It's partly psychological (people tend to become overly territorial), but it's mostly a lack of awareness and caution. They play a far greater role in safety on the roads than what advanced driver training would teach.
Well, I would argue that to have a "lack of awareness and caution" when driving IS a state of mind issue! Wouldn't you think a soldier who has a tendency to wander onto battlefields with "a lack of awareness and caution" had some sort of
psychological flaw requiring urgent attention? Driving on the roads is no different. It IS a battlefield out there and not enough people register that as a fact.
How many accidents are caused by someone exceeding their skill, as opposed to running reds, not checking blindspots, unsafe stopping, tailgating, dangerous turns etc? Most accidents aren't due to driver skill, but driver error (although exceeding skill would also be an error
).
Again, if someone has a predeliction for unsafe practices such as all those you mention (unsafe stopping, tailgating, running reds etc, etc) I would suggest they have a serious
psychological flaw that needs to be urgently addressed! The trouble is, no-one wants to admit that psychological profiles might just have some bearing on all of this idiot behaviour. It's just too non-PC!
Honestly, why can't a more holistic approach to driver licencing be trialled, where not only pre-licencing psychological assessment (to identify those who are initially incapable of handling stressful traffic situations) and subsequent "pre-P's" driver stress & behavioural training is part of the education system but driver skill training is also incorporated as learners progress in their attitude & behavioural training?
Most of the reports I have seen on skill based training alone show that within 3 years of completing a single short course of advanced driver training, most young drivers who attend are no better in crashes or offences than non-attendees. Well, with no follow-up training or re-assessment in subsequent years as these youngsters mature psychologically, I am totally unsurprised by those findings. Once more I'll return to the private pilot scenario. You have to have periodic skills and health re-assessments to continue holding a licence. But, for motorists, that sort of monitoring only kicks in when you have turned into an Olde Fart! For eg here is the NSW regs:
For all licence holders, annual medical reviews are required from 75 years of age. This is to ensure that older drivers are medically fit and are able to drive competently and safely.
For car drivers and motocycle riders, from the age of 85 a number of licence options exist. Older drivers and riders can opt to have a modified licence or to undertake an assessment every two years from the age of 85 (ie 85, 87, 91 etc) to hold an unrestricted licence.
Heavy vehicle drivers in licence classes LR, MR, HR and HC will need to undertake annual driving assessments from 80 years of age.
Good grief. No wonder so many truckies are wiping themselves and others out. They are the road equivalent of air cargo pilots and essentially don't have mandatory periodic testing or assessment during their working lives until they reach 80 years of age?
Could you imagine our airline system where pilots never got re-assessed after the initial issue of their licence until THEY reached 75-85 years of age??
Surely if they are so concerned about the road toll for the under 25's, authorities could require similar "stricter" conditions be applied on younger drivers AFTER they get their "P's", up to the age of say, 26 - perhaps a requirement to complete a sanctioned refresher course in road rules/driver behaviour/driver skills every two years as well as pass a basic medical? Then perhaps relax the assessments to every 5 years after that for all drivers up to age 75?
Nah. Too hard. May as well let the "Wild West" mentality rule.
Care for a donut or two?