Seagull over Canaryland
Well-known member
While my own experience is that it is mainly younger drivers who over estimate their driving skills and frequently cause serious accidents that maim their passengers or innocent punters it is certainly not exclusive to them.
So I don't think it would do any harm for all drivers and other road users (cyclists, motorcyclists etc) to undergo a periodic re-assessment of their driving/riding skills, maybe every 10 years or so. If honest most punters would admit that they have picked up some bad driving habits or are not as familiar with the Highway Code and good practices as they should be. Even many so called professional drivers exhibit poor driving standards. Would be useful to practice the Police 'roadcraft' system whereby the driver is far more aware of what is going on around them, able to plan ahead and drive progressively according to the conditions while still having a proper safety margin. Might reduce a lot of accidents, injuries, insurance costs and burdens on the NHS and emergency services.
I would also suggest that the frequency of road rage incidents is due in part to the inability of people to recognise when they are in the wrong but can't bring themselves to admit to it and find it easier to abuse the other road user(s). But then that seems to be a trait common to general life - we all seem so intolerant of each other and it is easier to abuse somone rather than put your hand up and acknowledge their own fault.
It is one thing to observe this from a vehicle drivers perspective but having become a born again cyclist in the last few years I am horrified at the shocking attitude of drivers towards cyclists, often having to take serious action to avoid conflict more than once on a single journey.
So I don't think it would do any harm for all drivers and other road users (cyclists, motorcyclists etc) to undergo a periodic re-assessment of their driving/riding skills, maybe every 10 years or so. If honest most punters would admit that they have picked up some bad driving habits or are not as familiar with the Highway Code and good practices as they should be. Even many so called professional drivers exhibit poor driving standards. Would be useful to practice the Police 'roadcraft' system whereby the driver is far more aware of what is going on around them, able to plan ahead and drive progressively according to the conditions while still having a proper safety margin. Might reduce a lot of accidents, injuries, insurance costs and burdens on the NHS and emergency services.
I would also suggest that the frequency of road rage incidents is due in part to the inability of people to recognise when they are in the wrong but can't bring themselves to admit to it and find it easier to abuse the other road user(s). But then that seems to be a trait common to general life - we all seem so intolerant of each other and it is easier to abuse somone rather than put your hand up and acknowledge their own fault.
It is one thing to observe this from a vehicle drivers perspective but having become a born again cyclist in the last few years I am horrified at the shocking attitude of drivers towards cyclists, often having to take serious action to avoid conflict more than once on a single journey.