Time to rename test and bring in regular driving refreshers

I once inadvertently scraped a neighbour’s parked car. Just a minor scratch, but how embarrassing having to knock on the door and own up.

I’ve also had a few incidents that had nothing to do with me, which include a TV personality reversing straight into my car because ‘they didn’t see me’ to a 30-tonne tipper truck writing off my Mazda RX8 on the motorway because it ignored the queue of traffic ahead.

But regardless, I consider myself safe, responsible and aware of the Highway Code.

For example, I actually know what an indicator is for, while there appear to be countless people driving around still thinking that these items are optional extras.

They pull out in front of you without warning, or indicate exactly as they change lanes, which is no better.

Otherwise, they leave it on for a mile up the motorway, where they’re inevitably hogging the middle lane too!

These may well be the same people who think that the rules of a box junction just don’t apply to them, that ‘keep clear’ markings on the road are a challenge, not an order, and those little mini roundabouts are a great opportunity to play a motorised form of the Hokey Cokey.

I’ve seen so many near-misses and daft mistakes that I think it’s high time the system was changed.

All motorists have a test to drive on Britain’s roads.

But the word ‘test’ implies that, once you pass, whatever you do thereafter is right, rather than viewing the test as an opportunity to continue learning on your own.

I think it’s high time the government did one of two things.

Firstly, rename the driving test, making it clearer that you don’t actually ‘pass’, you simply reach an acceptable standard to carry on learning safely on your own.

And secondly, how about regular refreshers to confirm whether or not you are still safe and road aware?

It may just save a life.

WHY DIDN’T WARREN HAVE THE NOUS TO POSTPONE AND CHECK?

Everyone’s been talking about the gargantuan error at the Oscars when Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway got far more press attention than they’d anticipated.

For anyone living under a rock this past week, there was a mix-up in the envelopes, resulting in the duo announcing the wrong winner for the hallowed prize of Best Motion Picture.

Beatty’s confusion was evident. He paused and looked baffled before handing the envelope to Dunaway to announce.

He later confirmed he’d hesitated because ‘something was wrong’.

So why had such a veteran actor, a consummate professional, not had the nous to postpone and check? Anything would have been better than what ensued.

IT’S A REAL EYE-OPENER TO SEE WHAT FOODS CONTAIN SUGAR

I have always eaten healthily, but this past week I’ve gone up a gear. I’ve gone sugar-free!

I was probably two-thirds of the way there anyway, having kicked a serious chocolate habit a few years ago – severely denting the profits of Cadbury and Mars in the process – and never added sugar to anything.

Most of us understand that sugar is bad for us, but the hidden sugar in our food is mind-bending.

It’s been a real eye-opener and actually terrifying to see the amount of savoury foods out there which also include sugar.

The up-side is I feel absolutely fantastic already, which is encouraging.

The down-side is sugar appears to be in everything, so it’s going to be a challenge.

I’ll keep you posted.