Not exactly on topic but after all the deaths on the road in the last few days it seems to me that some simplification is required.
As far as I am concerned the three main causes of accidents causing deaths are a combination of speed, drink and inexperience of driving. Both speeding and drink driving can be policed within the existing laws. A huge increase in the policing of these laws will automatically reduce deaths on our roads (recall the early penalty points effect). It has to be worth the states cash (our cash) to increase police numbers in order to effect the number of lives lost on the roads. There was a statisic a couple of years ago about the cost to the state of one death on the road. I don't recall the figure, but it was obvious from the figure that the increased cost of policing would be more than offset by the decrease in the cost of road deaths.
The third area is that of inexperienced drivers on the road. These inexperienced drivers include those fortunate enough to have sat and passed their test. As far as I'm concerned the driving test in this country is a joke. It barely tests a driver. All that is required to pass the test is to sit 5-10 pre-test lessons where you are taught how do drive in order to pass the test. Every movement is so exaggerated, you stretch to look in your rear view mirror etc. You then sit and pass your test. Over a four to six week period you drive like an automaton, and then as soon as you pass your test, because of the fact that the changes to your driving have been so over exaggerated, you revert to "normal" driving.
The whole system should be thrown out and a new system should be put in place. Learner drivers should only be allowed on the roads with qualified registered driving instructors. They should be forced to do a minimum of say 12 lessons, before they are tested (both practically and theoretically) by the state driving testers. The then should be awarded a provisional licence. This should allow them to drive only with a fully licenced driver for a relatively short period of 3-6 months after which they sit their actual driving test (again practical and theoretical). Upon successful passing of this test they should be awarded a probationary full licence. During the next two years, if they avoid any penalty points, they should be awarded a full licence. In the event of getting penalty points the probationary full licence should be taken away, and the driver forced to sit the test again (during the period between losing the licence and sitting the test he/she must be accompanied by a fully licenced driver). Upon passing the test, the driver is then awarded the probationary full licence for a further two years. If no penalty points are accrued during this period, then a full licence should be awarded.
All fully licenced drivers should be forced to take a driving test every five to ten years.
This system is based upon the premise that (state employed) driving testers are able to handle the increased number of tests required.
This is just an outline, but a major overhaul of the testing/learning is required.
Past30