Reply to: Driving age 'must increase to 18'

[Paddy]

Simple answer; Do away with airbags and seatbelts. Replace them with a metal spike. It will make drivers think twice. The problem is that drivers feel too safe.

[thunderlizard]

Surely people in their first year after passing the test are likely to crash more often, regardless of the minimum age..?

If they do change it to 18, I'd put money on a rise in deaths caused by 18 year old drivers, roughly equal to the decrease in deaths caused by 17 year olds.

[DodgyAgent]

send them round to A & E to see some crash victims, and include a consequences of dangerous driving section as part of the course.

[VectraMan]

I don't think there is an easy solution but I do reckon the driving test is too easy...

Probably, but it's not necessarily that these people aren't good enough drivers. It's that they think they're immortal (as you do when you're 17), and then show off to their mates by driving faster than they can handle. I used to do it.

I think the rule about banning them from taking passengers at night time is a good one, though it does seem a little bit harsh from a civil liberties point of view.

[Let-Me-In]

Assuming the kid driving has taken and passed a driving test

Of course..but thats a different issue altogether.

[BrilloPad]

Raise the test age to 25. get a few people off the road.

Anyway the only way kids can afford the petrol is by gewtting into debt - bad for em.

[BA to the Stars]

I don't think there is an easy solution but I do reckon the driving test is too easy...

Assuming the kid driving has taken and passed a driving test

[Let-Me-In]

Well if they are of equal mass then it’s less likely that the outcome would be so one sided, think ping pong ball and sledge hammer.

Really depends on how the 2 cars collide....

[gingerjedi]

As opposd to crushed to death by another saxo or a van?

Well if they are of equal mass then it’s less likely that the outcome would be so one sided, think ping pong ball and sledge hammer.

[Let-Me-In]

I don't think there is an easy solution but I do reckon the driving test is too easy...

[Sockpuppet]

I passed 10 days after 17th birthday. Went into a 1.3l. Now got a 135 bhp focus which I've had since 21 and had no accidents.

This "lessons spread over a year" thing is bollocks.

[Let-Me-In]

But not all youngsters are reckless, it makes me sad when I hear of an 18 year old girl crushed to death in a saxo by a truck or 4x4 when she would have little choice in what she could afford to drive.

As opposd to crushed to death by another saxo or a van?

[gingerjedi]

But not all youngsters are reckless, it makes me sad when I hear of an 18 year old girl crushed to death in a saxo by a truck or 4x4 when she would have little choice in what she could afford to drive.

[Let-Me-In]

So, what if we make all new drivers drive 10 year old 4x4's?

[VectraMan]

HP restriction and minimum weight limit, a 20 year old in a 1400cc Caterham would still be very deadly!

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/188491.htm

Yes but light means less momentum. One of those vs. a 4x4, and the 4x4 driver is barely going to notice, let alone be hurt.