Madam, – Recently I sat a driver theory test in order to get a provisional licence for a motorbike. I failed the test by only obtaining 33 correct answers out of 40 when I needed 35 correct answers. I accept I have to do the test again and am not complaining in that regard.
In the test, however, I came across some questions in which the terms “offside” and “nearside” were used. I have been driving a car on a full licence without penalty points for upwards of 12 years and have never come across these terms before.
My point is, in what way is using such terminology (which is apparently equestrian in origin) instead of “left” and “right”, conducive to producing safe drivers on some of the EU’s most deadly roads? Has a member of the Garda Síochána ever said to one of your readers, “Your offside indicator isn’t working”?
Why not keep things simple? Furthermore, I don’t even know if I got the questions containing this terminology correct or not, but that’s not the point.
The point is, I am not a more dangerous driver by virtue of not knowing this terminology and in my opinion there is simply no need for it. I wonder if your readers agree? – Yours, etc,