Shouldn't amnesty motorists sit a test?

HELPDESK:Answering all your motoring queries

From B Mc: Anyone wondering about the need for the Essential Driver Training for learners they should look at the statistics published this week on motorway incidents to see why further training is necessary.

News reports said that there are 20 incidents a month of people driving against the flow of traffic on motorways. Never mind that provisional licence holders are not supposed to drive on the motorway, which means that these drivers probably have full licences, so somehow passed the test.

Perhaps it might be wise at this stage to demand that those who benefited from the driving test amnesty of 1979 sit the test now.

Just to remind readers, in autumn 1979 the then minister for the environment Sylvester Barrett introduced an amnesty for all holders of a second provisional licences in an effort to cut waiting lists for the driving test. It’s believed approximately 45,000 motorists took up the amnesty. At the time Mr Barrett defended the decision by saying that these drivers were not inexperienced as they had already had an earlier provisional licence, had been on the road for several months and in many cases had sat the test. He was right: 15,000 had sat the test – and failed it. The rest hadn’t even bothered with a test.

If we are being honest about it, once we’ve passed our test few if any of us look at the rules of the road ever again. But perhaps there should be some form of updating exercise for all motorists every 10 or 20 years. It need not be pass/fail but simply bring them up to speed with the latest legislation.

That said, driving on the wrong side of the motorway suggests a level of incompetence that calls into question someone’s right to use a footpath, never mind a car capable of 120km/h and more.

From FH: I bought a new Mercedes B Class in February of this year. I have noticed from the paperwork that the car was manufactured in February 2010. Does this mean that the car is a year old?

Technically you are right, of course, but cars are sold on the year of registration and based on mileage. It’s akin to debating whether a computer on sale in a shop is new or old depending on the date of manufacture. In reality it’s new until either it’s used or a replacement model is launched. The accepted practice is that a car is new until the date of first registration.

From RW: We’re looking for a used family estate car spacious enough to take three big dogs in the back without dropping the rear seats. It should be diesel and no more than €15,000. Any ideas? Reliability is more important than looks, but we’re looking for as low a motor tax as possible.

Four cars spring to mind: a used Volvo V70, which is almost an iconic estate, and you should be able to pick up a 2006 model within your budget; a VW Passat estate with the 1.9-litre diesel engine from 2008; and a 2006/2007 Honda Accord estate, one of our favourite estates and well within your budget. All three should prove reliable, but, for extra peace of mind, if you buy from a dealer you should get a one-year warranty with it.

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