Reply to: Could have been worse

[BoggyMcCBoggyFace]

Poor lads, I've noticed since its become a bit sunny and the new Fast and Furious film has come out driving particularly by men around the age 18 - 23 seems to have got a lot worse, last week within a 2mile stretch of driving I had 2 near misses, first was some guy coming down a country road around a corner way, way to fast losing control and ending up on my side of the road, only quick action by me avoided a head on, the lad stopped he was very shook up bloody idiot I gave him an ear fall. Bit later on this time some idiot thought he 1.6 Golf was fast enough to over take something he was on coming to me and again was looking at a head on only avoided by me realising he wasn't going to make it and me going off road on to the grass verge.

[SueEllen]

Or just MarillionFan.

My first foolish passengers were a couple of light children* as soon as I got an adult in my car I drove slower and left a bigger gap.

*Who enjoyed telling me the speed limit every time I went a few miles over it.

[vetran]

Absolutely, and (in view of my previous post) at least one lesson with five hundredweight of rocks in the back!

Driving big vans taught me a lot about how wide I was. My wife flinches as I throw my car through restrictions.

People don't appreciate how weight & water can really change handling until they have slammed the brakes on & filled their trousers.

[ChimpMaster]

Absolutely, and (in view of my previous post) at least one lesson with five hundredweight of rocks in the back!

Or just MarillionFan.

[OwlHoot]

Mate of mine is a Driving Instructor and encourages his pupils to do lessons after passing & advanced driving. ...

Absolutely, and (in view of my previous post) at least one lesson with five hundredweight of rocks in the back!

[vetran]

takes a few years to get enough experience to be safe.

Mate of mine is a Driving Instructor and encourages his pupils to do lessons after passing & advanced driving. He reckons its saved a few.

[VillageContractor]

Only passed last yr in my mid 30s - I'm scared of driving because of the lack of experience.

TBH kinda glad I didn't pass back in my teens

[l35kee]

I remember being in a car around 17 when some of my mates had been lucky enough to have been bought a car. Definitely had some near misses.

I don't think extra driving tests are required.. iirc that was not the issue. It was the age/maturity of us... I'm probably a "worse" driver now than i was when i passed at 18, but I'm a hell of a lot safer.

[VectraMan]

A couple of years ago my Dad told me the 17 year old who lived next door to him had been killed in a car crash not long after passing his test. "Big upset" was the phrase he used.

Then again I used to drive like a loon as a 17 year old. I cringe to think of it now.

[OwlHoot]

All teenagers, 18 or 19 years old. No idea of the cause atm, Police are still investigating. ...

It's pretty obvious what the cause was, as the same thing is always happening with cars packed full of teenagers one being the driver.

Freshly qualified young driver gets used to scooting around as the sole passenger in their shiny new jam jar, marvelling at how nippy and pokey it is, then agrees to give three or four of their mates a lift for a night out.

But when bombing it round a bend, which they have traversed many times on their own with no problem, the young inexperienced driver forgets that carrying an extra quarter of a ton weight the car will be significantly more sluggish at (among other things) braking and turning ...

[original PM]

Very sad.

Happened near me a few months ago.

Always seems to be youthful exuberance married to a lack of experience.

[BrilloPad]

That's why they talk about banning new drivers under 25 from having passengers and driving in the night.

Which might also reduce insurance rates..

I lived very close to this from 22 years ago: -

Six die in blaze after car hits tree | The Independent

Horrible way to go. Car on fire, doors lock on impact so they burnt to death.

Why does it take so long to learn lessons?

Something not reported was that at the accident site traffic calming measures had just been introduced on Westmount road . This lead to a slalom. Inexperienced drivers, or those unfamiliar with road changes, might not be aware that when a car starts to slalom it can continue on. Without the traffic calming measures I think they would have been fine.

Alternatively I propose a new safety device for cars. A large spike in the middle of the steering wheel. Drivers would take a lot more care then.

[scooterscot]

I grew up in a little town called Oban. I returned to that town on the summer months during uni to cut the grass at the cemetery. I remember seeing the headstones belonging to guys I went to school with. Always road accidents. Up that way driving recklessly and drink was all they had to do. By the time I finished school the police decided to do something about it.

On my 18th the police started providing extra driving lessons for those that past their test. I recall being taught how to control a skid in the sports ground in a police car. Both on ice and dry ground. I did not appreciate it at the time but I do now. Drive into a skid, always, its saved me puff already!

[SueEllen]

All teenagers, 18 or 19 years old. No idea of the cause atm, Police are still investigating.

But given the way teenage lads can be with a car there are some obvious options.

That's why they talk about banning new drivers under 25 from having passengers and driving in the night.

[DaveB]

How old was the driver? What was the cause of the accident?

I hope all who can make a full recovery quickly.

All teenagers, 18 or 19 years old. No idea of the cause atm, Police are still investigating.

But given the way teenage lads can be with a car there are some obvious options.