Driving standards

[Mal103]

Do you think that driving standards have dropped over the last 10 odd years?

I used to ride years ago so got very good at driving defensively, after getting back on 2 wheels again recently I am constantly reminded of driver numptyness.

I had one driver on a 2 lane roundabout - while joining the roundabout opposite me - stay in the left/outer lane and indicate left/straight-on, only to continue round and turn right! I was right to wait.
Then this week on a dual carraigeway a car just drifted out into the right hand lane for no reason or indication?

Plenty of other examples but more aware and vulnerable to them now. A lot more texting and phoning going on as well.

[Uber Dave]

On the topic of phone use in cars, when I am on my bike if I spot it I tend to ride along side them, do the "phone hand" shape and shake my head at them. Most the time they quit it.

As for general roadcraft. In my opinion its linked to the number of cars about. There has been a marked increase in the amount of vehicles since even I passed my driving test in 2001. More vehicles means more idiots sadly.

[Swanny]

Yea on the bike it's really easy to spot phone users, you can even see them texting

[Birdylegs]

There's a lot of vehicle variety so you cannot drive the same speed as what's behind or in front of you on the road. The driving standard has changes about rules in which you don't have to indicate if you driving straight over a roundabout to show when you're leaving it which is a warning to other drivers and moving in front of cars to exit a roundabout has changed to not use you're self as a human shield when exiting a roundabout to a sudden exit hopefully a car won't pull out at you if it's a single lane but you could get two lanes in which there's space there need standard rules which don't change from year to year and a common road lay out to avoid looking at markings so you don't drive into incomming traffic thinking you have two lanes road signs are cheep and we need more of them even two at times spread about incase you miss one.

[Ade]

There's a lot of vehicle variety so you cannot drive the same speed as what's behind or in front of you on the road. The driving standard has changes about rules in which you don't have to indicate if you driving straight over a roundabout to show when you're leaving it which is a warning to other drivers and moving in front of cars to exit a roundabout has changed to not use you're self as a human shield when exiting a roundabout to a sudden exit hopefully a car won't pull out at you if it's a single lane but you could get two lanes in which there's space there need standard rules which don't change from year to year and a common road lay out to avoid looking at markings so you don't drive into incomming traffic thinking you have two lanes road signs are cheep and we need more of them even two at times spread about incase you miss one.

Your 2nd sentence is so long with no punctuation that I'm afraid to me it was totally incomprehensible. !

[shiftyblake]

Sorry Ade, drank too much Vino for punctuation ! If you break it into chunks Im sure you can manage it !

[Swanny]

Personally I think making people re-take their driving tests every five years would do wonders to improve driving standards

[shiftyblake]

I also think bikers should retake there test, why just car drivers?? Do we really think that all of us are so much better than all of the car drivers !

[Uber Dave]

Personally I think making people re-take their driving tests every five years would do wonders to improve driving standards

I also think bikers should retake there test, why just car drivers?? Do we really think that all of us are so much better than all of the car drivers !

What happens then if you fail the test through no fault of your own (because someone else did something on the road) and as a result lost your job, home, etc........ Never going to happen.

[Swanny]

What happens then if you fail the test through no fault of your own (because someone else did something on the road) and as a result lost your job, home, etc........ Never going to happen.

They could be given a couple of months to have some lessons and retake and pass.
There are some dangerous drivers/riders on the road so if they did lose their licences the roads would be safer for the rest.
But yea it won't ever happen.

People seem to give up on learning to drive once they pass their tests.

Driving instructors aren't just for people learning to drive, they are also there for people wishing to brush up or improve their driving skills.