P Platers: Ford Doesn't Want You In A T

[KrasH]

Education... That's what is needed. In most european countries you need to take classes for atleast 6 months before you can get a licence. I think that in the ACT (I may be wrong/misonformed) there was a system where, if you attended and passed an advanced driving course, the P's come off the car and you get a full licence. I think this is a good idea. Restricting drivers to slower, less powerful cars is a joke and won't solve th problem.

When I got my licence (before P's came into effect in the ACT) I drove a full car of friends in Falcon XF at 200km/h (right on the limit). Now, I could've killed us all, because I was stupid in a "Low powered" car. Looking back on that, I was absolutely stupid for doing that. As the saying goes "If only you knew then, what you know now".

Anyways, I think this "P's getting killed" is actually being overdone and put out of proportion to actual facts to be honest. I actually heard (on radio, refering to RTA stats) that the age group for P platers, statistically are safer drivers than any other age group. Less deaths as a percentage and total P plater deaths has actually been dropping for the last 10 or so years. Statistacally, 4x4 rollover deaths are a more serious problem.

[dingah2]

....almost right. In the ACT 6 monthw after gaining Ps (which for the majority of young males usually involves failing at least two tests) you can apply to take a P Off course which is fundamentally a classroom course whereupon you can drive without Ps but it is not a full licence which takes the usual probationary period. It is interesting that as a P Plater you can cross the ACT border and drive in an 'unrestricted' manner unlike the resident P Platers who have speed restrictions placed upon them during their fomative driving years. As a parent of three drivers aged 10-26 I have always assumed some responsiblity for their attitude and manners behind the wheel and was a signifcant thorn in their side as well as mentor for a couple of years after Ps to try and set a culture of sense, respect and awareness in them all. Unfortunately the human tends to learn things through trial and eror and needs to experience things for themselves to really understand and believe what is taught in the home and classroom. For this reason I have taken the opportunity to put each of them through the AAMI driving course at the local Police Driver training ground which is absolutely zero cost in they are insured with AAMI.

Dingah

[dingah2]

10 to 26!!....I meant 19 to 26, sorry.

Dingah

[djgelling]

What a load of  What do they teach jet pilots in???hang gliders

Whoa!! By the time a pilot has transitioned to fast jets, ie F-111's or F/A-18's they have years of flying behind them, have flown with QFI's (Qualified Flying Instructors) in Dual seats, flown PC-9 turbo-props, flown Hawk lead-in trainers, and spent many hours in advanced flight simulators, debriefing ad nauseaum every liitle error in their performance. They have been trough ground school to understand the physiological problems of flying, understand the physical limitations of their aircraft and its handling envelope. Even then the for the first 1,000 hours or so solo they are barely hanging on to the aircraft as long as everything goes OK, let alone actuall getting ahead of it. We kill a fighter pilot in Australia about every five years. Considering that there are probably less than 100 front line fighter pilots that are current in the country, expand that to be proportional to the number of P-platers on the road and the P-platers are starting to look pretty competant!! You cannot compare the training a fast jet pilot has to the once around the block, she'll be right, go and buy yourself a 300kw monster that P-platers get

Wow, got that off my chest!! Sorry!

[alanb007]

Now for a humourous addition.

I learned to drive in a Hillman Imp. As a student, it was all I could afford.

All 875cc !

Power? It wouldn't even reverse up a steep hill.

There was only one option if you found yourself in a difficult situation, you went for the brakes (drum brakes, remember them?)

If you tried to be smart and fang it (down hill, wind behind etc etc), the car soon let you know that it didn't like being pushed. The vague steering did not give confidence!

My daughter is 18 and drives Mum's V6 Mazda 626. Not a bad little car, but certainly wouldn't break any records for acceleration or handling.

I reckon its an okay kind of car to learn in.

For the T, even if the insurance company would let her drive, (which they won't), I wouldn't let her.

I believe for the first couple of years, they should concentrate on general driving skills and have power output limited.

I can only speak for myself and in no way am I on my soapbox dictating what other parents should restrict their kids to, so please don't flame my thoughts.

For me, once she has proven her skills driving a "normal" car, then she will have earned the right to drive cars with more power.

I personally don't believe that the power restriction in the first couple of years is a big hindrance. Its not forever.

I want my daughter around for a long time.

that's what drives my comments.

Anyway, I respect those that have a different view.

Alanb

[Guest]

that's what I said first up,any car can kill you,If she got killed overtaking,couse the mazda didnt have enough squirt,but in the T she would of been fine,what would say then.

that's why I reckon your wrong,youve got a fast powerfull car,your the goose pushing the pedal,and you learn how to use it,respect it,

She turns 21,you give the keys to the T,"OK Ive waited this long to drive this,lets see what it can do",with a car full of mates,that's when Id be worried mate,it means you dont trust her,must be good for her confidence not...

vik

[wiresquire]

Can't help myself from commenting....

When I was starting to drive, I learnt and drove the old man's ZC 351 Fairlane. Absolutely filthy car. Plenty of go, no stop, no turning, no feel. It was like driving a sofa with a rocket on it, except that sofa was a 2 ton chunk of metal. That car made me realise that a car is a fricking weapon. When I bought my first car, I ended up buying an old Corona. Best decision I ever made. I truly was not competent for a powerful car. One of my recent rides was a non-turbo Impreza, and that was the same kind of deal. You had to do something *incredibly* stupid to get into trouble.

Also, don't underestimate the peer pressure thing. If you give your kid the drive of the T or other powerful car, their mates will be on them to give it a squirt, which they may, or in some cases sadly may not, be competent to handle. It's like giving a kid a gun. Have they *really* been taught anything about safety? Looking back, I reckon I wasn't experienced in a car for 3-5 years. I'm a slow learner

vik351 made me think of this. My old man gave me some good advice: If you're going to give a car a thrashing, NEVER, EVER do it with anyone else in the car. Imagine how you'd feel if you walked away and *insert best mate/girl or kid here* didn't ? I always thought he drove like a granny, and that made me realise that maybe that wasn't always the case...

I guess I've seend and heard of enough deaths and accidents that I'd support limiting P-platers - or even longer. The thing is, I didn't really know I wasn't competent at the time and it feels like I kinda lucked out.

ws

[Guest]

my point exactly wiresquire,you saw the car could be a weapon!!! Not bad for a slow leaner,I had my sons in gokarts from young ,so no doubt that helped

The grunt of the ZC made you THINK,didnt it??? and you got out of it and went down 10 pegs :lol: but your still here aintchya...my point

vik

[Guest intehnet]

I've seen too many underexperienced (young) drivers in overpowered cars.

my mate almost wrapped a 180SX (flat 14 second car) around a tree with me in the passenger seat because he didn't know how to control power oversteer.

Either that or TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO DRIVE, NOT HOW TO PASS A DRIVING TEST! paralell parking skills won't help you when you need to brake hard and steer at the same time, or counter act power oversteer, understeer, spinning out of control, etc.

Limit P platers to low powered 4 and 6 cylinder or diesel engined vehicles. They do it with motorbikes. why not with cars?

[Guest 123xr]

Simple, Drive normally and do the speed limit. If you want to do 200km or drive like an idiot and you die or crash then its the drivers fault and too bad. You cant blame the car.

Driving tests teach you how to do legal driving and that's all you need to know.