Some very good points there Ian... and a lot I happen to agree with.
Young people [male and female] are less cognisant of the consequences of their actions than their older peers. That's prevelant throughout society - e.g. having kids when you're young etc. Its a difficult one to fix, but much of it can be laid at the door of poor parenting. What we haven't mentioned throughout this discussion is the fact that a vehicle is a lethal weapon, some far more dangerous than others. By dulling the the lethal capabilities of the weapon, it can be made safer. This is what I've been advocating in terms of massively reducing vehicle performance for new drivers.
I'm glad that you believe that people can be trained/educated. It would be sad if that weren't possible. Young people have far greater absorption capabilities than older people. In terms of driving, the education and test process is too curt. Much of it is irrelevant and too much is missing. It takes 10 years to become a doctor, a person capable of repairing injuries and just a few weeks to become a driver, a person capable of causing them. That's why I've been advocating significant changes to the education and test process.
Finally the world's best drivers. Yes I do mean Formula One racing drivers. Aside from their skill in controlling a vehicle at speed, they have phenomenal capabilities in observation, information processing and decision making all at very high speed... on a level far superior to you, I or even plod ! Their capabilities will deteriorate with age, that's a fact. This demonstrates that young males aren't useless when it comes to the elements and techniques necessary to be a skillful driver.
My point here is that to deride all young people, particularly young males, when the problems may be elsewhere is not right.
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