C'mon, then, what do you think?

[Phil Fouracre]

Anyone else heard about the plan to take the 'three point turn' out of the driving test? Couldn't believe it, and even worse, the plan is to encourage more use of sat navs. So, this means more drivers not looking where they're going, then being unable to turn round when they screw up. You couldn't make it up!!!!

 

[BrynCP]

I think there is another thread somewhere.

I am not sure what removing the three point turn (or multi point turn) is supposed to achieve? And using Sat Navs is ridiculous, I have never used one; I use a map and route planner. The map doesn't run out of batteries or stop working, and I am not tempted to tape it to the windscreen in my line of sight as you see a lot of Taxi drivers do with their sat navs!

I'd allow less minor errors, do more manoeuvres and expect 100% on the theory test, or at least have core questions that mean an instant fail if wrong. You could get a question such as what to do if you see a cyclist, and answer drive as close as possible, but get the other 34 (or whatever it is now) right and you're out there doing it.

 

[ColinJ]

I thought about that when I saw somebody whiz down a dead end street in Hebden Bridge today, quickly do a 3-point turn, and then head off back to the busy main road. The alternative would be to reverse out onto the main road, which would be stupid. As is the proposed change to the test!

As for relying on SatNavs ...

 

[Spinney]

I think there is another thread somewhere.

The other thread is in Society, Culture and Politics, starts off with a sexist comment and goes downhill from there.

If you seriously want to discuss what is in the driving test, then carry on with this thread!

 

[Turbo Rider]

Hmm, seems a bit of a silly one to take out, as does the reversing round a corner thing, because I've had to do both of these things at one point or another. I like the additions though and though the sat nav thing may be a contentious issue, due to every driver having a choice of whether or not to use one, I think a certain amount of training with one could be a good idea.

Separate issue, but you do know though, that when drivers are asked to take dummy tests, they usually fail and sometimes quite massively, so it'd probably be a good idea to re-test people after a period of time anyway.

 

[gbb]

The 3 ppint turn is a funny one, its always been there but normal everyday driving should give you the skills neccessary to do a 3 point turn without too much bother.
Sat navs ?...I believe they can be, in the right circumstances, a great aid to driving and possibly make you safer.
City centre or urban driving in an area or town you don't know...you will find it moderately difficult to remember all the junctions, roads, etc etc in a complicated joirney...a satnav lets you concentrate more on your surroundings, rather than worrying if youve taken the right turn, are in the right lane etc etc.

 

[ColinJ]

a satnav lets you concentrate more on your surroundings, rather than worrying if youve taken the right turn, are in the right lane etc etc.

The problem is that the devices make mistakes and people switch off their brains when using them - see my link above.

Round here there are lots of farm tracks and bridleways which are definitely NOT roads, but various SatNavs think they are. Locals have taken to erecting signs to warn drivers, but they sail on by ...!

They are warned by these signs ...

... but Mr SatNav, he say 'yes' so they drive down there anyway and then get stuck somewhere on this bridleway ....

Repeat after me - THIS IS NOT a ROAD!

I took this picture of a stupid driver who had managed to drive up a narrow cobbled footpath with gradients ranging from 15% to 30%, and then had to reverse all the way back down!

Ignoring this ...

And ignoring this ...

He ends up here ...

You couldn't make it up!

 

[classic33]

How'd he get back down?

 

[ColinJ]

How'd he get back down?

He reversed - VERY SLOWLY!

You would imagine that seeing the severity of the bottom of The Buttress would be a hint that all was not right, even if you didn't notice the signs ...

 

[S.Giles]

Maybe the government are hedging their bets. With the advent of driver-less cars, there will be less and less justification for the future test to include an assessment of actual (old fashioned) driving skills. The government will still want to make money out of prospective 'drivers' though, hence the shift to testing and licensing their ability to manipulate gadgets such as sat-navs and the like.

(I'm being flippant of course, but stranger things have happened!)

Steve

 

[classic33]

He reversed - VERY SLOWLY!

You would imagine that seeing the severity of the bottom of The Buttress would be a hint that all was not right, even if you didn't notice the signs ...

The fact its cobbled as well should have been a warning.

 

[ColinJ]

The fact its cobbled as well should have been a warning.

Some people park on that first bit to avoid town centre parking charges, but you'd have to be pretty dumb to carry on up beyond the first few yards!

 

[classic33]

Some people park on that first bit to avoid town centre parking charges, but you'd have to be pretty dumb to carry on up beyond the first few yards!

Thought the council had stopped the parking on there.
But why he chose to carry on, only he and God knows. You can just get out on foot at the top.

 

[Alex H]

It's not definite - it's a consultation (whether you believe that or not is your decision)

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-30249249

The three-point turn could be dropped from the UK driving test as part of biggest update to the exam in 20 years.


Under a revised practical exam, learners may also be asked to use a satellite navigation system instead of following road signs.


About 1,000 learners will take part in a trial of a new practical exam.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency said any eventual changes would be subject to full public consultation

 

[Phil Fouracre]

Yup! I know it was just a consultation, just thought, of all the problems with poor driving we see, and talk about on here, that there would be lot more pressing improvements that could potentially be made! More interaction with those outside, than gadgetry inside?