Interesting thread discussing new test

maybe something simple would help like when you take a car test black out rear windows and limit size of side mirrors, instant need to be more aware of your surrounding and a bit of what it feels like to be on a bike.

I took my Car test a few years after my bike and after going with no bike for a few years I'm glad I did it that way.
Firstly, i needn't worry about the Mod1/2/3343121331 (what ever).
I know my limits, when i came back to biking I knew I wanted something bigger than my good old GS500, the SV took my liking back then so was top of my list, I knew as much as i liked a Sprint ST i'd most certainately kill myself on one, lets not get into any super sports.

Driving the car I am more aware of my sorroundings, it allows me to be quicker as well as i'm looking further for better gaps etc when driving allowing me to make better time and drive more economically, unlike the car only drivers out there who insist on waiting in lines of traffic when there is 2 lanes going in 1 direction and 1 lane is empty.
I do agree, cars and bikes alike are vunerable to HGVs but realistically they are soo big it's up to us to watch for them and position ourselfs in a sence that should the HGV do something stupid we can get out of it easy (that's my choice anyway).

What really needs to be done is to educate parents into the dangers of bikes, properly of course, as I see som many kids out there on bikes that are not road registered, dangerously driven by people with no helmets etc, passengers wearing the finest in jogging bottoms and track suit jackets with no helmets whilst the bike is ridden along the pavements/narrow footpaths.
Gee thanks for increasing my insurance premiums when your passenger ends up dead.

I dont think there is anything wrong with the current testing systems, making them harder gives nothing extra that people will simply forget 5 minutes after getting their OWN transport.
Regular reviews would keep people up to the same standard like with HGV's, Busses, ADI's (driving instructors) etc. who all (confirm Busses and HGV's for me pelase?) have a check every so often to ensure that they are still driving to the correct standard.

my 10pence is now well and truely spent.

[Biker Biggles]

I think that while making car drivers take a bike test might make them better car drivers it aint gonna happen.Also,this line of thought tends to distract bikers from a simple truth,and that is we are responsible for ourselves out on the road,and it is dangerous for us to expect or rely on car drivers or anyone else to keep us alive.Far safer to believe that all other road users are totally inept and ride accordingly.
Having said that,I think as bikers we can improve our own skills and abilities by driving cars.Having a car drivers perspective on a situation can assist us to anticipate what a car might do and ride with that in mind.The classic accident which springs to mind is the filtering one where a car turns right without checking in the mirror.We may have established legally that the bike is often not at fault here,but prevention is better than cure.From a car drivers pov,you want to look at what is coming towards you when turning across a road,and it takes a real effort to think about looking in the mirror for filtering bikes(even though you should do).Worth bearing that in mind if you are the filtering bike.

as a class one hgv I can confirm at present there is no law that says you must have an assessment once you have got your licence however with some companies (I was with DHEll) make you sit three assessments a year plus ongoing training, the most valuable training I have ever received was on safe and efficient driving its not about going fast its about making progress safely, no good racing up to the lights just to sit there revving away

Don't know if this is relevant but most non-car license holders (whether be lorry or bike) tend to be more obsverant as they have got another license because it's what they want to do where as people have a car licence because it's become a way of life.

I agree that you can never pass a rule that makes someone take a bike test first or even take a CBT first before learning to drive a car. I have friends who are scared of going on a bike as rider or pillion and I would hazard a guess that there is no lawmaker in the land who will make people like this ride a bike first. I'll happily admit that I am a much better driver having passd my bike test but would I tell my girlfriend to do the same to improve her driving (it probably needs it!) - no.

I think there has to be an acceptance that there will always be good drivers and bad drivers, exactly the same as that there are good and bad riders, coupled with the fact that how someone drives in a test is no measure of how they will drive on their own with a licence.

Originally Posted by thefallenangel

Don't know if this is relevant but most non-car license holders (whether be lorry or bike) tend to be more obsverant as they have got another license because it's what they want to do where as people have a car licence because it's become a way of life.

biggest load of crap written on any forum

Originally Posted by irons

biggest load of crap written on any forum

Speak as you find.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by irons

biggest load of crap written on any forum

So refute it in a sensible manner... rather than, ironically, writing a load of crap.

To back up his point a motorcyclist is more vulnerable on the road, so is more observant for self preservation reasons, the habit carries over.
The holder of a HGV license needs it for his livelihood, so is more observant, and also spends a lot of time on the road, so can probably spot a hazard developing earlier.

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

I think that while making car drivers take a bike test might make them better car drivers it aint gonna happen.Also,this line of thought tends to distract bikers from a simple truth,and that is we are responsible for ourselves out on the road,and it is dangerous for us to expect or rely on car drivers or anyone else to keep us alive.Far safer to believe that all other road users are totally inept and ride accordingly.
Having said that,I think as bikers we can improve our own skills and abilities by driving cars.Having a car drivers perspective on a situation can assist us to anticipate what a car might do and ride with that in mind.The classic accident which springs to mind is the filtering one where a car turns right without checking in the mirror.We may have established legally that the bike is often not at fault here,but prevention is better than cure.From a car drivers pov,you want to look at what is coming towards you when turning across a road,and it takes a real effort to think about looking in the mirror for filtering bikes(even though you should do).Worth bearing that in mind if you are the filtering bike.

Absolutely agree with this statement!

We are each ultimately responsible for our own actions and more often than not, accidents can be prevented by doing something differently ourselves. I'm not saying all motorbile accidents are the riders fault...far far from it. However, there is a tendency to blame car drivers for being irresponsible and not looking out for us.

Example...my ex had an off leaving his ex with multiple breaks and needing plates and pins and 4 operations over 4 years. He was t-boned by a land rover pulling out of a side road and has always maintained that the land rover driver was totally at fault for not looking properly.
In truth, the junction was on a bend in a 40mph limit and my ex was doing over 70mph...so chances are it was HIS actions that made it impossible for the land rover driver to see him until it was too late. I felt sorry for the LR driver and his ex girlfriend, but not him. He was almost double the speed limit and got off scott free when a young woman got permanent disfigurement and a LR driver has to live with that forever!