Who'd have thought it? Highway Code changes working wonders (+ has driving improved?); "Where's *insert your local town*?": Tough day at the office for Tour of Britain admin; Should you resit driving test at 60?; Good ol' days + more on the live blog

How about a mandatory retest for anyone who accumulates 12 points on their licence over any period of time?

How about a mandatory retest when video evidence is provided showing driving which would lead to a fail.

iandusud wrote:

How about a mandatory retest for anyone who accumulates 12 points on their licence over any period of time?

How about a mandatory annual retest for anyone that has any points on their licence?

The theory and road tests are the absolute minimum standard which every driver should be at or above in knowlege and ability. Those millions of people who don't think they could pass a test should not be driving without further training. 

A retest every 5 years would not be inconvenient for those who are competent drivers, it takes 45 minutes, but it would make the roads dramatically safer. 

I think an on road test would be tricky due to sheer numbers - there would not be enough examiners. Hence suggested this bit as a simulation.

Looking at dash cams videos on youtube, seems driving is taken too easy. The seating, entertainment, air flow system is too comfortable leading to lower than required levels of concentration. You should be tired after an hour plus of driving.

I'm not convinced by a simulation. The hazard perception test is effectively that, and it is widely criticised:  manufactured scenarios are measured according to when you react to them, based on an arbitrary window of opportunity. 

Too early, and your click doesn't count (even though you might have spotted the emerging hazard while it remained a risk); too late - even before it becomes an actual hazard - and you don't get enough points.

Plus, you are driving a PC screen, not a real life windscreen view with all-round visability.

I dont doubt that there is equipment that would give a better 360° view, relaistic handling, and decent graphics, with more advanced assessment of the driver's reactions.  However, that would be very expensive at present, at a cost to the test centre.

Currently, the only reasonable way to test driving is to test somebody driving when they turn up in their [instructor's] car.

Not really thinking currently, thinking of what you could have in 5 years. Plenty of 360 simulations now that you can go to for entertainment.

Costs to be passed on to the driver.

The actual test would be a road test and the base line and at a higher standard than now. Then the simulation would measure against the base line.

How to drive round a roundabout and keep in lane, how to stop before the ASL, how to park in a cycle lane.

hirsute wrote:

I think an on road test would be tricky due to sheer numbers - there would not be enough exmainers. Hence suggested this bit as a simulation.

Doing a bit of quick mafs we would probably need around 4000 more driving examiners on top of what we have now to test every UK license holder once every 5 years assuming each instructor does a little under 35 tests a week and some people need a retest. According to google, currently there are around 1600 examiners, some of whom are part time, so it would be a massive increase in the profession. You would likely also need to up the number of instructors as well as a lot of people would require additional training to pass their retests. 

Surprisingly, when more people are needed in a profession, more people are hired. The current numbers are based around current requirements so if they need to increase requirements, they will increase people. I did have a mooch around Google and it seems the Gov are proposing changes which includes more full time examiners, changes to appointment cancellation times, reviewing driving instructors etc. 

Consultation for them finished in March. 

AlsoSomniloquism wrote:

Surprisingly, when more people are needed in a profession, more people are hired. The current numbers are based around current requirements so if they need to increase requirements, they will increase people. I did have a mooch around Google and it seems the Gov are proposing changes which includes more full time examiners, changes to appointment cancellation times, reviewing driving instructors etc. 

Consultation for them finished in March. 

I won't expect any action soon, a consultation on pavement parking was completed quite some time ago, but no outcome has yet been reported.

This may not take into account the distance driven or journeys made, i.e. the 60-69 age group will mostly likely spend less time on the road than 20-29. 

I'd expect that to be reflected in insurance premiums though - perhaps the best measure of risk.

mark1a wrote:

This may not take into account the distance driven or journeys made, i.e. the 60-69 age group will mostly likely spend less time on the road than 20-29. 

Indeed, because a large number of this group will retire and stop driving to/for work

Daveyraveygravey wrote:

There was a brief time when the changes were first published where things were better, but it's gone back to the previous appalling level now. 

I think I'll second that.

Yeah, it looks really good. Will do wonders for cyclotourism if the weather is good. I can't see from the low res map, does it include those evil ramps around Abbotsbury? It has a breakaway day written all over it, straight into climbs and doesn't really let up for the first 20kms.

From what I can see it drops down the steepest 'classic' Abbotsbury hill into the town. There's no shortage of sharp and steep in the Purbecks to and from Corfe, then I'm pretty sure it climbs to the top of Bulbarrow from Milton Abbas, descends the long north ridge and then back up and over the steep east side. Lovely!

Yes, 17% gradient at the top with a 30 degree left hand bend at the bottom, that will be interesting, I've touched 80km/h down there, it's like freefall. 

Thanks for the local knowledge and the insight into the final stage, sounds like a cracker ... 

If anyone else has some tips on best locations to watch etc for other stages, feel free to add them in the comments.

For the Isle of Wight good spots will be:

Cowleaze Hill out of Shanklin will wake things up. 7% for 1.6km, 12% at the top. Lots of space to watch there.

Ventnor - Spyglass Inn on the esplanade all the way up ZigZag hill. About 100m vertical ascent in under a km, including 25%+ bits. Really narrow and about 40kms from the finish so will be tricky to cover an attack. Only three more climbs including the finish after that. This is part of the segment (go left at the top rather than right) 

https://www.strava.com/segments/2879239

Niton Down will also be good on the way back, a long drag (3km at something like 5%) into a headwind followed by a steep descent (by UK standards). Plenty of space to watch there.

And then you've got 20kms of the Military Road which will either be glorious if the weather's good or echelon madness if it's not. Prevailing westerly will be hitting them on their left shoulder all the way along there, there's zero cover from the wind.

Final selection could be on on Compton Down east of Freshwater. Benign climb in good weather but a really steep descent could let the front few get away.

The steepest part of the final climb is at the beginning as they turn into Alum Bay. I'd imagine the car park will be used for team buses so it's one to cycle too but there are public loos for spectating. Halfway up it turns right and flattens before a short 10% section. Think mini Planche aux Belle Filles. On reflection, not as tough as the Great Orme.

Take the ferry from Lymington to Yarmouth and stay near the finish. Plenty of campsites for bikepacking. I've stayed at Grange Farm in Brightstone a few times, you can see the race pass there in the morning and then have a leisurely ride up to the finish whilst the race heads inland. If you fancy a hillclimb competition whilst you're there the road down to the beach is getting on for 30%, you can barely walk it.