Is it time to re-think the driving test process and have ongoing assessment?

A thought struck me over the weekend, and not for the first time, that maybe it's time to introduce ongoing driver assessment on Irish roads.

It's something that has crossed my mind before, on numerous occasions, when witnessing examples of bad driving on public roads.

It's the responsibility of us all - every road user - to exercise care and caution when using public roads.

The recent tragedies that occurred on motorways here -  and the circumstances surrounding them - are worthy of an entirely different kind of debate and hopefully that is something that will happen sooner rather than later.

However, in the everyday, ordinary driving on our roads some motorists leave a lot to be desired in terms of their apparent comprehension of what the rules of the road actually are.

Negotiating roundabouts is among the prime examples of where some drivers seem to literally not have a clue what to do.

The Luffany roundabout on the N25 out of Waterford towards New Ross is a great example of highlighting how some motorists are either oblivious to road markings, don't know how to go around a roundabout anyway, or choose to just do their own thing anyway regardless of the rules of the road.

For traffic heading towards New Ross the right-hand lane is the correct lane to be in if continuing on past the roundabout towards Wexford.

The left-hand lane is the approach to take if turning left at the roundabout and heading out on the Waterford by-pass towards the Thomas Francis Meagher bridge.

The road markings - which are clearly painted and visible for every observant motorists to see - also indicate that. 

However, time and again when taking that road out of Waterford and heading towards New Ross, I've observed drivers taking the left-hand lane and then heading straight on at the roundabout.

In some instances I've witnessed those same drivers blowing their horn or gesticulating towards the driver of a vehicle in the right-hand lane, beside them, who not only are going in the same direction but who were also negotiating the roundabout in the absolutely correct and safe manner.

The latter point is something that would likely be lost on the other drivers.

Personally, I've been driving motorbikes and cars since I was 17 and as anyone who drives bikes will tell you it's literally a matter of life or death when you take to the road on two wheels.

You have to be super conscious of what other road users are doing around you when on a motorbike because there is no point in being right and dead, and in the event of an accident involving you and another vehicle on the road you will come off second best every time, regardless of who was at fault.

On one occasion I was crossing Rice Bridge in Waterford City and a car on my right-hand side veered over the white line and hit the rear foot-peg of my bike. It almost knocked me off, thankfully it didn't, but as the car passed I could see the driver was on her phone.

There are, of course, some motorcyclists who also leave a lot to be desired when it comes to driving safely too. However, in the big scheme of things I wonder is it time for a complete overhaul of the driving test process. 

Would ongoing assessment help? Maybe drivers should have to undertake a mandatory brief driving test every couple of years to make sure they haven't developed any bad, and potentially dangerous, habits.

It wouldn't have to mean someone loses their licence if they fail but could instead mean they have to undertake a lesson or two to get them to re-think the way the drive.

No doubt there would be kick-back against such a system being introduced but surely it's worth discussing if it meant it might save a life.