Drivers need more education, training

IT was inevitable... for the authorities to look at driver training and make some changes. Recently, The Brunei Times ran a story about the minimum amount of driver training required as part of obtaining a driver's licence has now been extending to 15 hours. This will see driving students take at least five further hours of instruction before undergoing their test.

Although many will point to the rising number of accidents last year, the Ministry of Communications, more specifically the Land Transport Department had already identified some time ago that changes need to be implemented in the field of driver training. In fact they have carried out their part by auditing the driving schools, and providing further training for them in the efforts to ensure that drivers' attitudes and behaviours are suitably adjusted, and their quality as road users improved.

It isn't a knee jerk reaction, but the public that had not known about the initiatives will probably not take kindly to the news.

While many will welcome this move (to improve driver training), I've already heard some quarters moaned and groaned about the regulation meaning that new drivers will have to probably pay for the additional five hours. Another individual remarked how they should have the driving tests accept people who intend to drive only automatic cars, as not many would actually opt for manual transmission vehicles. On the other side of the coin, one seasoned driver complained that new drivers shouldn't be allowed on the roads at certain times.

Of course when hearing all of this, I simply kept my mouth shut. Why? It's a whole load of malarkey, that's why. And as such, I was taught not to say anything if I didn't have anything really good to say.

Let's look at those three arguments and I will explain why I feel that they were ideas that revolved around nonsense, and if they had any merits at all, fine, but they are minute and miniscule to the bigger picture of what we as a nation of road users are trying to achieve.

If we keep new drivers off the road during peak driving times, or banish them to only drive at night and so on, it only serves as a counter productive measure. We would then be robbing them of the one thing new drivers actually need, experience. Of course there is a caveat here, and that is new drivers (well that's what everyone says, I think otherwise) are very error prone, and could cause or be involved in accidents. Which is why I would suggest a stipulation for new drivers to be under a probationary licence, whereby they get stripped of their licence, or some other suitable and serious penalty, for breaking any rule or regulation of the law.

Now we come to this transmission debate. Should we introduce automatic transmission vehicles for driving lessons and tests? There are also those who argue having an automatic vehicle is easier to drive and provide less of a distraction when driving in the real world.

I can appreciate that there are more people driving automatic cars, however my thinking is that if you can't drive a manual vehicle during a driving lesson or test, how do you think you'll fare on the open road? Driving a car with a manual transmission isn't so difficult, and it gets newer drivers to think about what they're doing, how they are doing it, and for the most part there is a level of care involved. When it becomes second nature it isn't a distraction at all, and at the end of the day, it is an aspect beneficial to all drivers, sadly it isn't one exercised by all.

In regards to the cost of driving lessons potentially being more expensive, we, the motorists, need to remember one key factor that has been disregarded far too often.

Being able to drive is a privilege. A privilege given to drivers based on the trust that they won't go driving around like circus monkeys behind the wheel, that they are diligent and considerate.

Why shouldn't driving lessons cost the amount that they do? If it means that there are less accidents on the road, kudos to the instructors for doing their part, and the authorities for identifying and addressing the matter.

Hold that thought, because I still feel that there should be more done, in terms of enforcement, on our roads.

As I mentioned, with drivers in the country taking for granted the privileged position that they are in driving their cars while using their mobile phones, they run red lights they could be stripped of or alternatively be punished heavily for taking for granted those privilege.

Rather than waiting to see whether accidents still pile up if driver education vastly improves, why not improve the enforcement of road rules and regulations as well?

The Brunei Times