Should learning to drive include cycle training?

[XmisterIS]

Probably not practical to get trainee drivers out on bikes (not everyone can ride a bike), but a cycle simulator would be a good idea, showing what it is like to be close-passed, cut up, etc.

You could put people in it when they do their theory and hazard perception test.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I think, looking at this from the other end, that a lot of the friction between car drivers and other road users arises from ignorance of why the other road user is doing what they're doing. In other words, many car drivers don't understand why a cyclist might be in a primary position or not using the bike lane. Now, possibly compulsory cycling lessons wouldn't fix this, but they'd be most unlikely to make it worse and may well lead to increased understanding between road users. This proposal is about increasing empathy between road users, not turning everyone into a cyclist.
If we can arrange for everyone to drive an articulated lorry as part of the driving test as well, my happiness will be complete and I might never have to push someone's car out of the way with my trailer wheels ever again.

 

[marinyork]

I have worked with various government groups that focus on road safety and know that it would never happen. There are other more effective ways of changing attitudes. Even then though you can't change everyone.

Like anything its a business, its all about fixing the biggest problems, the ones that affect the most people. Like it or not, the cold truth is that less cyclists are harmed a year than pedestrians and other drivers.

At the moment people are of the view that there is one way and one way only of transport. Once you consider one vulnerable group you see that there are others - pedestrians, dog walkers, hells grannies, horse riders, push chairs, children, elderly and infirm, blind etc. What's more although people like to think that they are confined to a few bad cyclists and motorists a lot of the bad behaviours are exhibited through many groups. I saw all the bad behaviours that people talk of long before I was a cyclist, just people ignore the others.

 

[tyred]

I voted yes but I'd rather than have it as something you do as part of a driving test, I would prefer it at a much younger age and done at school. I would also be in favour of a driving test that actually teaches people how to drive.

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Never mind cycling ... watching some of the parallel parking antics of people up in Ross just now, the question is should they teach driving as part of the driving test.

 

[tyred]

Driving instructors don't teach people how to drive, they teach them to pass the test.

 

[XmisterIS]

Never mind cycling ... watching some of the parallel parking antics of people up in Ross just now, the question is should they teach driving as part of the driving test.

Lol! Once I waited for ages in a tesco's car-park while an increasingly flustered young woman tried to reverse her Nissan Micra into a space that would comfortably contain a Challenger tank!

In the end I leant out of the window and said, "You see that round thing in front of you? That's the steering wheel, that is!".

 

[Davywalnuts]

I voted yes, but I do personally believe the whole system needs to be re-worked from top-to-bottom, but will it happen, no.. The Govenment want petrol-head tax payers on the road ASAP! Soo shortsighted!

Road awareness needs to be educated at a younger age. This should maybe be a curriculum. Cycling and facilities for youngers at Schools need to be better and this H&S b*****s of School stopping kids cycling in is just that, b******s and really gets my goat.. Powerful cars also should not be accessable at such an early age too with a filtering process of engine sizes/bhp that increase with age but also decrease in the case of speeding incidents/accidents. Am sure if you were made to drive a bogstandard 1.4 rather than a powerful 2L it would be more of a threat than a poxy £50 fine or what ever a speeding ticket is! Learn to drive a car with respect and care and get rewarded personally! Same goes with motorbikes! And sort these bleeding hairdryer mopeds and the idiots on them out too! On the same note too, I think motorways needs a higher speed limit and city centres/surburbains need re-visiting/lowering too, use the 5's I say! And maybe to then you can only start learning to drive at 17 if you have passed a cycling test scheme too, otherwise 18, unless valid invalid reasons dictake.. And the quality of roads/planning/cycle lanes/planning... big priority. sooo much money wasted there too on the same note.

I have been cycling pretty much all my life, now being 30, and never taken a driving test, this should be early next year now, but I am convinced my awareness and perception is at a much better level from my years of cycling than someone that hasnt cycled, but I can see lots of floors in the current scheme to get a driving license. But admitedly, my level has increased more by reading on these forums and getting more points of view. Maybe too then you have to pass with two instructors.. One your own, one independant.. just a point of view! But I know one thing, looking back to when I wanted to learn to drive 13 years ago, I really knew NOTHING!

 

[Brains]

I have been advocating a pass in a compulsory cycle test before you can apply for a driving test for years. I'd go further, once you have your cycle licence (which you may be able to get from the age of 10) then (if old enough) you can apply for your motorbike licence, once you have that you can apply for your big motorbike licence, then to a small car licence, small car to big car, big car to van, van to HGV.

In each stage there would be at least a year before you could progress to the next stage. In reality in terms of age it would make very little difference to the current rules

15 Cycle
16 small motorbike
17 big bike
18 small car
19 big car
20 van
21 HGV

It would reduce the number of car drivers, but we need to cut the number of drivers on the roads by more than half in the next decade or so anyway

 

[Brains]

Of course you should have a cycle licence first, you would not expect someone to apply for an HGV licence before they had a car licence.

No difference

 

[summerdays]

How's about taking the cycling part of a driving test after learning to drive and it helping to bring down the cost of your insurance or meaning, in theory, you'd have to take fewer 'driving' lessons.

I'm sure that three one hour lessons on a bike costs less to provide than the car, fuel and instructor for some lessons?

As far as I know either the police or the AA have said that regular cyclists usually take a shorter length of time or are less likely to fail their driving test than non-cyclists.

I have been advocating a pass in a compulsory cycle test before you can apply for a driving test for years. I'd go further, once you have your cycle licence (which you may be able to get from the age of 10) then (if old enough) you can apply for your motorbike licence, once you have that you can apply for your big motorbike licence, then to a small car licence, small car to big car, big car to van, van to HGV.

In each stage there would be at least a year before you could progress to the next stage. In reality in terms of age it would make very little difference to the current rules

15 Cycle
16 small motorbike
17 big bike
18 small car
19 big car
20 van
21 HGV

It would reduce the number of car drivers, but we need to cut the number of drivers on the roads by more than half in the next decade or so anyway

Now there in lies the problem ... I don't want to ride a motorbike... whilst I might be prepared to learn to ride a moped ... I don't want to ride a big motorbike. (I understand the logic of your argument and would agree in principle if I didn't have to ride a motorbike) I can see that being the same argument that drivers would use as to why they didn't want to take a cycle test.

I do think there ought to be more in the driving test/theory test about attitudes to other vulnerable road users and also a greater penalty for poor attitude.

 

[Brains]

As far as I know either the police or the AA have said that regular cyclists usually take a shorter length of time or are less likely to fail their driving test than non-cyclists.



Now there in lies the problem ... I don't want to ride a motorbike... whilst I might be prepared to learn to ride a moped ... I don't want to ride a big motorbike. (I understand the logic of your argument and would agree in principle if I didn't have to ride a motorbike) I can see that being the same argument that drivers would use as to why they didn't want to take a cycle test.

I do think there ought to be more in the driving test/theory test about attitudes to other vulnerable road users and also a greater penalty for poor attitude.

I'd be brutal, if you don't want to drive a big motorbike, then fine, but you won't be ever be driving a car.

The long term intention is to reduce the number of cars on the road by over 50%.

 

[summerdays]

I'd be brutal, if you don't want to drive a big motorbike, then fine, but you won't be ever be driving a car.

The long term intention is to reduce the number of cars on the road by over 50%.

Our car sits in our garage most of the time, but it is very useful for transporting the family occasionally. Neither of us use the car to commute. We live in the city so we do have public transport to fall back on, but if you live out in the country then the car becomes far more important in your daily life.

Edit: You probably would remove me from the road and possibly Mr Summerdays, so one car which doesn't do that many miles, driven by keen cyclists removed. Leaving Mr Petrolhead to be keener to get on those high powered motorbike and onto the car on the road.

 

[Wigsie]

I have been advocating a pass in a compulsory cycle test before you can apply for a driving test for years. I'd go further, once you have your cycle licence (which you may be able to get from the age of 10) then (if old enough) you can apply for your motorbike licence, once you have that you can apply for your big motorbike licence, then to a small car licence, small car to big car, big car to van, van to HGV.

In each stage there would be at least a year before you could progress to the next stage. In reality in terms of age it would make very little difference to the current rules

15 Cycle
16 small motorbike
17 big bike
18 small car
19 big car
20 van
21 HGV

It would reduce the number of car drivers, but we need to cut the number of drivers on the roads by more than half in the next decade or so anyway

Brilliant... it is clear that there needs to be an improvement in road safety and by all accounts most local councils take it seriously and are active in trying to prevent casualties on our roads.

I do understand your logic (at a basic level, in terms of staging the learning process) but putting 17/18 year olds on high powered motor bikes?

Shouldn't your name be Sh*t for Brains?

 

[darkstar]

I have been advocating a pass in a compulsory cycle test before you can apply for a driving test for years. I'd go further, once you have your cycle licence (which you may be able to get from the age of 10) then (if old enough) you can apply for your motorbike licence, once you have that you can apply for your big motorbike licence, then to a small car licence, small car to big car, big car to van, van to HGV.

In each stage there would be at least a year before you could progress to the next stage. In reality in terms of age it would make very little difference to the current rules

15 Cycle
16 small motorbike
17 big bike
18 small car
19 big car
20 van
21 HGV

It would reduce the number of car drivers, but we need to cut the number of drivers on the roads by more than half in the next decade or so anyway

CONGRATULATIONS! You've won the award for the most insane idea of the year!
You actually believe, in order to qualify for a driving license and individual must be able to ride a bike, moped and a motorbike? Surely forcing people to ride a motorbike is dangerous and unfair? I certainly don't want to ride a motorbike, why should i?
As for clearing the roads of 50% of the cars, you believe it's better for everyone to be riding motorbikes? Thats far worse when considering the environmental impact...

I believe if the penalties for driving dangerously around vulnerable road users were harsher and enforced then people would soon change their attitude, forcing people to take various tests for 7 years of their life whilst they are completing GCSE's, A levels and university is just mental. The cost would also be sky high.