I am afraid that this is a problem across the board regarding training, whether that is cars or bikes. The only exceptions appear to be lorry drivers who have to go through a lot of training; which explains perhaps why lorry drivers are often the most courteous towards bikers.
The issue from my point of view is that training is often sufficient for passing the test and that is all.
I read a lot of accident reports that show that a lot of accidents are caused by what could easily be explained as a lack of decent training.
Also, very few people pursue further training once they have passed their test, because the law doesn't require it.
Apologies to all those that passed their test via Direct Access, but I'm not a fan. One of the guys at work passed his test over a three day Direct Access course.
In other words he was trained to ride any size or type of bike he wanted to ride in only three days! We went out for a ride together last summer and following him was truly scary; hard on the throttle, hard on the brakes, hard on the throttle etc. Terrible lines, clearly being unable to see sufficiently through bends and so forth. He even locked his front wheel on the way into a bend at one point, despite the fact that he could have ridden through it perfectly safely at twenty miles an hour faster than he was travelling at!
Unfortunately, he is the type of fella who knows everything about everything and so didn't need any advice when I offered. Hey, he'd been riding for three months compared to my twenty plus years, so how could I help!!
Needless to say, I haven't ridden with the guy since.
I have a friend called Malcolm, who is one of the coppers at the Police Escort Service based off Jct41 in Wakefield. He once told me about the time he was pulled out on and wiped out by a young lad who had passed his car test after a short term intensive course.
Again, this lad used the "Sorry, I didn't see you" excuse.
The thing that was scary about this was that Malcolm was on a call at the time; White and dayglo police bike, white helmet, dayglo jacket, flashing blue lights and sirens!!
Speaking as someone who's been wiped out twice, it is scary indeed.
Hi Geoff,all theses stories of errant car drivers is giving me the heebie-jeebies especially when a dayglo police bike is taken out [and a coach for christs sake!].
I know training is an important aspect but I think a main causal factor is the ego dominant nature of society-basically a lack of consideration for other people.The drivers who cause accidents seem only interested in where they are going [me me me attitude] this tunnel vision narrows awareness and they dont have a fear of personal injury [its going to hurt us more than its going to hurt them].Apologies if im stating the obvious but training [though it helps] doesnt change this selfish mind set.
To me "consideration" is a wonderful word and I wish it was more in evidence in everyday life and out on the road.
The problem is that when us older people were taught to drive we were taught to be courteous as well as how to pass the test, nowadays the main thing is making progress and how to pass a test. That basically translates into not allowing vehicles to pull out, not allowing others time and space to complete manouvers and also not teaching people about the requirements & limitations of other forms of transport. Hence drivers of large vehicles get trapped, blocked and complained about just because the average car driver doesnt realise that they have caused the problem themselves, and drivers/riders of two wheeled and 4 legged forms of transport get put in danger.
The problem is with the DSA & their lack of appropriate training standards and the fact that their arent enough traffic police to enforce the laws we have.
I also agree that the DAS scheme has a lot to answer for, especially the express pass your test schemes. There are instructors out there that teach above and beyond what is required, but unfortunately so many new riders choose based on price not quality and unfortunately quality usually costs a tad more.
Plenty of food for though in the last three posts. Seems to me that there are two things both called 'learning to drive'.
The first is, erm, how to drive a car (or bike). This bit can be done by a good learner in an hour.
The second (and in the long run far more important) is how to be a road user. This takes time, serious time, and some just never get there.
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