I’ve been saying for years that you don’t learn to drive, you learn to pass your test and then…well it’s up to you. It’s f**king stupid. After passing the driving test, there should be a mandatory but free course about common sense on the road, and if you don’t do it, you don’t get your license.
And how about a reasonable (free) government assessmant of us pro drivers?
Would it be such a chore to think about our driving ability? No matter how long we’ve been driving, would it really hurt to have an hour’s assessment and a friendly word of advice? (and it would stop the kids going “he didn’t…why should I?”) I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 13, and have released albums, toured and played 1000’s of gigs and I’ve been successful enough to drive trucks for a living 
I’m not a complete guitarist and never will be…and I see my day job as the same. There’s always room for improvement…isn’t there?
Born Idle:
I’ve been saying for years that you don’t learn to drive, you learn to pass your test and then…well it’s up to you. It’s f**king stupid. After passing the driving test, there should be a mandatory but free course about common sense on the road, and if you don’t do it, you don’t get your license.
And how about a reasonable (free) government assessmant of us pro drivers?
Would it be such a chore to think about our driving ability? No matter how long we’ve been driving, would it really hurt to have an hour’s assessment and a friendly word of advice? (and it would stop the kids going “he didn’t…why should I?”) I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 13, and have released albums, toured and played 1000’s of gigs and I’ve been successful enough to drive trucks for a living
I’m not a complete guitarist and never will be…and I see my day job as the same. There’s always room for improvement…isn’t there?
Must agree, any one who considers them selves professional just after passing there test is a fool, they should be restricted on speed power and weight for at least a year! Or something similar.
Yep agree its the ones who think there the muts nuts and know it all that will cause damage before I do I’m young but been driving a while and like to think I’m good at my job but perfect I’m not. I welcome any chance to learn or improve other than this cpc cause the 7 hours I’ve had thus far has taught me fa a local firm had an instructor sit with a few drivers one week and give them advice on how to up there mpg read the road better and just general driving tips it wasn’t a test a course but just something the firm
Thought would benefit there drivers now I’d rather have someone sat next to me observing my strengths and weeknesses then thinking I already know it all or have 35 hours off mind Numbing from a chap who doesn’t know me, passing a test doesn’t make you a driver I learnt that after passing mine or driving 30 years I doubt qualifies you to be perfect.
Saamon on here and that muckaway idiot are shining examples of people more than in need of such a thing.
New drivers in a drivers mate scheme to see the bits of the job not on the test . I learned loads soon as I got my first job … Still learn new things every day
When I took my tests with Peter Smythe it was with wagon and drag, but he also had unit and trailer which he offered time with after you had passed free of charge, unfortunatly after I passed he no longer had it, I asked but was told that no-one took him up on his offer of extra free training 
weeto:
Born Idle:
I’ve been saying for years that you don’t learn to drive, you learn to pass your test and then…well it’s up to you. It’s f**king stupid. After passing the driving test, there should be a mandatory but free course about common sense on the road, and if you don’t do it, you don’t get your license.
And how about a reasonable (free) government assessmant of us pro drivers?
Would it be such a chore to think about our driving ability? No matter how long we’ve been driving, would it really hurt to have an hour’s assessment and a friendly word of advice? (and it would stop the kids going “he didn’t…why should I?”) I’ve been playing the guitar since I was 13, and have released albums, toured and played 1000’s of gigs and I’ve been successful enough to drive trucks for a living
I’m not a complete guitarist and never will be…and I see my day job as the same. There’s always room for improvement…isn’t there?Must agree, any one who considers them selves professional just after passing there test is a fool, they should be restricted on speed power and weight for at least a year! Or something similar.
And how much more difficult is it going to be to get a job as a new driver with even more restrictions stopping you■■?
Aloaded vehicle is a completely different animal from an unladen one.After passing the test we should be sent out as second man to learn how to drive in the commercial world.At least some of the DCPC should be of a practical nature.
You couldnt make it up,
Spot on with what you say.The biggest problem in this country is that all driving tests are far too easy (LGV as well ) Most drivers do learn after they their test and of course they gain valuable experience.
The problem is some of them become complacent and end up with bad driving habits that they are probably not aware of and that is where the dangers lie.
People go on about young drivers but it is not only them that are bad drivers.There are plenty of older experienced drivers that are absolutely appalling and downright dangerous.
I have witnessed it with both young and old many times and the only way things will improve is as you say all drivers are given an assessment every so often but unfortunately it will probably never happen for obvious reasons.
Just ask most drivers what their driving is like and the standard answer is…I am a really good drver…So if that is the case why do we see so much bad driving on our roads everyday?
Born Idle:
‘…there should be a mandatory but free course about common sense on the road, and if you don’t do it, you don’t get your license…’
Hang on:
1 There’s an almost free booklet called the Highway Code, how about the Government enforces the standards that it hints at? Maybe first ask oneself, ‘does the Government care?’
2 With regards to fair standardisation of a candidate’s proficiency, etc, how will a driver in, eg., Inverness fare alongside an inner London driver on one of these dreamt up ‘…free courses…’?
Also, would the pugnacious Alex Salmond approve of his Saltire clad warriors being pansied by England’s obnoxious public school, wuss MP’s, etc, etc…
3 The ultra-Liberal society of today’s UK (as it has become) clearly hasn’t voted for road-nannying.
4 There is no such thing as ‘…common…’ sense within a diverse society.
5 How about a thirty-two part test with taking into account beach and formal wear, four seasons, day & night driving with a hetero & trans-■■■■■■ assessor?
I’m not making it up but simply asking the basics before I fall-in with throwing money that doesn’t exist down the pan.
Otherwise it’s a fantastic idea 
alamcculloch:
Aloaded vehicle is a completely different animal from an unladen one.After passing the test we should be sent out as second man to learn how to drive in the commercial world.At least some of the DCPC should be of a practical nature.
I have just read that from Sept, all trucks or trailers will have to be loaded for test
Conor:
Saamon on here and that muckaway idiot are shining examples of people more than in need of such a thing.
I’ve really rubbed you up the wrong way havnt I lol.
SWEDISH BLUE:
‘…I have just read that from Sept, all trucks or trailers will have to be loaded for test…’
From which date the UK will doubtless see more lorry ‘accidents’ occurring because new drivers are unaccustomed to driving huge-horsepowered beasts unladen 
[Perhaps amend my riss-pipping thirty-two part test idea (above) to become a sixty-four part test?] 
I’ve been driving 3 1/2 years now… Thrown straight in at the deep end with a big company and tight supermarket yards!
I never messed up or did any damage…
It’s down to the individual rather than all new drivers.
(used to struggle like hell getting it on bays, though)