RazrSkutr

https://road.cc/content/news/17012-bo...aware-cyclists

Sad story about a young woman struck and killed by a car. Quotes from her parents include the following:
The cycling mayor of London (who was the subject of a media pressure campaign to pressure him into wearing a bicycle helmet) has responded by calling for tougher driving tests with a special emphasis on dealing with cyclists.

sauerwald

I am all in favour of tightening education and licensing requirements for motor vehicles, however, I believe that the most important factor is in how the laws are enforced. Here in the US, many motor vehicle laws are not rigorously enforced, which leads to confusion in the motoring public on what the laws actually are. If one were to read the law, one would think that the speed limits posted on roads were the MAXIMUM speed at which one could travel. Observation of motorist behaviour is clear - these are MINIMUM speed limits. Just try driving 20mph in a 25mph zone and see! Similarly cell phone usage in my locality is so widespread that it is surprising to see a motorist with two hands on the wheel. How many motorists STOP at stop signs, here they all roll through them.

In France they joke about the fact that they have the hardest driver licensing program anywhere, with months of training and difficult tests to get before you are allowed to drive a car on the public roads - this program produces some of the worst drivers in Europe.

Tougher driving tests will not solve the problem.

Noobtastic

Do you mean everywhere but the USA? Because I'm pretty sure I took a short test on a computer (failed once, paid for an immediate second chance) and drove around a parking lot with an instructor next to me. I made so many mistakes during the driving part that I started sobbing when the instructor was about to fail me, I got the sympathy vote and received a license. All the instructor told me was to "practice your driving", as she certified me to drive anywhere I wanted by myself. I don't even think you have to be a good driver to pass driver's education in high school anymore, just show up for class and don't crash the car.

genec

Perhaps tougher tests won't be the solution (and it will take a generation of new drivers to find out) but at least the tests should include questions regarding cyclists and their rights to the road and how motorists should treat all users of the road.

Driving programs should stop emphasizing flow as a key item for new drivers and should instead focus on driving safety... safety has been largely handed over to the motor vehicle (air bags and other items) and better road designs, while foregoing the driver as the critical element. High speeds, and close following now seem to be the norm where I live... what ever happened to speed limits and the two second rule?