Would you pass a driving test?

[Tin Pot]

Not very clear to me whether your are disagreeing with tin pot or simply saying something unrelated

I do on occasion disagree with myself, it has been known.

The reason tests (any test) are the way they are is because they cannot (yet) monitor your behaviour continuously. They know you will behave differently while being tested. To ask if you'd pass while being watched continuously by an examiner is to completely misunderstand the whole shebang.

 

[Pro Tour Punditry]

With one eye closed and one arm behind my back.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Black boxes fitted to cars would be a step forward. Then whether you get retested could be based on what the black box says. In the event of a crash the black box data could also be used as part of the evidence to what happened.

 

[Profpointy]

I do on occasion disagree with myself, it has been known.

The reason tests (any test) are the way they are is because they cannot (yet) monitor your behaviour continuously. They know you will behave differently while being tested. To ask if you'd pass while being watched continuously by an examiner is to completely misunderstand the whole shebang.

I get, and agree with, the first part - namely the test can only check skills whilst on best behaviour, hence not attitude or irresponsibility.

I don't see that that in any way invalidates the question "would I pass the test again if I just rocked up". Presumably I'd still be on best behaviour but may be doing things in an unapproved way.

I assume you're not saying tests are per se pointless because of the attitude thing

Would I pass A level physics today if I just turned up; probably, but I think I'd have to swot to do maths or chemistry again?

 

[Profpointy]

Black boxes fitted to cars would be a step forward. Then whether you get retested could be based on what the black box says. In the event of a crash the black box data could also be used as part of the evidence to what happened.

That'll probably come and at any rate would be vastly cheaper than the retesting regieme. I dare say it's less than a hundred quid a unit now, which must be a fraction of the cost of a test. Remember a test costs the candidate a day off as well as the fee.

 

[gavroche]

I would almost certainly fail for various bad practices like holding the car on slight inclines by using the clutch/footbrake rather than the handbrake. .

And how often do you put a new clutch in?

 

[Profpointy]

So? One morning/afternoon every five years - big deal.

Driving is a privilege - not a right.

That's not my point. Individually not a big deal but you are still talking of a couple of billion quid a year. Is this a good way of spending a couple of billion quid? I suspect a disproportionate number of fatalities and serious injuries are caused by disqualified drivers, joyriders and so on. Retesting everyone would do absolutely nothing to help this, though could of course help the majority improve a little and admittedly weed out some marginal or past-it drivers. I still think we should target where we spend a couple of billion quid.

 

[swee'pea99]

I do on occasion disagree with myself, it has been known.

The reason tests (any test) are the way they are is because they cannot (yet) monitor your behaviour continuously. They know you will behave differently while being tested. To ask if you'd pass while being watched continuously by an examiner is to completely misunderstand the whole shebang.

Ah.

 

[Tin Pot]

I don't see that that in any way invalidates the question "would I pass the test again if I just rocked up".

Ah, but that's not what the OP asked.

 

[Profpointy]

Ah, but that's not what the OP asked.

Dammit you're right

 

[swee'pea99]

In my defence I don't think I was completely misunderstanding the whole shebang. I was putting forward a hypothetical. Obviously if I were to take a test I wouldn't steer one-handed or leave my hand on the gear lever. I was wondering whether I would pass if a tester (invisible) was watching the way I actually drive day to day

 

[Firestorm]

The bike test would be completely different so I would like to think I would pass , but I really dont know.
I cant think of anything I do which would fail a car test, but what I would do on the day is a different matter

 

[Profpointy]

Always like the Peter Kaye tale of being desperate for a pee whilst driving. Because it was busy he couldn't really pull over but managed to pee into an empty pop bottle.

"...and would you believe it, he failed me just for that!"

 

[DaveReading]

Most of the IAM drivers I've met were nobbers - and in some cases downright dangerous.

Shock news: Organization calling itself "Institute of Advanced Motorists" turns out to be a self-serving clique.

 

[slowmotion]

And how often do you put a new clutch in?

I've been driving a variety of battered white vans for twenty five years. Two clutches in that time. I don't hold it on the clutch, just the footbrake. The clutch wear is no different than that which would occur after using the hand brake.