I thought I'd squeeze a quick blog in before I take a break from work to recharge my batteries, after having my hands tied by an ailing laptop and with so much going on in the world of driver training. Having rescued my book from the abyss of cyber space, it's time to knuckle down and do my best for my new deadline, which I plan to do in the sun.
I was surprised to find that the document relating to compulsory speed limiters hasn't been published in it's entirety yet as this is something motor manufacturers surely will have doubts about. When you buy your next Ferrari would you like to have the potential to travel at excess speed and hear the roar or are you content with your 70 MPH maximum speed. This does however bow to the EU request for all countries to not exceed 80 MPH as a top speed on their motorway network, particularly in Germany where it is believed the autobahn will be limited to eighty, and will be a step towards the reduction of road fatality that keeps them far out of the running for top slot in safer roads.
From an driving instructor point of view it will make little impact on me in my day to day instruction and general driving, but it does raise a question as far as the lower limits are concerned, the urban roads attracts the most speeding so how will that be tackled? Is it a possibility that black box technology will be compulsory. ISA, Intelligent Speed Adaption, is definitely an EU baby, with heavy goods vehicles having speed limiters and now automatic distance separators, with their maximum speed now being limited to 52 as opposed to the former 56 MPH supposedly to fall in line with the new limit on motorways for lorries, buses and coaches which was supposed to see the light of day earlier this year.
The UK have decided that it is too much of an imposition at the moment, but maybe that is because we have a general election coming, is it because we may leave Europe, or is it because it will become compulsory anyway and that way the UK can hold their hands up high and say it was against their wishes? Who knows, it is very difficult to second guess politics.
The news reporting that a minimum driving age of 18 is likely, is hardly new news, yet as NI have reduced theirs to 16 and a half for beginning the process and some American states allowing drivers on the road at just 15, is it likely the UK will place the age at a higher level. I have to say that when the minimum compulsory school leaving age was introduced with the current year ten being the first in this grouping, a conference headed by the DSA announced that this was a real possibility for the two to coincide.
Of course this leads to the DSA and test centre managers, one of our local DTAM's has decided to give a talk at a local association meeting regarding the standards check, this is because a member approached them regarding their advice on taking a standards check course for £390, I mean wow, that's an expensive course regardless of the subject, so it seems some political decisions make sense after all, when the ADI is being protected by their governing body.
There is a lot of shuffling behind closed doors and we just see the fluttering papers that make it through the gap.
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