Rev_Man

'ianb' might remember an incident involving a young driver recently. I can't remember where but for some reason Airdrie/Coatbridge springs to mind where a young driver in his Nova lost control and ploughed into 2 or 3 school girls on the pavement. I think 2 of them died if I remember correctly.

AnDy_PaNdY

At 17 I wrapped my fathers Rover 2.6SD1 round a lampost nearly killing myself in the process. I walked away without a scratch after nearly ending in somebodys front room.
I was very lucky in as much as I did not hurt anybody else, or myself for that matter.
When you are young, you feel that you are indestructable and those sort of things only happen to other people.
I just hope those kids never have to learn the hard way.

ianl

Aguy in my year at school had a Schimitar (sp??) GTE and was the envy of the 6th form. New Years Eve 1978 he lost it on a corner after drinking most of the afternoon. The car was a write off, he was fine.

The 2 kids he hit both did later that night in hospital...................

stevenleith

Good good - beginning to feel a bit stereotyped over here!

tokyo_james

I don't think that it is right people of that age driving a car like the S2000.

I think that you should have to have a certain level of experience before let loose in something with that much power. How about a limit on the engine capacity and power output for the 1st year after you pass your test or something like that??

I only say this because I know what I was like. I had a Mini 1000, which I drove as fast as I could most of the time. When I borrowed my dad's Sierra I did the same thing. Whatever car I had, I was going to be flooring it most of the time. Fortunatley I couldn't do too much damage in the Mini. If, however, I had the S2000 in those days, I am sure that I wouldn't be here to post this message now.

Another good idea I think, is what they do in Australia, where you are only given 6 points on your license in the first year that you have it (In Oz you start with 12 points and lose them not gain them). This means that you have a much greater risk of losing your license in the first year if you drive like the nutter I was

Okay, rant over..... I guess I am becoming a boring old git as well

Kobe

It's maybe a good idea to grade the license classification on years of driving or age - e.g. Group 20 car indicates that somebody with min 20 years old is needed behind the wheel

Alternatively - Mini driving should be compulsory for 1st year.

teaches you the basics without too much speed - e.g. like the junior formula with the smaller engine brakes and tyres

There are also enough little things to go wrong that you learn your way around the engine without spending too much money or effort.

You will appreciate something better when you get it.

This thread reminds me of the story of the guy in UK who took his driving test in a Ferrari. If I was the tester - who would have failed unless he moved over and given me a go

AnDy_PaNdY

My first car was a 1000cc mini, I kept it for 2.5 years.
I think every young driver should be made to drive one of these cars for a minimum of 12 months before progressing onto a 1300cc engined car. We should have a progressive system for young drivers. You read too many stories of young drivers being given 911's on their birthday and smashing them up within the first week.

Tifosi Red

I believe the Italians (of all people!!) have introduced a system whereby young drivers are limited to cars with a low power/weight ratio (55bhp/tonne rings a bell) in a bid to cut their accident / fatality rate amongst young drivers. This makes a tremendous amount of sense to me....

I'm not an old git but I do recognise that something needs to change over here, there are too many reports on the local news and in the papers of youths killing themselves and others through reckless speed.

tokyo_james

Okay, so which of us is going to run for parliament and try to push this idea through