{"id":151,"date":"2014-07-18T09:00:34","date_gmt":"2014-07-18T09:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.bookyourtheorytestonline.co.uk\/?p=151"},"modified":"2014-07-02T21:18:15","modified_gmt":"2014-07-02T21:18:15","slug":"compulsory-driver-re-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bookyourtheorytestonline.co.uk\/blog\/compulsory-driver-re-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"Should We Face Compulsory Driver Re-Testing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"retesting\"<\/a>
\nEvery few years, road safety campaigners and other interested parties float a controversial idea – that every driver in the UK should face compulsory driver re-testing, in a bid to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on our roads.<\/p>\n

It’s easy to see the appeal of such an idea – after all, most of us consider ourselves good drivers, so what’s the problem in proving it?<\/p>\n

In reality, however, this is a complex issue, and matters of age, cost and personal freedoms all need to be considered.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Young Drivers Most at Risk<\/strong><\/p>\n

Critics of regular re-testing proposals point out that young drivers make up a disproportionate number of those having accidents. According to a report by the Institute of Advanced Motorists<\/a>, 30% of in-car fatalities in the UK are of drivers aged between 17 and 24, or passengers of a driver aged 17-24.<\/p>\n

If this is the case, then it renders re-testing of the older population pointless. With finite resources, there is a strong case for concentrating our efforts on young drivers, rather than casting the net too wide.<\/p>\n

The Inconvenience Factor<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another criticism of regular re-testing for everyone is that it would prove highly inconvenient. People would have to take time off work for the test – and what of test centres, which are already backed up around the country? Waiting lists would be very long for re-tests – and should someone fail, it would potentially put their ability to travel to work under serious threat.<\/p>\n

The cost of administering such a scheme may also be prohibitive. And of course, it’s not really a very “British” thing to do. We tend to let people get on with it, and many citizens would resent the implication that they cannot be trusted to drive safely.<\/p>\n

Insurance Benefits<\/strong><\/p>\n

If such a scheme were introduced, one way of sweetening the pill would be to offer insurance discounts to those drivers who pass. This could also work with voluntary re-testing. The insurance industry already offer discounts to young drivers who pass the Pass Plus scheme, so this would be a natural extension of that effort.<\/p>\n

A Middle Way<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, public opinion by and large is not in favour of universal re-testing. Brake, the road safety charity, is calling instead for the introduction of a graduated licensing scheme<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Graduated licensing schemes are already in operation in New Zealand, parts of the US and parts of Australia, and statistics show that they have been highly effective in cutting driver fatalities in the young driver age group. Under a scheme of this kind, young drivers would be allowed to drive unsupervised having passed the tests, but various restrictions would remain in place for a number of years – such as not driving in the dark, or on motorways, not being allowed to carry young passengers unsupervised, and having a zero alcohol tolerance.<\/p>\n

Would this be a good way for the UK to go? Public opinion is much more open to this concept than to regular re-testing for all.<\/p>\n

Since young drivers are most at risk, a graduated licensing scheme would also address the major area of concern, rather than trying to be a one size fits all solution.<\/p>\n

What do you think? Would you support graduated licensing, or re-tests for all, or do you believe the system works just fine as it is?<\/p>\n

(Image source: flickr<\/a>)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Every few years, road safety campaigners and other interested parties float a controversial idea – that every driver in the UK should face compulsory driver re-testing, in a bid to reduce the number of accidents and fatalities on our roads. 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