We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time
The start point for the best source of fleet information |
The Highway Code is 80 years old this year, first published in April 1931. But does it still do what it was designed to?
It was first produced to set out a few rules of the road, so that users understood what was expected. However, over the years it has expanded into more of a manual for road users - no longer just telling you the rules, it now gives advice. But is this a problem?
I believe the Highway Code should revert back to a simple book of rules, or it could end up becoming a book similar to the DSA Driving Manual (Driving Skills) or Roadcraft - the police driver's handbook used by advanced drivers, emergency service drivers etc.
Like most things in life, people have different views on what's the right or wrong way to do things and driving is no exception.
Taking the two books mentioned above, the DSA, for example, says not to move out to the centre line when approaching a left hand bend. Advanced drivers, however, advocate moving out to improve the view around the bend and to increase the radius as this also reduces the affects of the cornering forces, resulting in a smoother drive. So who is right?
The DSA also has to make its approach accessible to all road users no matter the skill level or experience, whereas Roadcraft is aimed at advanced drivers. But the debate then starts as to whether we should be teaching advanced driving techniques to learner drivers on the basis that advanced driving is deemed as safer. If you listen to businesses, they want safer drivers, because safer drivers means less accidents, and managers are constantly complaining that young drivers are not prepared fully for business driving and are calling for the driving test to be improved.
However, the problem is that if you raise the standard of the driving test more people will fail.
If it is harder to pass the test it therefore becomes more expensive. That results in less people wanting to learn to drive at all and that has a number of repercussions for the UK and its economy.
It is already very expensive for young people to drive when you take into account the cost of fuel, insurance and lessons/test fees.
The question has to be, is the modern test out of touch with modern needs?
I, for one, feel that the test could be structured to create safer drivers. However, that's simply looking at it from a road safety perspective without considering what the impact would be if less drivers were able to pass. One would assume it could ultimately create more unlicensed and uninsured drivers on our roads, which would be a serious problem as a larger portion of the population may decide to 'go ahead and drive anyway'. It could also impact UK manufacturing if vehicle demand began to decline, and it could cause quite a headache to UK businesses if there were less young people entering the job market with a driving licence. Will we see a shortage of car and van drivers, like we have seen with LGV and PCV drivers in recent years.
So happy 80th birthday to the Highway Code, but after 80 years of loyal service to road safety, is it time to not only taking an objective look at the Highway Code itself but to also look at what we want from drivers and those responsible for training and testing them?
Follow BusinessCar on TWITTER
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
