It's not just the old who need refresher driving tests

Dreadful driving standards on Britain's roads mean it's time to introduce a 'refresher' test every 5 years to improve everyone’s skills, argues Sam Dunn.

Whisper it softly (in case my wife hears) but I can vouch for the fact that I’m a pretty decent driver. What, you are too? As good as me? I don’t believe it.

First, I tend to observe speed limits devoutly (except for one shameful incident two years ago where sub-standard map reading by fellow passengers – obviously it wasn’t my fault - forced my intervention just as a 30mph limit sign flashed by unseen).

Safe hands

Second, I put safety first and take very few risks when behind the wheel and third – and here’s the clincher – most other drivers are rubbish.

Their misdemeanours are legion: boneheads who fail to signal as they leave a roundabout on the second exit; middle-lane motorway hogs; greedy parkers whose misaligned vehicles shrink two spaces into one; speed freaks who weave in and out of traffic. I could go on.

The proof is in my pudding: only three points on my licence in more than 21 years of driving. So if you’ve never picked up any motoring penalties and share my driving ethos then I salute you (having pulled over first, naturally. It’s much safer to always have both hands on the wheel).

I am, of course, deluded. Although I genuinely hand-on-heart stand by my statements, I can attest that any number of family members, friends, colleagues and neighbours would scoff risibly at them.

Testing times

Unfortunately, once the original driving test has been passed, there’s no objective way to test and compare our motoring skills. You could drive like a crazed F1 petrol-head one day and a tootling vicar the next and no one would be the wiser.

And while I tut at other road users’ behaviour every five minutes, no doubt they’re doing just the same about me.

I share the general view of Leslie Hore-Belisha, the transport minister who introduced the driving test in 1935. He also introduced the flashing roadside beacon that bears his name, and the 30mph limit prevalent in UK towns.

Critically, he argued that driving was “an art in which those who are engaged should, in the interest of their own and of the public’s safety, take the greatest pains to make them proficient”.

But art, as we know, is extraordinarily subjective. It can go in and out of style, clash horribly between the generations and spark revulsion and rapture in equal measure.

L-plate loser

The average pass rate, according to the Driving Standards Agency, hovers around 46 per cent.

The problem is once the L-plates are tossed in the bin, so too are many of the tenets of sensible driving.

Dangerous drivers have no place on our roads, and while comically bad drivers might make us snigger from time to time, even the smallest of errors can end in horribly big accidents.

A radical shake-up is long overdue so why not introduce a series of compulsory retests, say every five years, with plenty of incentives from the car insurance industry for doing well such as big discounts on insurance or even money off a new car purchase? 

Instead of a simple pass or fail, the tests could be graded for excellence, or otherwise, with the financial rewards set accordingly.

Incentives

Given the sheer volume of new “retest” business, the cost could be part subsidised by the industry or even by tie-ins with car insurers who would pay for your test as long as you then took out cover with them.

If you fail the test, you can still drive but must emblazon your car with a green L-plate on the back as evidence of having passed once but failed a retest. To soften the blow, you can reapply as many times as you like to pass the retest and get it removed.

This might sound draconian but it’s born from a genuine desire to improve the driving skills of the vast majority of UK motorists – and bring them up to my own high standards.

Comments

[Blackbox]

Sorry, But I thought the whole concept was ridiculous. Anyone can pass a test, most would just go back to their previous driving style young or old alike.
Sounds like yet another knee jerk money spinning idea to me, and if you think the insurance companies will foot the bill then think again. If you fail they will see it as a way to charge you more and certainly no discounts for passing. Then there's the governmental testing stations. "How much for a re-test" I hear them whispering, lets make the pass rate 35% !!!

I do wish people would see how the real world operates and keep silly notions to themselves.
Nobody will drive any differently (we already have a test system) and somebody would make a lot of revenue ....

[garb]

let them drive how they like - good driving(and good varies between individuals) is obtained through practice and practice only.

The only way to improve driving skills would be to offer extremly subsidised or free advanced driving courses - and no, not the 'pass plus scheme' - a proper course to improve skills at speed, and also to increase ability in eco-driving.

This would equip all drivers with a better understanding of how to drive fast, and if they are a naturally slow driver, a more sympathetic veiw of those of us who do not like travelling 20mph below the speed limit.

[Ian Brameld]

Voluntary training and testing to a higher standard such as RoSPA should be rewarded. Make it a real incentive to take a regular test as I do, every three years. I reckon to have saved about £150 this last year by switching to an insurace company that truly recognises the standards demanded by the advanced driving tests.

Compulsory re-testing is totally impractical.

[Arrem]

In my honest opinion, any attempt to introduce repeat driving tests will not improve bad driving habits.
This is purely a money making suggestion and a job creation scheme.
The only real way to improve driving standards is to reintroduce a significant increase in the number of Traffic Police who will not only prosecute offenders, but reward examples of exemplary driving.

[ian fleck]

you are absolutley correct this self assessment by older drivers is a load of rubbish.they sshould be made to take a test at 70 and the driving test should be made harder and longer.i personally am fed up dodging people who dont indicate or pull out in front of you at 10mph when you are doing 60.the young girls are pretty bad they never indicate.the govt wont do anything until the roads are gridlocked,bill dodgem

[Chaz shave]

As a current learner I think the idea of a retest is a load of rubbish I mean if you want to improve driving skills then limit the power of the vehicle that people can use and make them take a proficiency course to upgrade the power of the vehicles engine like they have to with bikes I mean everyone knows that drivers don't learn to drive propoly until after they have passed their test.

[Ernest]

RE-TESTS would just be another TAX BURDEN on motorists, and serve no real purpose except to add to the cost of motoring,and introduce more BUREAUCRACY.

[Katie o]

My thoughts have always been that not the practical test but the theory test should be retaken every 2 years or so. This is because when I passed my test I passed my theory without revising much because I thought it was common sense but then getting into the car with my mum who passed 30 years ago she has no idea about theory questions. And I think a good knowledge of theory means better drivers because she can drive but she can't 'drive'. More government funding should go into optional driving night classes which make people aware of high speed collisions and what can happen when you don't indicate etc. And I think that when you retake your theory every 2 years you shouldn't be able to tax a car without it. This way means more knowledgable drivers on the road and people who are more aware of consequences of bad driving.

[elle wiseman]

total numpty.

[Troy]

Worst idea ever! purely a money making scheme and a job creation scheme. If anything like this was to go ahead it should be voluntary only. I can never see in a million years insurance companies paying for these "re-tests" Which then foots us with the bill. How are youngsters (17-24 year olds) who typically work for a lower wage meant to afford the higher premiums, aswell as all the other motoring costs such as tax, MOT's etc, aswell as shelling out for "re-tests". Absolute rubbish!

[Bob Loader]

I could have written that article myself, I agree with evey word. I have even got 3 points for doing 35mph in north Wales.
Many years ago I did a drive with a police driver sitting next to me. Ofcourse he praised my driving but pointed out some rather minor things where it could be improved. Unlike a previous comment here, I remembered and put that advise to good use.
I am 80 and am considering taking an advanced driving course in case I may have some slight imperfections in my driving that need correcting.

[ALLEN DAVIES]

You get better driving with time or so they say.Driving is expensive enough without inflicting yet another bill on the motorists.
However if a free or reduced cost day course was set up to improve your driving was set-up that insurers recognised as useful enough to give extra discounts on your policy then i am sure many would take this up and see it as useful.

[tony read]

compulsory retests; just another moneymaking scam for the government,what should be done is to crack down on the nobrainer cyclists who jump traffic signals and junctions,also the other idiot drivers that do the same thing, as well as switching lanes whenever they feel like it, they should take idiots like them off the roads as they are a danger to the public as well themselves, their driving licence should be taken away from them altogether, wich might cut the number of deaths and injuries by quite a large amount,a driving licence is a privelege that is hard earned not a divine right.

[David]

A few years ago I had the pleasure of going on a tutored track day. It also included a small theory and short (twenty minute) road test. According to one instructor, I was the only person to pass that day. I'm not saying that I am a 'good driver’; I think that I am about average. Some of the other drivers were 'good drivers', in their opinion, but they could only answer three out of fifteen Highway Code questions, and failed the driving test. One of them had not examined a Highway Code book in more than twenty years, even though the rules do change. The main reason for failing the driving test was speeding in a thirty mile an hour zone. I agree with Tony, a driving license is a privilege, which you have to earn, and you should maintain a certain standard to keep it.

[Lee]

To be honest I'm not to sure about this idea but then something has to be done.

Its good in theory but in practice it could be difficult to work. For example how are you going to convince the insurers to provide any financial aid to the scheme? How can you stop people from just driving terribley between tests? No I think the only real way to bring an end to the awful driving habits we all see so often on our roads is to start driving tuition much earlier at school level. Its an essential life skill and it's a ridiculous denial of reality that a single (and basic) test after a year of lessons is the best place to start especially considering that up until then the only real image of driving thats been hammered into children, aside from going to the shops, is that of movies and tv programs where every one drives fast and furious (pardon the pun).

I also think people should be restricted in the engine sizes they can drive. A newly passed driver can currently get right into a 5.2 V10 audi R8 if they had the cash...

Surely you shouldnt be able to go above a 1 litre until you pass an advanced test after a year or something like motor bikes.

OH AND BTW I see a lot of "oh its a money spinning idea" on here. I think I should point out to people who havent quite noticed that this guy isnt an MP and this isnt in the works its his suggestion so chill out? Besides something needs to be done and you'll have to face the reality that it needs to be paid for!

[L.A.Millwood]

I have held similar views for quite some time except the time limit for the refresher test is up for debate. I would suggest 7-10 years. The benefits apart from an improvement in driving standards would be increased income to pay for the eaxminers and possibly some money left over to go to the Transport Ministry cofers. Yes I do like the idea.

[Jimmy MacPhee]

Another dreamt up recession driven idea to create jobs and suck money from the already struggling motorist. I dont agree with one word of it. Bad drivers will always be bad drivers no matter how many times you test them.

[Janice Sharp]

Interesting thought! However us motorists get stung enough already, so I agree this may sound good on paper but practically we would all be geared up for a test and then go back to how we drove before. I have no points on my licence - no I am not perfect but I am considerate and stick to the highway rules most of the time. Like any rules there are times when I have to adjust my skills accordingly - lets not forget you only start to gain experience after the test. I do feel that additional classes to update skills would be useful but they would be voluntary and in turn reduce car insurance. Older drivers should be tested yearly when over 65, to ensure they have the basic skills and eyesight requirements. Young people should be limited to 1200 cc until they are 25 and cars should not be modified - most importantly no music with windows down!! Apart from that I think we are the best drivers in the world and I have been to a few places in my 56 years - most drive like maniacs in my opinion. So if we are going to improve our driving standards lets come up with something useful that doesn't hurt the motorist!

[MichaelFrayn]

Interesting thought! I really enjoyed this post.

[Christine Baxter]

Theres no excuse not to be up to date on Theory - I use the practice theory tests on the web to keep my hand in. And why do people think cos you're over 70 you suddenly become a bad driver ?! The bad drivers at 70 were probably bad drivers at 35 !!

[True Religion Outlet]

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