Isn't This Just A Stupid Idea

[renegadefm]

I was browsing the government petitions last night, and I stumbled apon one that I felt would just cause more harm than good. 

 

Its a petition to make drivers from the age of 60 retake their driving test. 

To start with what if your job is a driving job, delivery driver, or taxi, HGV. 

 

Plus theres people like me that a car is vital to get me to work. 

 

Taking a car test, or booking one isn't going to be a swift situation, and what if you don't pass either your theory or practical test straight away.

 

Imagine the disruption this would cause all over the country, it would shut the country down, forcing people to lose their jobs as they can't get to work. 

The age 60 typically means currently theres 7 more years to work, so personally whoever created this petition needs to concider all these things. 

 

I'm surprised the government didn't reject it altogether, but its become an active petition gaining a few signatures. 

 

Am I the only one who can see this is a stupid idea? 

[renegadefm]

I got 37 out of 50.

Or 74%

So I failed. 

Most of the ones I failed on were motorway questions, which makes sense because I live in rural Cornwall and have never driven on a motorway in my life. 

Most of the other questions were common sense really. 

So just aswell I won't need to take a theory test as I would fail, and cause no end of misery for me. 

I just need to stear clear of motorways 🤔

[ToraToraTora]

I agree it would be mad to take the test as it is. Most would not pass it a week after taking it loet alone when they reach 60. Frankly the test has almost nothing to do with divinbg and is very dangerous anyway. Some sort of reaction/eyesight test may well be in order though. The real issue though is that motoring is far too cheap so quadruple the price of fuel and introduce road pricing.

[Canary42]

Sorry, I omitted to give a link for the mofk test :-

https://www.safedrivingforlife.info/free-practice-tests/practice-theory-test-for-car-drivers-1-of-2/?utm_source=gov.uk&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=take-practice-theory-test

[renegadefm]

ToraToraTora, 

I cant understand your logic motoring is too cheap. 

If you add everything up, mot, repairs, tax, insurance, and running it, fuel tyres etc etc. Its actually a luxury to own a car in my view. 

[renegadefm]

Canary42, 

I did a similar one to that, but only got 37.

 

[ToraToraTora]

20:35 work shy scum can afford it, QED.

[renegadefm]

ToraToraTora, 

I'm not sure about that, how can work shy folk afford a decent car. 

I've worked full time all my life and been driving since I was 17, I'm 55 now, but I've always found the expense of a car is very high. Something I could do without but I can't, as we rely on cars to get to work and everywhere here in rural Cornwall.

If motoring becomes any more expensive, I don't know what I would do. 

We actually need a new tyre in the new year, which is £80 just for one tyre. This is bad news for us especially straight after Christmas.

 

[ToraToraTora]

it should be beyond the reach of parasites, it is not, it's too cheap, QED.

[Canary42]

Oh no, we can't have the plebs getting in the way of the rich toffs.

[ToraToraTora]

I'm talking about work shy scum canary, surprised you are a fan.

[THECORBYLOON]

"Frankly the test has almost nothing to do with divinbg and is very dangerous anyway."

What changes would you make to the test (apart from showing proof of employment income and bank statements)?

[renegadefm]

ToraToraTora, 

Hold on a second, I know a lot of work shy idiots, they have Sky tv the whole nine yards. 

But I've worked hard all my life but I still find a car expencive. I'm talking anything flash like a Ferrari. All my cars have been as basic as they come, but still a very expensive item to own and run. 

In fact when you think about it, a car is parked up more than its running, but its a very expensive item to not be used 80% of its time. But we can't live without them. Trust me if I could live without a car I would.

Even driving is a pain these days. 

Petrol has quadrupled in price since I started driving.

£6 would give me 3 quarters of a tank of petrol. Now its probably closer to £30 to achieve the same thing, but my wages haven't gone up to match these changes. Plus all the other bills. Were on the bread line.

I wonder sometimes if its worth working. 

If I could ommit a car from my life I would save a fortune. 

[jourdain2]

Here here, renegadefm. I really don't know where TTT is coming from when he says motoring is too cheap. It's a major worry for us. Our last car cost over £6K, which is a huge amount for us.  

It is a vital necessity and  it costs more than any other essential.  TTT is a spoiled rich kid i.m.o..  I don't mind people being rich, but have some common sense please and think of others.  £14K p.a. is not a lot to live on, but we claim nothing off the state.

[ToraToraTora]

"Hold on a second, I know a lot of work shy idiots, they have Sky tv the whole nine yards. " - Well that's a sad indictment of our society generally.

"But I've worked hard all my life but I still find a car expencive. I'm talking anything flash like a Ferrari. All my cars have been as basic as they come, but still a very expensive item to own and run. " - But you can afford it right?

"In fact when you think about it, a car is parked up more than its running, but its a very expensive item to not be used 80% of its time." - and 75% of its carrying capacity is wasted most of the time. Something so wasteful and damaging should not be affordable by everyone.

"But we can't live without them. Trust me if I could live without a car I would." - Most of us can if we try I could if I needed to. I don't know your circumstances but my plan would always be to create a much better public transport from the income from motorists.

"Even driving is a pain these days. " - then stop

"Petrol has quadrupled in price since I started driving.

£6 would give me 3 quarters of a tank of petrol. Now its probably closer to £30 to achieve the same thing, but my wages haven't gone up to match these changes. Plus all the other bills. Were on the bread line." - then stop driving, why MUST you have personal private transport. What would you do if petrol was £100 a litre?

"I wonder sometimes if its worth working. " - It isn't for many, they do better out of pumping out kids. That's what is wrong, it should never be possible to be better off not working. Frankly I would abolish all free money.

"If I could ommit a car from my life I would save a fortune. " - then do so.

 

[renegadefm]

ToraToraTora, 

In rural Cornwall if there was a cheaper alternative don't you think we would be using them. 

You have your head stuck up a hole or something. 

The logic of picking up random strangers who might be going to the same venue as me just to make it more cost affective is ridiculous and fanciful. 

 

I have heard of car pooling to save fuel, but I dont live anywhere near my work colleagues. 

 

I'm seriously baffled how you think owning and running a car is cheap or too cheap. 

Motorists are hit financially right left and center. 

 

[renegadefm]

TTT, 

How can I ommit a car from my life if we need one to gdt to work. 

We don't live in London where everything is on tap. 

[ToraToraTora]

no need for nastiness we are having a discussion. I am talking societally, try and use your brains rather than thinking just selfishly. My stance on motoring is really just a small part of my overall transport policy, so taking that in isolation can give a distorted view but the general principle is clear. If even unemployed people can afford personal private transport that is wasted 75% of the time then it must logically be too cheap. End of.

[ToraToraTora]

00:04 nothing I say will get you past your foaming at the mouth anger. I am not talking about individual cases I am talking at the whole transport infrastructure. FWIW under my scheme, you and Jourdain would most likely qualify for a subsidised car anyway.

[ToraToraTora]

"TTT is a spoiled rich kid i.m.o.. " - then you don't know me, I am from the lowest of the low me old china. Council estate with useles unemployable parents.

[renegadefm]

ToraToraTora, 

I wasn't trying to be nasty, but its frustrating when you say motoring in general is too cheap. That to me isn't in line with how life is as a motorist. 

Its a very expensive thing that the average household struggles to fund and keep going. 

I don't know how to explain it, but if we didn't have a car in rural Cornwall we wouldn't go anywhere, everything here is miles apart from each other. My place of work is 8 miles from my home. Nearest shop 4 miles away etc etc. 

How could we possibly ommit a car from our lives?

 

To put it this way, it would be like owning a property with a kitchen to cook your meals in. We need a car to get the food home, and I need a car to get to work. 

So a car isn't really a cost affective possession, but a vital one. A bit like a kitchen is sat there doing nothing, but probably cost a lot to install, but without it how do live with a kitchen, or bathroom?

If I could cut a car out of our lives we would, but its an expensive thing we need to keep.