Should learner drivers not have high powered cars until a certain age?
Posted by: Irsa
12th Jun 2009 11:47pm
SteveC
- 22nd Jul 2013 08:44pm
It's not really as simple as age, although maturity of course tends to be related to age. I've seen plenty of drivers in their thirties who are still absolute idiots on the road.
There is definitely a problem with the teenage/early-twenties mindset - so many think they're invincible, and the novelty of power under their right boot often clouds their thinking. Restricting power output certainly would go some way towards cutting down the deaths and injuries among younger drivers. The current "no turbo, no V8" rule is woefully inadequate in this regard. The average Commodore or Falcon has more than enough power for an inexperienced driver to get into serious trouble, but the laws don't prevent P-platers driving them.
Advanced driver courses are pretty good, and I think they probably should be compulsory (including a satisfactory assessment by the instructor) before a license is issued. But the shortcoming is that many of the skills learned are quickly forgotten if they're not practiced. That's why I recommend car clubs. Kids can get a basic competition license at the age of 12, which allows them to compete in low speed car-control trials. There's the fun of competition in a safe environment, plenty of experienced drivers more than willing to share their expertise, and skills are built up and regularly practiced, so that when the "kid" is old enough to be let loose on the roads, they've learned how to respect the limits of the car, how to handle various road conditions, and they have a legal outlet for their "need for speed".
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