Should taking a Defensive Driving Test Periodically be Enforced?
By veganbliss
@veganbliss (3895)
Adelaide, Australia
December 21, 2015 5:04pm CST
In an effort to reduce accidents on the road, do you think this would be a good idea? Who should pay, if so? And how often should motorists be tested? What should be included in the tests... just driving skills, or tons of theory & statistics, or maybe a course in basic vehicle maintenance, vision & reaction tests?
Should insurance companies give discounts to those who have taken these tests, if done voluntarily? Do you think being tested by a celebrity racing car driver would be an incentive? Or should we just sit back & wait for google driver-less cars to come along?
2 people like this
3 responses
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
21 Dec 15
I think it would be too complicated to take extra driving tests. Here in England it can take ages to get your test done in the first place, and it would really create a bottleneck if everyone had to be tested again. I do think that drivers over 70 should be tested though. (I'm over 70 myself, so don't accuse me of ageism!)
2 people like this
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
22 Dec 15
Do you think scheduling can avoid bottlenecks? And could testing be personalized to suit the person undertaking the test? There could be, for example, a choice between an hour's intensive test, a day long or a log-book style test completed over weeks & an online theory test. Don't you think the roads would be safer as a result, with fewer accidents, deaths & injuries?
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 Dec 15
@veganbliss I just don't think it would be feasible. How would it be administered?
What could be feasible is to make anyone convicted of traffic offences take a test before being re-issued with their licence.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64354)
• United Kingdom
22 Dec 15
@veganbliss Lol - you've got that right! Obviously prevention would be better than cure, I just don't think your suggestions are workable.
1 person likes this
@troyburns (1405)
• New Zealand
22 Dec 15
A lot of the Aussie schools are involved in defensive driving courses, from what I remember. Here in NZ, my daughter was able to take a course which cut six months off her restricted license. I think it's important that there should be a "reward" for taking defensive driving lessons,especially for new drivers, old drivers, and anyone convicted of a driving offense. I'd like to see insurance companies subsidising these courses.
1 person likes this
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
23 Dec 15
Ahh!
What rewards do think would encourage motorists the most to take the course?
@GreatMartin (23672)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
22 Dec 15
What do you mean who should pay? Here in the USA a motorist pays to get tested to get his/her license and they pay each time they renew their license--and it isn't cheap! But people here aren't tested enough on their driving skills--generally they just have their eyes tested. At 80 I will apply for a renewal of my license and it will be good for 6 years--that is ridiculous!!
There is a safe driver's school test that if you take it--a 6 hour class--your insurance will give you a discount.
1 person likes this
@veganbliss (3895)
• Adelaide, Australia
22 Dec 15
I wish there would be more on an incentive to take that safe driver's school test, but at least you get an insurance discount.
Do you think it should be made into law to take this test? Or should the test be offered at no charge / a small charge by the government for, say, an extra endorsement on your licence, which'd look good in a court of law or if convicted of an offense? Or maybe paid for in full by motorists, who in turn get discounted everything from "Greenslips" to club membership, etc, right across the board, with the view to almost 'make back' the costs of the proper tests until the time comes to take them again?
