Drivers license re testing?

[Dizzy1]

The majority of accidents seem to be caused by drivers who are speeding, driving aggressively, being inattentive (texting, using hand-held phone, reading, or otherwise not paying attention). These are all attitudes that cannot be fixed by driver education. Just troll the various bad-driving threads for evidence of posters on these forums that seem to think they have almighty reaction skills while driving fast and loose, or think they can use their cell phone because somehow they're special.

Driver training won't fix that.

Neither will re-testing. I agree attitudes cannot be changed by any form of education, but mandatory instruction will make it more expensive and difficult to get a license in the first place weeding out many potential losers. Add to that, if the Government actually shows signs of taking driving seriously, more people will finally understand just how serious driving is in the first place.

In regards to these forums, I've read most of the threads on bad driving, and there are many posts where people claim they know what they are talking about but they don't, they feel that the way they do things is the way it should be even though the BC MVA clearly states differently (Keep Right Except To Pass as an example). Another thing I've noticed, is that speed seems to be the number one "point the finger at" rants. Speeding is not dangerous at all, careless and reckless driving is and there is a difference between the two.

As an example, if you drive 130km/h on the Connector on a nice, clear summer day, you are by definition speeding, if you were to be driving at 70km/h down Bernard during a busy afternoon, you are also by definition, speeding. Now, doing 20km/h over the speedlimit on the Connector is no more dangerous than doing the posted 110km/h yet doing the same amount over the speedlimit through town is an obvious accident waiting to happen. The connector has very little collision/accident potential given the many straight stretches, good line of sight visibility, wildlife fences and a well built road, so while one is speeding you are not being reckless or careless. Going through town has a dozen more accident/collison potentials and doing 20km/h over the limit is not only speeding, its also reckless and careless.

Of course the usual forums self appointed speed police will cry bloody mary over travelling 130km/h on the Connector and claim the usual speed kills propaganda claiming they know what they're talking about, but they don't. Again, take Germany for an example, they have 3 basic speedlimits ... within City limits its 50km/h (unless otherwise posted such as school zones), outside City limits its 100km/h and on the Autobahn, for the most part, the recommended speed is 130km/h but you can drive as fast as you want. The rural roads are very comparable to many rural roads here, but many are narrower, more blindspots and yet they have a limit of 100km/h. If speed really kills as so many here belive, would the Autobahn not be a bloodbath? Yet, despite the incredible highspeeds involved, it is one of the safest roads to drive on in the world, in fact ADAC (Germanys equivalent to CAA) did a study a few years back and determined that the majority of accidents on the Autobahn were at speeds of 100km/h or less.

Now, of course the design and condition of the Autobahn doesn't even come close to the roads we have here, and I'm not saying that highways here should be a free for all, but pointing the finger at speeding without understanding it is absolute rubbish.

[coffeeFreak]

Lousy drivers become that way because there are very few serious consequences. Even if a person were to be "retested" it does not mean a darn thing if the laws against speeding, running red lights, not signalling etc are not enforced.

I propose a substantial increase in the amount of fines with more punitive actions against drivers with lousy driving habits, and then actually enforce those laws; a person can almost guarantee poor driving would miraculously improve.

IMO, without accountability and consequences all the retraining in the world will do nothing to change poor/lazy/arrogant/aggressive drivers.

[36Drew]

but pointing the finger at speeding without understanding it is absolute rubbish.

Okay - let me rephrase then...

Speeding recklessly. Speeding aggressively. Speeding excessively.

The driver going 5-10% over, leaving a large space buffer, paying attention, not talking on their cellphone and weaving in and out of traffic isn't the danger. However, way too many drivers in this town are talking on their cellphone, texting, tailgating, weaving in and out of traffic. Said drivers also typically are doing greater than the speed limit whenever they get the chance. They just don't care. Training and re-testing ain't gonna fix that attitude.

BTW - I'm mounting a cam on my helmet this year. If I catch you (collective "you", not you specifically Dizzy) texting, calling, weaving, or doing anything else dangerous - it's going on youtube along with your license plate number.... and shared with the RCMP. Perhaps more drivers/riders should do that.

[Wally]

I was thinking the pain in the behind of having to go through the process of retesting may be more effective than a simple fine, money for fines is not much of an issue for some, but having to retest for doing things you should know are wrong might get someones attention.

[Dizzy1]

They just don't care. Training and re-testing ain't gonna fix that attitude.

And I agreed with you in an earlier post, but still, mandatory driver's instruction would be a step in the right direction in getting our streets safer, its not just the "I don't care" attitude that is a safety risk on our streets but its also the "I don't know" crowd that causes accidents.

BTW - I'm mounting a cam on my helmet this year. If I catch you (collective "you", not you specifically Dizzy) texting, calling, weaving, or doing anything else dangerous - it's going on youtube along with your license plate number.... and shared with the RCMP. Perhaps more drivers/riders should do that.

PM me your youtube account when the time comes, would love to see some of the footage you get, and I also wish that I had a dash cam at times, the things one see's on the roads around here is nothing short of "wow" ... LOL!