Is it time for tighter control over driving?

Considering that per mile travelled, drivers are about 50% more likely than cyclists to be involved in injuring a pedestrian, and 3.5 times as likely to be involved in killing them.

N.B. This calculation makes no allowance for the fact that (a)drivers accumulate a lot of their mileage on motorways and trunk roads where there are very few pedestrians to injure and (b) a lot of cyclists are children and teenagers.

I would have to say yes. For a start cars should be removed from built up areas due to them being dangerous.

-We have a situation here in the UK where drivers kill 3000 people a year, maim many thousands more and cause conflict hourly. . . . . . . Then teach the pedestrians to LOOK before crossing the road like they used to do years ago and not blame the driver for them being idiots.

-congestion has reached epidemic proportions (Bristol and London traffic suffers terribly during the day) . . . . . Then the public transport should be sorted properly so that people would use it instead of finding others have used it as a toilet!

-pollutants from the exhausts such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and many byproducts of the petrochemical fuels used, and noise pollution from tyres and engines . . . . . Emmisions are cleanser than they have ever been before and the roads play a big part in road noise. Fix the roads quieten the tyres.

-they are grossly expensive to run with high maintenance costs . . . . . Good, driving is a privilege not a right and they are not that expensive to run anyway if you have a job to pay for it.

-we are now beleived to have reached well past "peak oil". . . . . . Who believed we are well past peak? The current leak off the Mexico gulf is expected to last 15 years.

-bad drivers are consistantly let off with fines and endanger all, . . . . . Then get the police back on the road and scrap speed cameras. With the police on the road there was not much bad driving as they were everywhere.

Anyway, is driving now so negative an activity on society that it needs extra control? . . . . . . Only by the eco hippies that know nothing and nobody is listening to them anyway. We need better instructors and teach drivers common sense. For example, if it is raining and the wipers are needed then perhaps it would make sense to put on the lights as well?!?!?

I think TJW and Anna are missing the point entirely, and I say that as a noncyclist. This isnt about cyclists. This is about driving. Driving is now so bad for cities that something has to be done. I drive long distances and have to admit that cyclists are the least of my worries - other drivers have a far greater propensity to cause damage to me and my vehicle. I rarely see bad cyclists (compared to bad drivers)

Who is Jack - 40 people a year are killed by drivers - and they were walking on the pavements when it happened. I believe this figure is much higher and that pedestrians are thrown into the road from impact. Studies show that speeding drivers make it harder for pedestrians to cross the roads as it becomes harder to judge their speed and a safe time to cross.

I dont think public transport will ever be sorted out. Here where I am there was a big push to create a bus lane on one of the dual carriageways. The motorists campaigned against it because they would have "lost" "their" road. Nobody owns the roads, and if we are to improve public transport then there need to be set and efficient routes around domestic traffic. The RAC, of which I am a member, seems to have a history of speaking out against closing off routes to domestic drivers.

"Emmisions are cleanser than they have ever been before" sorry but that completely misses the point. The point is cars are just not clean and as long as they use oil based fuels this will remain so. Simple laws of chemistry.

"Good, driving is a privilege not a right and they are not that expensive to run anyway if you have a job to pay for it." - Its a massive drain for lower income families who end up working extra hours just to pay for the car. I know a few people like this. The car doesnt represent freedom to them.

Peak Oil - BP and Shell have made similar statements in the past 2 years about how they now need to invest in new technology to draw oil out of wells. It is quite clear by the amount of probing oil companies are doing that it is running out. The oil from the Gulf of mexico is not suitable for motor fuel, infact it is our reliance on oil that has lead to this massive distaster - another downside to relying on motors.

Why is it someone immediately comes out with the "eco hippy" nonsense to what is a serious threat to our wellbeing, and as a committed driver even I can see this.

My answer is this YES! More control, self control at that, and many, MANY more Police to sort out this nonsense on the roads.

I have to agree with TJW - all of the dangerous incidents involving cyclists that I have been witness too, most have been the result of ignorance and arrogance of the laws on the part of the cyclist. If they are going to use the roads in the same capacity as drivers are, then I think they should, at the very least, be made to sit a theory test in the same way drivers and motorcyclists have to when they are learning. It seems odd - not to mention dangerous - to me that a person can jump on a bicycle and ride, seemingly having no knowledge of the rules of the road.

As for dangerous driving, yes, it's terrible, but I don't think penalising the masses for the sins of a few is going to work - what's required here is simply stricter enforcement of the laws already in place.

I assume from your post you are a cyclist.

I regret to say that a few of the cyclists i meet have an very arrogant manner to the way they themselves use the roads. One in particular in my own area was knocked off his bike and let off a torrent of abuse at the driver. When I stopped and explained his short comings he let foul on me.

It didn't occur to him that he turned out of a junction without warning into the path of the driver leaving him no chance to avoid him instead of giving way or halting as any driver would have to at a junction.

I reported the incident and I received a letter from the Chief Constable stating that he had been interviewed and advised about his riding and behaviour.

And he being a member of a local cycling association should have known better. Your every day cyclist very rarely is a problem it seems to be the lycra brigade that have the attitude.

Im in no way against Cyclists, but I see what I see.

A theory and practical driving test for everyone should be mandatory, at most, every 10 years.

A lot of people on the roads today only think the highway code is in place for them to pass their driving test then they either forget it or choose not to adhere to it, this is why there are so many accidents on the road. If everyone was to drive with more caution and consideration for themselves and others around them the roads would be a much safer place.

Think of the money the government could make out of this......

First, you people in the UK drive on the WRONG side of the road - that might be the first contributing factor.

And NO, there doesn't need to be more regulation - just better driver training, and practice.

Laws can't and won't fix anything (if they could, lots of stuff would already be fixed) - human actions can.

If you really feel strongly about it, you can change your own destiny and never drive or ride in a motor vehicle. Either walk, ride a bicycle, or get a horse. Try it for a month (or two) and see how it works out for you.

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It may control itself - the car has ruled for too long now, but rising fuel prices along with the shrinking economy may show a reduction in private motoring.

Investment in public transport won't happen - so more of us will be car sharing, cycling or walking.

New road builds could be put on hold, and the funds re-allocated to properly maintaining current roads and infrastructure.

With regards to safety - it would be great if current legislation were properly enforced; but with repeat offenders getting suitable life bans.

Many drivers are unable or unwilling to obey the most basic rules such as sticking to speed limits and staying OFF the pavements. Some 10% are uninsured / unlicensed or carry no VED.

Certainly we should be looking at tighter control, perhaps even a three strikes and you're out. 12 points proves you are either too stupid to be driving or simply too incompetent.

there's no telling those issues, fairly. i've got extensive-unfold super young ones with undesirable dad and mom and massive dad and mom with only undesirable young ones. interior the tip, you basically could do what you think of is right and desire for the terrific.