CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!

What should be in the driving test?

(5 posts)
  • Started 13 years ago by Wilmington's Cow
  • Latest reply from chdot

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  1. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Following Laidback's comment here: http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=1361 and the fact that the driving test has just changed, with a new 'independent' element (driver is given a destination and has to pick the route themselves rather than being told which turn to take and so on) which I tihnk is a move in the right direction, what else should be in the test, or in lessons?

    An easy one would be for the first couple of lessons to be done on bike, which are easy to stop and talk about road layouts and so on which are ahead and how they should be approached, as well as giving an appreciation of bikes on the road. I'd extend that to having a walking element as well to take pedestrians into account.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  2. LaidBack
    Member

    What I said for those who don't scroll. "Then there's impatience fueled by an unrealistic expectation about how long a journey should take.
    Maybe judging how long it takes to get between places should be part of the test?"

    Posted 13 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Ability to text on ones iPhone at the same time as trying to negotiate a busy junction.

    Now that "making a phone call while driving" has been banned, this is an ever-more-popular activity, with a growing fan base. Unfortunately it's not the easiest art to master, certainly not as easy as clutch control or hill starts. Most drivers without professional training in this particular skill aren't really very good at it. What is needed therefore is training and a DVLA sanctioned certificate in proficiency. Then we'll all be a little bit safer at junctions.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  4. wingpig
    Member

    Lane/road position mistake/choice recovery... a lot of lane markings and signposts are only helpful if you already know where you're going and which lane to be in. The lane arrangements on roundabout approaches are often different from the simple layouts presented as training material when I was learning to drive. Sometimes what looks like the best lane to be in suddenly transforms into a filter lane, or the arrows on the road are faded/patched with unpainted tarmac/inconsistent. The ability to safely and considerately recover, work out where the right place to be is and then move safely (rather than panic and squeal rashly) into the right lane would be a good thing to drum into people, particularly if it was pointedly worded "...indicate, then wait for a GAP - not a cyclist, but a GAP, then set off and move over when it is safe to do so..." to try and stop people pulling across you to turn left and so on.

    Posted 13 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "wait for a GAP - not a cyclist"

    INDEED

    Unlike here...

    Posted 13 years ago #

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