take off in manual, I could follow my left or rights but I couldn't parrallel park (still can't...only go in forward) and couldn't park my little car in between 2 cars (I can say quite proudly I can do that now). Knowing I had failed them in my test, I should have really been made to resit it but my instructor let me through. Having said all that I have never been in an accident or scraped my car.

Only 2 weeks ago did I witness a young lady (not on P Plates) driving past me (yep rather quickly) with her left leg on the seat so her knee was under her chin and her right arm resting out of the window. I would hate to see if a car pulled out quickly in front of her as her reaction time wouldn't have been there.

Little things like the above frustrates me as my husband being a paramedic gets to scrape them out of the car and try to fix them up.


Just my little say.