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In the good old days of motoring, life was easier. Yes I know vehicles were harder to drive and we didn't have the luxuries we have today in vehicles, but it's not the vehicles I am talking about, it's the rules and traffic laws.
The first Highway Code was just a few pages, the latest edition is like reading 'War & Peace', but not as interesting!
So why do we have so many traffic laws? Well mostly it is because of knee jerk reactions from whatever the government in power at the time, decides they need to react to. Let me give an example: a few years ago the press and some road safety professionals were 'banging on' about drivers using mobile phones. So the then government made it a specific offence not to use a handheld mobile whilst driving, despite the fact there was already a law of failing to maintain proper control of your vehicle. So what's wrong with the new law? Well it didn't at the time, and still doesn't, address the problem of drivers being distracted whilst driving.
We now have an offence of using a handheld mobile but it's okay to use a hands free phone. If the problem was that drivers were/are crashing because they were holding a small plastic object (mobile phone) surely taxi drivers, breakdown vans (RAC, AA etc) drivers, the emergency services and every other driver who uses a two-way radio should also be banned.
The law on using mobile phones whilst driving is only one example, there are many others. The problem isn't just the government bowing to pressure, but whenever a new traffic offence is put into law, some smart lawyer will find a 'loop hole' to get his client off. Every time a 'loop hole' is found we get another law to plug the hole.
The question I would pose would be: is it now time to simplify traffic law, make it relevant and understood by everyone? When I started driving if you got a ticket for a motoring offence, you could take it to any solicitor for advice, nowadays you have to go to a specialist lawyer because not even the police now understand traffic law.
If you can think of other traffic laws that don't make sense, send your suggestions to me at E-Training World on a £20 note!
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