halb@tekid.UUCP (06/17/83)
A recent article from Wes Witnah stated that Germans must have
extensive drivers training, and prior to being issued a drivers
license must *prove* they can drive. I feel that a similar program
should be followed here in the States. The real problem here
is that 50% (and probably an even higher percentage) of the
drivers today would be without a license due to the inability to
handle a automobile in an emergency situation. It seems that
most people feel driving is a natural, God given, event. If
the car is pointed straight down the hiway that everything will
be hunky-dory, then when a tire blows or other evasive action
is required then--lock um up and pray. In this country, you can
have a drivers license if you are not legally blind and can
find the gas pedal and brake. (it is not necessary to know how
to drive or anything, just pay and smile into the camera. You
are now a fully qualified driver.)
If a program was set up ie; 30 hrs classroom, 10 hrs skid pad
and track. The hiways would be very safe and mass transit would
prosper immensley. But someones feelings would be hurt and the
ACLU would be called to the rescue. oh-well, it was good while
it lasted.
Hal Bates
teklabs!tekid!halb
ps. When was the last time you saw someone reading a book or
putting on make-up on their way to work? Why are my insurance
premiums soooooo high? Why are the freeways all plugged up?
It could be fixed ya-know!rwhw@hound.UUCP (06/17/83)
Hal, you have just posted a very good article, congratulations. I have
taken the "evasive action" driving course and found it to be very
educational. I have also take the "defensive driving" course. Both
courses should be required for obtaining operators licenses in all states.
If that should ever happen I'm sure the accident rate would decrease
along with insurance rates. But politics being what is, I doubt very
much if it would ever come to pass. So drive "defensively" and
stay alive.
Royharold@hp-pcd.UUCP (06/21/83)
#R:tekid:-130800:hp-pcd:2400010:000:2102
hp-pcd!harold Jun 20 17:07:00 1983
FINALLY, someone has hit at the base of the problems associated
with this nation's highways. The real problem is NOT that people
speed, it is that people are unqualified to operate their vehicle
under the given conditions.
I had the opportunity to live in England for two years. While
there, I did a LOT of driving. (I drove in downtown LONDON as well
as out in the country.) I also had to obtain an ENGLISH driver's
liscense. Please induldge me while I make a few observations.
First, it is TRUE that you have to PROVE that you can drive before
they will grant you a liscense. Driving in England is a priviledge,
NOT a right, and you must prove "worthy" of that priviledge. I had
driven for several years here in the States and had had several
professional driving lessons before taking the English test and I
FAILED on my first attempt. Let me summarize what that test is like.
1) It MUST be taken in a standard transmission.
2) Any mistake will result in your failing the test-
a) Not signalling properly
b) Having your tires squeak during your emergency stops, or
c) Not stopping fast enough to qualify as an emergency stop
d) Grinding your gears or missing a gear
e) Not checking mirrors, etc., often enough
f) Not "properly observing traffic conditions"
g) ETC., ETC.-- Basically any of the things that are considered
to be "trivial" in the US but which give the examiner the
impression that you are in the least bit unqualified to drive.
3) It involves AT LEAST 30 minutes of actual driving in traffic.
There is a LOT of detail I've left out-- if more people are interested,
I'll be happy to give all the gory details.
Since I've run out of time, suffice it to say that the English drivers are
as a whole orders of magnitude better drivers than we in the US. I would
MUCH rather drive in LONDON where they DO drive like crazy than in any of the
US cities which I have visited.
I would very much favor making it MUCH more difficult to obtain a liscense
here in the US. I've seen the results.
Been there in England,
Harold Noyes
Corvallis, OR