Seeing into the future

[NickM]

Shame they can't retrospecively test the vast majority of road users! I'm an advocate of retaking driving tests every 10 years but I know its contoversial so expect to be shot down

Not from here, you won't be - I'd have drivers re-tested every 5 years, and reduced to Learner status if they fail, complete with L-plates and the requirement to have a proper driver in the front passenger seat.

But then, I'd stop issuing provisional licences altogether until the number of motor vehicles on the road is reduced to something more acceptable in a rational society...

 

[Origamist]

There was a non-robust US study that looked at cycling injury rates. From the data it was extrapolated that experienced messengers had a relatively good safety record compared to other cyclists. I think Hurst picked up on this a few years ago...

 

[grhm]

I too would like to see periodic re-testing of drivers - and I thought this before I became a regular cyclist.

I believe the new photocard driving licenses are only valid for a number of years (7yrs looking at mine), before they have to be updated - potentially with a new photo. A re-testing scheme could be introduced to work on the same time scale - i.e. to renew/revalidate your photocard license a new photo *and* test pass is required.

They'd probably need to be some leeway in when the test could be taken - the same way that an MOT has to be done yearly, but you can do the test at any point in the last month and still have the new MOT end 365 days after the current one.

 

[thomas]

Retesting. Fine.

But

It's hard enough to get your first driving test, never mind getting the how ever many million drivers retested every 10 years.

I took 2.5 months to pass...and about a month of that was waiting for a test. Depending on your area I waited a short time!

 

[NickM]

Driving is a privilege, not a right. That is why it's licensed.

 

[grhm]

Yeah - lead time between applying for a re-test and getting one - that's the bit that I'm not sure about. We'd need to have a larger number of qualified examiners and possible testing centers.

Don't the States do re-testing? How do they handle it?

 

[thomas]

Don't the States do re-testing? How do they handle it?

I don't know if they do, but I doubt it...there driving test is really simple* though, so probably doesn't make much difference.

*so my American friends said.

 

[grhm]

I don't know if they do, but I doubt it...there driving test is really simple* though, so probably doesn't make much difference.

*so my American friends said.

Hmm, I had a quick google and found nothing. Found a few mentions to renewing licences. Perhaps they have as similar need to renew to ensure photos are kept upto date. (Can't seem to find anything definitive on the web, looks like each state does it's own thing - but whether they're pretty much the same I dont know)