Mandatory Driving Test

Driving is an integral part of everyday life for millions of people around Australia. Teenagers, adults, elderly people all drive everyday and occupy the roads with varying levels of driving ability. It is widely thought that elderly people are the worst drivers on the roads, and teenagers are typically known as the most reckless drivers on the roads, however all drivers once having their license for an extended period of time can develop bad habits or become complacent. By undertaking a driving test every five years, drivers will be able to be acquainted with any new road rules introduced since the last time they did the test. Their driving ability would be tested to make sure it is up to a safe standard, it would stamp out any bad habits

The average deaths per year caused by car crashes since 2010 is 1,257, a damning figure that is much too high. Not all car crash deaths are accidents, some are caused by a range of different factors, incompetent driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, speeding, getting distracted by phones etc, and more. Many of these car crashes could be avoided if a mandatory driving test every five years is implemented. As of 2016 there is no mandatory driving test to be taken until you reach the age of 85, when a driving test is required to be taken every two years. Although the validity of the driving test has come into question. When the Sunday Telegraph newspaper retested three elderly drivers, only one driver passed the test and the other two failed. This indicates that there are major problems with the test which can lead to people who are unfit to drive being able to drive, making them a danger to everyone around them on the road. The way the tests are undertaken needs to be changed as there is evidence to show that people who are unfit to drive can actually pass the

Taking a driving test every three years would require an instructor, which currently there is not many of.Presently most driving instructors are involved with people first obtaining their licenses. If undertaking a driving test every five years becomes mandatory people from all ages would be taking driving tests thus massively increasing the demand driving instructors. This will help people looking for jobs with so many people around the country currently unemployed. As the tests would be run by the government, and so many people taking the tests frequently a fairly large amount of revenue could also be made from this new law. The money that is made from testing people every five years could go to improving the country’s infrastructure, such as fixing or building new roads to reduce traffic, it could be used to educate younger people on road safety, it could improve the struggling public transport sector among other