One of the main problems with the roads is that everyone believes it’s their God-given right to drive. No matter how bad they are at it, now matter now reckless or absent-minded, nobody is going to stop them.
The current testing system does nothing but justify this. A single test, to a low standard, once… for life? Then there’s the scapegoating – it’s always boy racers, women drivers, foreign drivers; completely unthinkable that a middle-aged, white male might be a bad driver.
We also fall foul of the fallacy that experience is measured in years. Somehow a 21 year old who has covered over a million miles since passing their test at 17 and taken extended after-test training, is inherently “less experienced” than a 45 year old who, in the last 10 years has only driven a mile to work and back every day.
So, how do we solve this? Well, as I see it:
- Test frequently. Every 5 or 10 years would be acceptable. Freqent enough to keep standards up, but still a good period for people not to have to continually worry.
- Raise the bar: increase the skill level required to pass. Incorporate some basic Advanced Driving principles instead of the colour-by-numbers system we currently have.
- Grade tests results: give a metric of the standard of driving beyond just pass and fail. Voluntary re-testing would be available for those who wish to re-try for a higher grade sooner. Maximum grade would be equivilent to an advanced test pass, so AD qualifications would sit on top.
- Make a £50 charge for the test on the driver. Any profits above cost should go to funding road repairs (filling some potholes!) and donations to driver training grounds such as the IAM and RoSPA. While this would inevitably rouse complains, £50 is next to nothing in driving terms – less than half a tank of petrol!
- Force insurance companies to take into account this metric instead of semi-corralatory demograpic factors. Give drivers a chance to prove themselves. This difference would far outweigh the £50 test fee.
- Actively encourage people to take extra training through IAM/RoSPA after tests.
This would yeild the following advantages:
- Vastly increased standards of driving on average.
- By cutting off the worst 10% of drivers (who refused or were unable to improve), lessen overall traffic slighly.
- Foster an ethos that driving is a privilage, not a right, which is a better driving attitude.
- Provide a platform to ensure all drivers know about new road features.
- Provide both a funding and numbers boost to the IAM and RoSPA
- Insurance prices relating to actual driver ability…
- …which would provide an incentive to take training and improve skills.
- Economic stimulation, both public and private sector jobs created for examiners and instructors.
I’m well aware this seems like an extreme approach, but as the population of the UK continues to increase and attitudes to driving seem to be getting worse, it might just be necessary.