ICSD wrote:
SafeSpeedv2 wrote:
Also let's not forget (or become too 'scared') that our driving test has traditionally enabled people to learn at an appropriate pace suitable for their abilities and ensure that when they go onto the roads 'solo' they are fully safe and ready to take to the roads. .............It is this 2nd / 3rd etc stage of learning that at the moment is self encourage usually by interest or passion. If we can help to encourage that interest and passion then more will want to learn, when people are told they have to learn, often as not they turn off to the whole idea, so constructing suitable learning platforms, and procedures takes a lot of care, consideration and a total comprehension appreciation of psychology and 'life learning' skills.
Cognitive Therapy where people can learn for them selves is an interesting area as people learn by themselves and at their own pace, and has helped more people recently than nearly all other methods.
I have to say that I believe that the current and past driver training/test is wholly inadequate. It allows poor/uninterested drivers on to the roads and doesn't truly prepare drivers for what they will face.
There needs to be a greater understanding of the learning processes but the driving test has generally provided good drivers who are ready for the road. If this is not the case then a closer inspection of the testers and the teaching may need improving. No one has to be 'interested' in driving to pass a test. Many people are 'A to B' drives and as long as they can drive safely and pass the test within guidelines then they should be 'safe'.
Do you appreciate that drivers do not know everything when they go 'solo'?
ICSD wrote:
To suggest that self-teaching should take place post test is simply not enough as that self-teaching could easily lead to an accident - far better that limits are tested and found in a controlled environment.
This 'self-teaching' has proven extremely helpful but it is not without guidance - Cognitive Therapy can easily be adapted to driving techniques as could simulators and games too ... how might you view those techniques. CT is often carried out with a counselor but in this case perhaps a 'good driver' or online facility to help answer queries and help develop thought processes to better driving attitudes, knowledge, skills and abilities. Do you not think that those on the road already have not learned something every day from all that experience.
A surgeon learns from theory and books to start and then from practical experience. The best mechanic is usually the most experienced along with the best pilots .... some people do very badly in a 'classroom environment and test tyoe set up. Driving is a practical action and best taught when in action or in conjunction with some lessons and then practice.
What is your experiences of either ?
ICSD wrote:
Every young driver thinks they're a driving god - a healthy dose of off road/track driving would soon teach them that they're not - especially if they were trying to match lap times of more experienced drivers.
I do not think that, not every driver thinks this at all, a bit assumptive. Showing a young driver and try to 'scare' them into 'behaving' in a certain way is fine if you have a certain type of person but for many, and I might say most here, you would make them likely worse drivers than better or even scare them so much they become concerned when back on the road. Psychology plays a bit part of driver learning and behaviour.
However take those young drivers and show them how to hone their raw skills into balancing a car and how to handle it well and accurately and take their enthusiasm and you help gain respect and then they listen and here what you say, then they start to become better on the roads, as they naturally start to read the road better and most of all recognise hazards and know how they need to slow to enable enough time to react having anticipate well. Scaring young drivers is unlikely to work well even if it appears to work initially. And then if you make some scared how have you made them safer or a better driver?
Just making them go quick around a safe environment may just encourage an even more 'excitable' reaction back on the roads than help them understand car handling. If you take them into a lesson situation to show them how to handle, balance, see & observe well in advance, road (track) conditions, best line, fastest route, car ability and it's limitations, tyre limitations, race rules and regs, best car controls and positions to achieve those, you start to help show what skills and knowledge can be acquired with practice and time to learn - to get around a track be it dirt or race.