Many of my suspicions about U.S. drivers confirmed
- Thread starter blacbird
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What's your anecdote? I hate when I'm teased like this.
Pedant.
I meant my little anecdotal data point -- my perfect score on the driving test.
Now, my first go-round would be right on trend. I passed the written with flying colors, and 99% of the driving. Parallel parking defeated me TWICE before I could finally get my license. Those poor, abused traffic cones.
Isn't the reason for periodic testing (and the associated astronomical fees) supposed to be to keep the dangerous drivers off the road?
Yeah, I went there. So sue me.
Yeah, I went there. So sue me.
I didn't know you had periodic testing over there. Here you pass your test and that's you, unless you lose your licence for driving offences and are court-ordered to resit it or develop a medical condition (such as epilepsy) which bars you from driving.
The astronomical fees do apply here though.
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Northeastern drivers KNOW the rules -- it's just that the rules don't apply to THEM personally, you see.
(And I learned to drive in Jersey, so I know of what I speak. <G>)
Important person coming through! The rest of you...people...just get out of the way!!
Here in Erie, we have a lot of 4 way stop signs. It works here. Everyone politely takes their turn. In Jersey, that wouldn't work so well. Cause the attitude is, I don't care if you have the right of way, I'm going NOW so deal with it. <G>
Susan G.
(And I learned to drive in Jersey, so I know of what I speak. <G>)
Important person coming through! The rest of you...people...just get out of the way!!
Here in Erie, we have a lot of 4 way stop signs. It works here. Everyone politely takes their turn. In Jersey, that wouldn't work so well. Cause the attitude is, I don't care if you have the right of way, I'm going NOW so deal with it. <G>
Susan G.
johnnysannie
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I think it varies from state to state here, and it's gotten less rigorous over the years. Indiana had a 4-year retest (written only) when I was young, and I actually had to get a manual and review it before testing each time. The last license I got, in Florida, is good for 8 years. The written test was a joke. The $65 fee was not.I didn't know you had periodic testing over there. Here you pass your test and that's you, unless you lose your licence for driving offences and are court-ordered to resit it or develop a medical condition (such as epilepsy) which bars you from driving.
The astronomical fees do apply here though.
It's more than doubled in the last couple of years. It has nothing to do with highway safety, and everything to do with the looters running out of things to loot.Holy bankroll, Batman! It only costs $28 here.
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Must be a slow news day when you have to write an article about how bad drivers are today. Seems obvious if you've ever been near a road.
Our fees for sir's amusement. (And possibly horror.
)And you have to pay for the provisional licence before you can pay for all that.
I'm not sure I see the validity in this testing. I'll have to do some more research and reading (only have time right now to skim the linked article) before concluding.
However, having learned to drive in the 47th ranked state (RI), and lived a number of years in the no. 1 state (KS), and now having lived 19 years in the 36th state (AR), I can tell you the "rules of the road", either statutory or as practiced, differ from state to state, and especially from the Northeast to the rest of the country. So how each state ranks on the test may reflect the rules of the road learned by whoever developed or grades the test.
NDG
However, having learned to drive in the 47th ranked state (RI), and lived a number of years in the no. 1 state (KS), and now having lived 19 years in the 36th state (AR), I can tell you the "rules of the road", either statutory or as practiced, differ from state to state, and especially from the Northeast to the rest of the country. So how each state ranks on the test may reflect the rules of the road learned by whoever developed or grades the test.
NDG
Maybe I'm crazy, but I think the fact that car crashes are no worse than they already are kind of shows that we're not THAT bad. I mean, considering how many cars and how many drivers are shit, you'd expect millions of people would die every year, instead of thousands.
Still, anyone else think we should just computerize driving? I mean...why not? If you're driving in a city or on a high way, why put the controls in the hands of a human when you could have a computer drive everyone without crashing.
Obviously, cars would still need controls that you can switch on, if you're going off a computerized course...but still, how many lives would that save.
And more than that, my mom would stop making me drive places.
Still, anyone else think we should just computerize driving? I mean...why not? If you're driving in a city or on a high way, why put the controls in the hands of a human when you could have a computer drive everyone without crashing.
Obviously, cars would still need controls that you can switch on, if you're going off a computerized course...but still, how many lives would that save.
And more than that, my mom would stop making me drive places.
I don't drive because I know I'm a bad driver. I wish more people had that attitude. As a constant pedestrian I often wish I could do something safe, like disarming IEDs in Iraq. At least everybody there knows what they are doing and why.
Yeah, I've always been amazed that we can hand the controls of a ton-plus lethal object, filled with explosive liquid, to anybody who passes a perfunctory written and practical exam, and allow them to drive head-on at unbelievable speeds toward other similarly vetted individuals, with less-than-disastrous results, yet we're scared to death of that same person having a gun in their hand. Our predominant transportation system is the best argument for personal responsibility that I'm aware of.
Welcome to Westworld, where nothing can possibly go wrong, go wrong, go wrong...
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I've known NY and NJ were the worst since I first visited the area a decade ago. I nearly got killed twice just trying to use crosswalks.
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I'd be interested to know if there's a difference in driving distraction between talking on a cell phone or talking to someone seated next to you. I know many drivers who turn to LOOK at the passenger as they talk. I don't think they do that while on the phone.
Studies aside, when I'm talking to my wife in the car, she's also acting as navigator and backup spotter. If we were on the phone, she'd have a much harder time spotting that semi about to drive into my side, or the exit I'm about to miss because I'm busy talking.
I took the test, should have done better, but frankly, I didn't care. This kind of thing is rather insignificant imho. I think if we looked at the actual cause of accidents, it has little to do with the exam. I suspect that drunk driving, texting and/or cell phone usage, distraction as per multi-tasking while driving, and road rage are probably the top reasons for fatalities or severe wrecks. Most people concentrating on driving - even if they pass on a double yellow line - are clear headed enough to make sure there isn't an oncoming car. . . .
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