Cycling proficiency should be part of driving test

[AndyK]

http://m.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2012/aug/06/cycling-lessons-driving-licence?cat=environment&type=article


I have to agree.

[drossall]

This would improve driving because drivers would have experience of cycling.

It would improve cycling because cycle training is obviously beneficial to cyclists, almost all of whom are drivers, so you'd get all adult cyclists trained (in time) through this approach, without bothering with any complex and expensive licensing of cyclists.

[Rhys W]

I've been saying this to people for about 15 years - my original idea was they should commute by bike for two weeks, because my experience at the time was that two weeks of daily commuting was enough to guarantee at least a couple of near-death experiences.

It was a completely mad idea at first, nice to hear it's been considered seriously!

[Domestique]

I think this is just sidetracking the real problem. Everyone knows how to drive properly, but some choose to ignore other road users. Its the law that needs changing, or enforced, not more training and more victim blaming.

[Riggers]

Something I've always thought should happen! I'm sure it won't, but there we are.

Domestos. I don't think for one minute your comments are ignored. But with little redress for cyclists to aggression from some drivers on our roads, either verbal or physical, these seem likely to continue in my opinion. The Law does need to be toughened up, I agree completely. Getting people intent on driving, onto bicycles and passing a cycling proficiency test, would at least help in some way, however small.

[henshaw11]

I think this is just sidetracking the real problem. Everyone knows how to drive properly, but some choose to ignore other road users. Its the law that needs changing, or enforced, not more training and more victim blaming.

I think you mean 'everyone knows how to drive as well as they think they need to to pass the test'. How many drivers ever go on to take more advanced instruction/examination, either informally or  IAM/ROSPA ? It's not unusual for motorcyclists to do some form of later training - if only for self-preservation. Motorway usage isn't part of the driving test, and overtaking isn't, AFAIA, taught as such either - both ought to be, or required to be covered within a period of obtaining one's licence, IME

Overtaking advice (should rather than must) wrt cyclists etc is in the HC, but most people have forgotten that after they've passed their test and we mostly lost public information films a while back (and completely killed by the current government). The rules are there for speeding, and that works well, doesn't it ?

On the other hand, drink-driving is way lower than it used to be - it's now socially unacceptable - I doubt the chances of getting stopped are much higher, other than during the usual christmas blitz.

IME drivers fall roughly into the following (with some overlap):
a) considerate, overtake with a comfortable margin and in sensible places
b) in a hurry/ready to squeeze through the smallest gap
c) not trying to drive like a d*ck but unaware of their driving on others (esp cyclists) - often can't overtake (anyth
d) openly beligerant to cyclists/other road users (typically the 'ipay road tax/why are you in my way and not on hte cycle path' brigade)

Where I live (n surrey) a) is getting notably bigger, there's an annoying minority of b), a good chunk of c), and very occasionally d)
d) is a bit of a hard one to crack, but some education/experience - ie what it's like to be on the receiving end of poor driving - may go along way with b) and c), which is a significant chunk of road users. It might even give people a bit more confidence to go out on a bike.

[mcshroom]

The counter argument to having cyling as part of driver training is that then cyclists will be regarded as those who are unable to pass the driving test (unlike now when they are regarded by people in £200 rusty corsas as 'unable to afford' a car)

[jogler]

Its the law that needs changing, or enforced,

hammer,nail,head.