Learner drivers

I try to be a considerate and safe driver, but I am not a great reverser! The other week I came face to face with a bus on a windy lane with high walls at either side and the road being dug up. My foot was shaking on the pedals as I had to retreat down the hill and round a bend in full view of a bus load of passengers and several workmen. I managed OK but was not quick! I shall chose an alternative route in future.
I worry about DGS2 who has just passed his test and got a car. He lives in the country but tends to use the speed limit as a target. Hopefully he will learn by experience.

Re lack of access to country roads for learners ... ultimately it all comes down to appropriate speeds. I had a lovely instructor who told me 'The speed limit is not a target!' That has always stayed with me. Drivers need to be told to apply common sense and really slowdown around blind corners and narrow lanes.

I share your concern for horses on the road MazieD as my young granddaughters and daughter in law all ride (often on the roads to get from field to field). It scares me to death thinking of cars, vans, buses blasting past them on country roads often doing 60mph+ . My DDiL tells me that bus drivers are by far the worst offenders for speeding past and not giving them room.

Yes it's definitely a good idea to give learners exposure to different types of roads as it can come as quite a shock when you are let loose on the roads on your own. I can't see it being incorporated into the driving test though.

The more different experiences a learner driver gets, the better, I think. But how is this going to work for people learning and taking their tests in a large conurbation? Country roads aren't too easy to find in large cities.

The BBC news item about this that I read had a section focused on the danger to/from horses. I think that learner drivers should be made very aware of the dangers from, and vulnerability of, cyclists and horses (ridden and driven). There's too much of a 'the road belongs to the motor car' attitude around and too much ignorance of how to treat other road users who aren't in cars...

Yes! Learners need exposure to a variety of driving hazards that they might then normally be expected to navigate. I learned to drive in a very busy area with narrow roads, one way systems, double parking, high street pedestrianised areas and the like as my norm, but not country lanes. I know ym learning included night driving - but then I learned in winter months, I'm also glad that motorway driving will be included. I did my pass plus and was very glad to have the instructor there for those next, mildly terrifying steps!

All that said, /I have avoided parallel parking whenever possible and realised recently that I hadn't had to do it for some eyars. However, /I needed to last week, - pleased with the result! PHEW!!!