Good plan.

IMO, the argument that big = safe espouses the wrong perspective when it comes to driving safely. It all comes down to skill and situational awareness, not relying the heft of your vehicle.

A properly driven lightweight and nimble automobile has the advantage in many situations of being able to avoid an accident altogether, by virtue of shorter braking distances, tighter turning radii, better acceleration.

And I'll be honest...in CA, driver licensing is a joke. :down:

 

All cars sold here have to abide by the same safety standards.

 

Do you guys have graduated licensing in the US?

Here we have written test to be able to drive with someone beside you at certain hours, first road test to drive by yourself, then second road test to drive on highways. Most people go to the driving schools.

 

No. Any dipshit can get a license here, even if they don't know how to drive. The test is an absolute joke, and something needs to be done about it. I honestly think that at least 30% of the drivers in this country have absolutely no right opperating a car, much less a ford excursion.

 

Yeah we should definitely take a clue from other countries. Several series of extensive testing and a license costs in excess of $1k.

 

I agree completely with white_n_slow. It's almost a guarenteed right here, not a privledge.

 

or they could just give a real drivers test. :dunno: All they did was make me drive around the block more or less. No parallel parking, no evasive manouvers, no merging onto a highway, hell I didn't even have a 4-way stop sign. All it would take would be about an additional 10-15 minutes of seat time... that and testers that actually pay attention and have some concern for the safetly of joe motorist.

 

In 1998, a few years after I got my license, CA did implement graduated licensing for new drivers. IIRC, the restrictions included a curfew and required supervision when driving with one or more passengers under the age of 18.

But as far as I can see, the restrictions are:
a) sporadically enforced. I have never heard of anyone being cited for violating the graduated license stipulations.

b) ineffective. We still have a high incidence of single - car accidents amongst young drivers. Four of my HS classmates died in a wreck in 99, simply because they were going too fast for conditions (and common sense).

Besides, the flaws are entirely in the training methodology. The DMV written exam is little more than a test of memorizing statistics from the driver handbook. The road test is woefully inadequate as well. Many CA DMV offices don't even include highway driving, never mind inclement weather. :a:

 

personally i think that as you renew your liscence, every other year, or ever 5 years or something you must take a driving test, which will include merging onto the freeway, parallel parking, normal parking, 4 way stops, 4 way no sign intersections etc. personally i hated the "can't drive with people in your car that are under 18" when u first get your liscence, and i've seen several friends get tickets for it, but around here, the cops have little more to do

 

Actually, I think people know how to pass tests. But they get negligent on the road.

How about getting demerits when caught driving crappily. Chalk enough demerits and lose your license. Then people would put more effort into driving better.

Yeah, I dunno how to implement this.