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Originally Posted by 2011G6E
Or is it that some people are afraid of what might happen if they were suddenly told "You'll be tested now...let's see if you get to keep your licence and if you're as good as you think you are"?
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I actually think it's more about inconvenience. Even RTA (NSW) realise this, which is why they send out your rego sticker in advance, no going in to get it done like the old days.
The waiting list to get tested is already at a major backlog (especially in the ACT from what I hear), add in a lot more people how do you think it will go? The biggest problem: I don't think RTA will employ more people to handle all these changes. Which is why I said, it works in theory, not in practice...
I'm not against testing, at all. I am saying that some people need to be targeted. Especially the inexperienced drivers. Ie. my P platter comments (add in people over 60 too). But police should target everyone (but of course, they don't have the resources - in the old days highway patrol did just that, now general duties are stretched so far, highway patrol are doing that job too etc). If the cops are getting them, and the courts are making them retest or do advanced courses, things will get better. Sure it won't take all the bad drivers off the road, but it will help.
I agree some people become lazy over time. But I've found that over the years my driving, reaction time etc has become a lot better, I think riding a motorbike also helps here. I notice people on the road get a far too trusting attitude as the years go on. For example, if I see you're indicating to turn, I won't go until I see you doing that turn, lost count the amount of t-bones that have been caused by someone going to turn and changing their mind!
In regards to my earlier comments, I'm in no way saying p platters are the worst drivers on the road. I could bring up Asian drivers (all of them, women especially), let's also throw in skyline drivers who think they're at Daytona, or the motorbike that has to rush everywhere... Again, it's all about training and changing attitudes.
All of this is very academic. Until the govt actually spend time and money looking into the issue, we will continue to get silly ideas like 'testing every 5 years'... It's a knee-jerk reaction and a band-aid solution - and this isn't the first time the idea has been floated. They're going to stress out the system even more, which will make one of two things happen. Testers will become Nazi's or more likely, they'll burn out, and people will get through the cracks in the testing...
On the subject of crap drivers, a lot of taxi drivers are terrible, how some of them are still alive is beyond me - IMHO this should be addressed, they're professional drivers, but they don't bloody act like it.
I'll get off my soap box now!