I've been driving...on a computer

[Fez]

BE AFRAID MOTORISTS OF BRITAIN!

Today Andrew Harrison took the first important step in becoming a horror of the roadways by passing his theory test with proverbial flying colours

High scores in each section of the test prove I was born to call the M6 my bitch - 34 out of 35 on the theory questions, 58 out of 75 for hazard perception which puts me in the top band of successful percent scorers for the whole of the country

Sometime soon in the not too distance future will I be legally able to jump behind the wheel of a motorised death machine and mow down old grannies on a Bolton high street knowing it will only cost me a few points on my license...and possible jail time...

Also love the new emoticons, Mike PDT_023 , perfect for the devil angel on thr go

[Mike]

Well done! Next time we go to pool remind me and I will buy you a pint to celebrate your success.
PDT_001

[mr_e]

Hoorah, a momentous occasion for mankind and the Fez household. Drinks are definitely in order when we next make it out for pool. Oh, and nice smilies, but they have no proper hover tags. I'll be quiet now.

[John Knight]

Thank crap that being an older fart and having a memory like a sieve i didn't have to do a theory test.

Just a handful of random questions sat in car after driving test.

[idlewood]

wats a theory test?

or even

wats a driving test????

i remember when we had 2 employ those young men running in front of us waving flags......

[Fez]

That's nothing. I bet John R took his test on a brontosauros, tackling such demanding driving conditions as low flying terrodons and volcanic road blocks...

[TAOWBST]

Ooh so cruel.

motorised death machine

Depends whos behind the wheel. Speaking of which, I just started learning to drive.....so much fun, (sorry just felt I should mention that).

Damn these new tests. I ask you, whats the point in testing new drivers, with these theory and hazard perception when all those old drivers have no experience of such tests. On a side note, it has been said that this generation is the most tested yet! How evil is that? And they say exams are getting easier, (namely GSCEs but that won't restrain the media).

[Mike]

Damn these new tests. I ask you, whats the point in testing new drivers, with these theory and hazard perception when all those old drivers have no experience of such tests.

You are right I have no experience what-so-ever of harzard perception tests. But answer me this, what happens when you meet a hazard on the road that is not covered in the test? Will you be able to sue the test makers for not preparing you properly for driving? Will people start panicing and saying "this was not covered on my course!"?

The problem with tetsing people is you cannot hope to ever cover the whole subject. You can only ever take a snapshot (thus people can pass tests without having in-depth knowledge - cramming). I think some of the people writing these new tests seem to have forgotton this and aim to produce a 'definitive' test. IMHO a 'definitive test' is pretty impractical and practically improbable!

[Fez]

the only way to become a good driver, as with many other things, is to experience it on the road as a normal road-user - unfortunately, as with everything, those with little experience tend to make mistakes when first setting out. hence incredible insurance costs.

[TAOWBST]

In all fairness,Mike some of these new drivers, (namely those who panic in such situations) really shouldn't be on the road in the first place. I agree that this idea of a "definitve test" is ridiculous, however I think it is better than no test at all.

Don't get me started on insurance costs. What is it with these new insurance companies that only specifically insure women drivers?Supposed fact "women are safer drivers". FACT there are less women on the road!

No I know I have no experience of such things, but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on the subject.

[Mike]

No I know I have no experience of such things, but that doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on the subject.

lol, I know what you mean. I honestly had no intention of implying otherwise, I actually meant to agree with you and carry on the argument against over testing but I think my grammer got the tone wrong. I think that your comments were very true, sorry if you thought I was taking a swipe!

Don't get me started on the unfairness of females getting cheaper car insurance. It really, really gets on my wick. I am lucky that I have not had a single accident yet (1 part skill, 99 part luck) but I still get stung compared to female drivers due to my gender and age.

[mr_e]

I believe the premiums are lower for women because they tend to have more minor accidents, as opposed to less. My friends have royally screwed their cars up, and they were all men (the highlight would be trying to do a hand-brake turn, almost flipping said Mini, and bending the axle on it). Women go for more parking mishaps. Besides, actuaries get paid a shed-load of money to calculate the premiums, so there's probably a good reason behind it (ie. men do more crazy stupid high-speed shit).

[Mike]

I still think that seperating out by gender is discriminatory. I think that experienced drivers should have lower premiums independent of gender. Of course this system falls foul of the fact that at some point you will have no experience what-so-ever and they need to make the judgement some how.

TAOWBST - If you are enjoying driving so far then you probably going to be dedicated to getting it right which means you will be fine with insurance after a year or so!

[TAOWBST]

I honestly had no intention of implying otherwise

I know, I presumed as much really. I didn't think you would take a swipe,Mike. (After all, if you did I'd only return the favour ).

But seriously though, I only said that pre-empting how some people may have responded to that post. I tried to raise the issue of insurance on another forum, (the one I told you about in the e-mail), and they just looked at my age and said I shouldn't be so concerned with such things.

Don't get me started on the unfairness of females getting cheaper car insurance. It really, really gets on my wick.

Oops looks like its already happened. Not to worry though, seen as most of these women only insurers aren't exactly what they seem. As much as I despise such a sexist idea, these companies are really only looking after their own affairs, and don't benefit their customers as much as they would like people to think. I think saw something about it in the mirror not so long ago.

I still get stung compared to female drivers due to my gender and age.

The answer is simple, they're jealous,Mike. I highly doubt any insurer you can think of has been founded by someone under the age of 35.

I believe the premiums are lower for women because they tend to have more minor accidents, as opposed to less. My friends have royally screwed their cars up, and they were all men (the highlight would be trying to do a hand-brake turn, almost flipping said Mini, and bending the axle on it). Women go for more parking mishaps. Besides, actuaries get paid a shed-load of money to calculate the premiums, so there's probably a good reason behind it (ie. men do more crazy stupid high-speed shit).

Thats the myth,yeah. Perhaps not all, but most women drivers, who have such insurance policies, will always spout this kind of thing over and over again. Generally speaking it probably is quite accurate, but why should all male drivers be discriminated against for the stereotype? And why should some female drivers benefit because of such a stereotype?

If you are enjoying driving so far then you probably going to be dedicated to getting it right which means you will be fine with insurance after a year or so!

I certainly hope so. Wow that was a long post.

[mr_e]

Male drivers are discriminated against for the stereotype because that's how insurance policies work, they rely on statistical analysis of large population samples (it's also broadly similar to how the NHS, and Social Security benefits work, ie subsidising others). Technically, they could use smaller sample sets, but that would cost more money to administrate. There are always no claims bonuses, small consolation as that is.