Failing Driving Tests Fuelling Accidents

With more and more of us on the road nowadays it is important that we are all driving correctly and carefully to prevent accidents. It seems that the country’s leading driving instructor group believe the UK driving test needs to be revamped in order to keep up with the current conditions on our roads.

The UK driving test is failing to provide the nation's roads with competent motorists, according to an instructors association. A survey from the Driving Instructors Association (DIA) found that two out of three members support this view. This means that every new driver is now less qualified to deal with unusual situations on the road. If the new driver panics and slams on the brakes, for example, this could be a very serious hazard to other more experienced drivers.

Similarly, 90 per cent believe that the hazard perception component of the assessment is in need of an update. With an increasing number of cars on the road it is vital that new drivers are aware of what is going on around them, many young people have difficulty concentrating on more than one thing and this could be significant threat to the safety of other motorists and themselves.

Results from the company also suggested that the legal driving age ought to be raised to 18 and that young drivers should be banned from driving at night. A similar law exists in North America and Australia, where beginners cannot carry youngsters and can only drive during the day, the body added.

"This highlights the urgent need for fundamental changes to the whole framework of UK licensing and the driving test," said the head of road safety at the DIA.

Last month, the road safety minister commented that a "fundamental overhaul" of driver training was required to cut motor-related fatalities in the UK.

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