Driving Workshops

DavidGoddard · 14-12-2011, 10:01

Morning all,

In the news this week, it was reported that stiffer fines are not preventing people using their mobile phones while driving. I feel that penalties need be more practical and beneficial than a simple fine. What do people think of a compulsory driving workshop instead of fines for irresponsible driving?

What these courses will teach drivers, is how to drive defensively. Surely this is more proactive in solving the problem than a fine?

Gary L · 14-12-2011, 10:10

What they could do is when somebody is caught using a mobile phone and get fined. they should give them a handsfree kit out of the fine money and keep the rest.

**Russ** · 14-12-2011, 10:32

Will such a course make any difference to people who are simply idiots on the road? Not the ones who will see 'the error of their ways', but the ones who just like being stupid for the sake of being stupid? I doubt it.

Uncle Peter · 14-12-2011, 11:03

Waste if time and effort. The best way of dealing with this is to just take them off the roads. There are too many cars on the road already and too many of the people driving those cars aren't fit to drive so I would fully support a six month ban for the first offence and a life ban for the second. That goes for drink-driving and any other form of dangerous driving.

Gary L · 14-12-2011, 11:14

What about driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other using a walkie talkie type thing (excluded due to who may need to use them in their line of work)

driving whilst reading road adverts (1 month ban)

driving whilst glancing at the dash instruments (1 week ban)

driving whilst listening to music and being unaware of any warning sounds around you (3 months ban)

driving in the dark and you haven't had 60 hours experience of night time driving clocked up yet (3 months ban)

all of the above carry a £150 admin fee once the ban has come to an end.

**Russ** · 14-12-2011, 11:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

driving whilst reading road adverts (1 month ban)

driving whilst glancing at the dash instruments (1 week ban)

driving whilst listening to music and being unaware of any warning sounds around you (3 months ban)

driving in the dark and you haven't had 60 hours experience of night time driving clocked up yet (3 months ban)

How would ANY of that be proven?

Gary L · 14-12-2011, 11:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Russ

How would ANY of that be proven?

Good point.

best to keep to the obvious ones that are easy to see from most angles.

pity really. just look at how much money they could have made out of it.

**Kymmy** · 14-12-2011, 14:17

Some countries do not allow probationary drivers to drive at night..

tweetiepooh · 14-12-2011, 15:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary L

What about driving with one hand on the steering wheel and the other using a walkie talkie type thing (excluded due to who may need to use them in their line of work)

driving whilst reading road adverts (1 month ban)

driving whilst glancing at the dash instruments (1 week ban)

driving whilst listening to music and being unaware of any warning sounds around you (3 months ban)

driving in the dark and you haven't had 60 hours experience of night time driving clocked up yet (3 months ban)

all of the above carry a £150 admin fee once the ban has come to an end.

Doing anything that distracts you from the task of driving can be punished (driving without due care and attention, careless driving). And your music shouldn't be so loud that you can't hear outside the car, if it is it is usually annoying people outside the car anyway. No need to have it cranked up.

Should fit a device to cars that switches phones to a "Sorry I'm driving, leave a message" mode. Even hands free is a distraction that talking to someone else in the vehicle isn't.

Night driving without experience of night driving would be a tad hard though. You can't get experience without breaking the rule. Should make night driving, especially in rural areas part of the test maybe.

Hom3r · 14-12-2011, 17:14

Personally anyone caught using a mobile phone while driving should have it removed by the police, placed on the floor and hit with a sledgehammer, and NOT be able to claim from any insurance for its damage.

SMG · 14-12-2011, 19:44

Perhaps issuing a fine, with penalty points, & confiscating the phone for 24 hours. Pick it up next day from the nick.

I live near an Infants, Junior & Senior school, you couldnt count the number of women who are yapping on the mobile & "steering" with one hand round the corner. No consideration for anyone else & a danger to road users & pedestrians alike.

Personally, I would confiscate the phone till they had a hands free kit fitted.