Mike Abbott’s Post

When it comes to road safety and young people, everyone has an opinion. It doesn’t help when you base your reasoning for change on complaints from constituents, about speeding drivers, high performance rental vehicles, off-road motorbikes, quad bikes, dangerous parking and reckless driving. Parliament is currently debating changes to the post-test driving licence. The changes have cross-party political support and are supported by the AA, RAC, Association of British Insurers, IAM, NMC, Project Edward, UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd) and the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. The proposed changes are aimed at providing a proportionate, evidence-led and effective way to ‘significantly reduce road traffic collisions’. Herein lies the problem. Everyone assumes they have the ‘evidence’ and that the solution proposed will achieve its goal...more 

Young Drivers vs Road Safety - its all in the balance (give yourself 5 mins to read this) Saw this interesting article from #antonioavenoso from the European Transport Safety Council about the higher risk of death and serious injury to road users by dropping the legal age to (in some instances) as low as 16-17. Whilst the article raises long-standing industry issues, and although the article focusses on EU legislation, we shall include the UK as we face the same problems and could be affected. I found the article to be very broad-brush with some significant gaps and in some places dramatised for effect. The article raises several points that do not seem to be addressed in the initial article. All of the emphasis on road craft is focussed on the truck driver, what about the car driver? In the context of skills, in this instance, the truck driver would have more knowledge than a same age car driver. The article refers to the scheme as a cheap way to resolve the recruitment crisis - cheaper than what? EU dictates minimum wage thresholds and what about the cost of training? What exactly is meant by this cheap solution? The article suggests that a young driver would have to live longer on conscience if the worst should happen? I am quite sure any driver who has been involved in a fatal accident lives with it. Is the feeling different because of age? The picture used to show this serious accident is actually the result of a truck being blown over in windy conditions with no other vehicle involved. Would an experienced driver not have been blown over? Lastly (for now) there is the notion of accompanied drivers for up to year. How will this be funded and how does that offset the 'cheap solution'? This article is not necessarily about ripping Antonio to pieces or not thinking the ETSC have a valid place but please, if an article like this is to be published, try and be more objective and less dramatic. Who is it aimed at? Experienced transport people or the non-HGV who wont know the counter-arguments? I wonder if Antonio has got his HGV licence, does he know what life (and death) on the roads is really like? https://lnkd.in/eTbnjEt5 In any case, it will form the basis of my next blog and I welcome your opinions. #roadsafety #logistics #solutions #transport #youngdrivers #letsdomore

It is refreshing to see someone in the media, beyond road safety advocates, raising concerns about the quality of driver education provided to individuals on the roads. John MacDonald astutely questions the effectiveness of relying solely on penalties and median barriers to enhance road safety, proposing a shift towards comprehensive training to prepare drivers for real-world scenarios. Many within the driver education sector have expressed reservations about the deficiencies of our current Graduated Driver Licensing system, which places excessive emphasis on the final test rather than equipping new drivers with the essential skills for safe navigation in real-world road conditions. I wholeheartedly agree with the author's stance on this critical matter. It is imperative for the government to reevaluate our current Graduated Driver Licensing system and its impact on road safety. Rather than solely concentrating on test outcomes, we should prioritize a thorough review that reimagines the approach to driver training. I advocate for a holistic approach that focuses on cultivating the practical skills necessary to navigate diverse driving situations. By revising our driver training system to emphasise safety skills and real-world application, we can better prepare drivers to demonstrate responsibility and caution on the roads. Let's strive for a driver training system that not only assesses technical knowledge but also enhances decision-making capabilities, hazard perception, and defensive driving techniques. It is time to prioritise safety and equip drivers with the necessary skills to ensure their safety and that of others on the road, rather than simply reacting to the distressing road toll during each holiday period. Simeon Brown, Simon Court, Greg Murphy, Mark Revill-Johnson, Matthew Campbell #RoadSafety #DriverTraining #GraduatedDriverLicensing #SafetyFirst #GovernmentReview https://lnkd.in/gKYFVU6B

When it comes to road safety and young people, everyone has an opinion. It doesn’t help when you base your reasoning for change on complaints from constituents, about speeding drivers, high performance rental vehicles, off-road motorbikes, quad bikes, dangerous parking and reckless driving. Parliament is currently debating changes to the post-test driving licence. The changes have cross-party political support and are supported by the AA, RAC, Association of British Insurers, IAM, NMC, Project Edward, UK Road Offender Education (UKROEd) and the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. The proposed changes are aimed at providing a proportionate, evidence-led and effective way to ‘significantly reduce road traffic collisions’. Herein lies the problem. Everyone assumes they have the ‘evidence’ and that the solution proposed will achieve its goal.  The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences)(New Drivers) Bill may mandate that, after passing the national driving test, new drivers should face, for 6 months, zero limits on alcohol consumption, limits on the number and age of passengers and possibly restrictions on night time driving. There would be exemptions for work, medical appointments and emergencies, but these have not been spelt out. There will doubtless be some very creative reasons given for subverting these restrictions. The proposed Bill is very heavy on limitations for new drivers, but light on education and training. Looking around the world (see chart below), the UK lies 7th in the league table of traffic accidents. Other countries have shown that obtaining a driving licence needs a great deal of thought and practice. Losing a licence can also be done very easily. However, none have been able to achieve zero KSI figures. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just learn from those more successful than ourselves with longer, more varied and intensive training. Driving on rural roads and motorways are a particular problem for new drivers.

Latest News - Read all about it! 📰 Experts are advocating for new driving licence regulations in the UK aimed at enhancing road safety, particularly for younger motorists. The RAC Foundation has approached the Minister for the Future of Roads, recommending the introduction of a "Graduated Driving Licensing" (GDL) scheme, which has proven successful in reducing accidents in various countries. This initiative would restrict younger drivers, typically those aged 17 to 19, from carrying passengers for a designated period to help them gain essential driving experience. Click the link for the full story and join the conversation! 💬 #Quicktemp #LatestNews #Regulations #GDLScheme #NewInitiative

The UK has long considered #GraduatedDrivingLicences (GDL) with strong encouragement from #RoadSafety bodies. New young drivers are fundamentally at risk when first taking to the road without training 'co-pilot's. Driving risk is significantly worse with young novice male drivers, late night driving & when carrying passengers. In these situations it has been estimated to have up to 4 times the risk of death compared to just slightly older & minimally experienced drivers in similar circumstances. To this safety issue many countries have successfully adopted Graduated Driving Licence programs following testing (in differing forms) to ease new drivers into lower risk driving. For example: Canada, USA (separately state by state), Australia, New Zealand & Sweden all have forms of graduated driving each reporting successful reductions in young driver road fatalities. So why have more countries not followed suit? Unfortunately #GraduatedDrivingLicences are not without its critics. By design, a graduated licensing approach seeks to add restriction for new drivers. Despite gains to #roadsafety some argue that restrictions may impact young individuals unfairly. Meanwhile, young driver deaths continue. A recent poll by Road Safety GB (RSGB) gained a huge support for graduated licencing with 85% of its audience in support of adopting #newlegislation. For those personally impacted by #roaddeath this is even more pronounced with individuals determinedly aiming to prevent #anymoredeaths. This cause is also championed by Insurers, breakdown recovery organisations & road safety bodies all seeking the same change. Yesterday this debate once again reached parliament, this time with Kim Leadbeater MP introducing it as a potential #newbill proposing #GraduatedDrivingLicences. This bill seeks to define specific restrictions for all newly-qualified drivers for the first six months after passing a driving test in order to help save lives. We should not forget however that the UK has already looked at #GraduatedDrivingLicences when former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2018 asked the Department for Transport (DfT) to investigate revised licencing. Pilot programs in Northern Island were ultimately dropped however following concerns for young drivers reaching employment given the potential of restrictions upon them. Ultimately this debate comes down to what is the right balance between protecting society and personal freedoms. This new bill gives exceptions for essential trips suggesting instead a period of time (6 months) following anyone passing a test that particular restrictions would apply. Interestingly upon this bills suggestion it received no immediate objections. It still has a way to go before becoming law, its second reading will be on the 17th May. Will this revise law? Watch this space. To see more see https://lnkd.in/d63Zzj3F)

🚗 New Road Safety measures for P platers announced 🚗 Starting 1 December, provisional drivers in WA will see big changes aimed at making our roads safer. Red P plate drivers will now be limited to carrying only one passenger, a measure designed to reduce risks and align with similar regulations across Australia. These changes are part of a larger initiative, including the Safe Driver Reward Program, which rewards safe driving behavior with discounts on licence renewals. We’re also introducing a pilot Safe Driving Course to provide young drivers with skills and insights to stay safe behind the wheel. Together, these updates aim to tackle high KSI (Killed or Seriously Injured) rates among young drivers and make WA roads safer for everyone. Read the full story at https://brnw.ch/21wOwPn #DrivingSafety #RoadSafety #MakeEveryJourneySafe

BBC News has highlighted the risks for newly qualified drivers today, which is a massively important issue. Learning to drive in a safe and progressive way is key, and not just learning to pass a driving test. The acceleration of young drivers through intensive driving courses by intermediaries, who are not driving schools, is a major cause for concern. These courses are taking advantage of long test waiting times, resulting in drivers who may be fit to pass a test but not necessarily safe on the road. Last year, I wrote an article on the subject, which emphasizes the importance of driving lessons as a journey where safety and experience on the road cannot and should not be circumvented. Please read the article below and share it with anyone who is considering driving lessons. Let's make sure that we prioritize safety and experience on the road above all else. [Article link: https://lnkd.in/er37jpnH] [Source: BBC News] [Link: https://lnkd.in/eDgTrB_K]

🇪🇺 EU driving licence: Parliament backs #roadtransport industry’s position The European Parliament has backed the industry’s position on the Driving Licence Directive revision. Key reforms include: - Supporting an EU accompanied driving scheme for 17-year-old truck drivers - Clarifying that the minimum driving age for both national and international truck operations is 18 - Clarifying that 21 years old is the minimum age for professional bus and coach drivers - Introducing the possibility for Member States to remove the arbitrary 50-kilometre limit for 19-year-old professional bus and coach drivers to transport passengers within their national territory - Backing the Commission’s proposal to develop an EU-framework for recognising third-country drivers’ licences and qualifications Raluca Marian, IRU’s EU Director, said, “𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘵𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘣𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘜 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥-𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘰𝘭. 𝘞𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘥-𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴.” Read more ⬇️

At the end of the day, we all want everyone to arrive home safely to their families & loved ones. I believe that introducing LEARNER HOURS could make a meaningful difference in road safety & driver education. LEARN MORE www.learnerhours.com.au Australian Innovation! #attheendoftheday #comehome #roadsafety #drivereducation