On Drivers, and Driving...
It is far, far too easy to obtain a driver's license.
Let me explain. I got my license by taking a Driver's Education class in high school, and then going to the DMV and driving around some back roads. If I stopped at stop signs, and remembered my blinkers, I passed.
That doesn't prepare you for anything.
Let me elaborate: You're traveling down the road at 55mph (which we'll assume is the posted speed limit, and appropriate for the conditions). Suddenly, a car pulls out in front of your vehicle off of a wooded side road. You slam on the brakes, and two things instantly occur to you:
One: You're not going to be able to stop in time.
Two: The rear end of your vehicle is pulling to the right, and if you stay on the brakes, you're going to induce a counter-clockwise spin at 55mph.
Well, without more information, this is a tough situation. What kind of condition is your vehicle in, and could you swerve out of the way without broadsiding a telephone pole? Are you rear-wheel or front wheel drive? (It matters!). Do you have anti-lock brakes (they're not standard on all vehicles!), and will your tires hold if you lock them up? And now, analyze all of that in a split second and react on that information. Remember: your life and the lives of your passengers depend on it!
Let's try some more:
- Same situation as the last one, except your rear tires lose traction and your car swaps ends. Rear-wheel drive, manual transmission. How does this change if you're driving a front-wheel drive automatic?
- You're driving a six-speed, rear-wheel drive Pontiac Firebird (350hp V8). You're about to pass a truck on on a two-lane, 55mph road. You downshift from sixth to fourth to accelerate.. except you miss fourth gear, and now you're in second gear at 55mph, and your Firebird is now sideways. You're watching trees go from right to left out your windshield, and you can see oncoming traffic in your passenger window. Now what? How do you recover your vehicle without crashing? Running off the road is not an option; trees and a ditch on either side. (This happened to me.)
These aren't easy questions, and when you get your license, you're not asked to think about them. No driving school. No defensive driving training. Nothing but stop signs and blinkers.
I propose the following:
- Mandatory pre-license training, with a minimum number of hours behind the wheel with a certified instructor, covering emergency situations and defensive driving, under normal conditions and (simulated?) inclement weather.
- Stricter driving tests that cover emergency situations, quick stopping, swerving, and basic physical laws of driving a vehicle under duress.
- Mandatory re-tests every 3-5 years - including senior citizens.
- Driver pays for 100% of training.
Yes, licenses would become more expensive and more difficult to obtain. I submit that this is a good thing. Most of us are woefully unprepared.
original post @nwfdailynews.com
Let me explain. I got my license by taking a Driver's Education class in high school, and then going to the DMV and driving around some back roads. If I stopped at stop signs, and remembered my blinkers, I passed.
That doesn't prepare you for anything.
Let me elaborate: You're traveling down the road at 55mph (which we'll assume is the posted speed limit, and appropriate for the conditions). Suddenly, a car pulls out in front of your vehicle off of a wooded side road. You slam on the brakes, and two things instantly occur to you:
One: You're not going to be able to stop in time.
Two: The rear end of your vehicle is pulling to the right, and if you stay on the brakes, you're going to induce a counter-clockwise spin at 55mph.
Well, without more information, this is a tough situation. What kind of condition is your vehicle in, and could you swerve out of the way without broadsiding a telephone pole? Are you rear-wheel or front wheel drive? (It matters!). Do you have anti-lock brakes (they're not standard on all vehicles!), and will your tires hold if you lock them up? And now, analyze all of that in a split second and react on that information. Remember: your life and the lives of your passengers depend on it!
Let's try some more:
- Same situation as the last one, except your rear tires lose traction and your car swaps ends. Rear-wheel drive, manual transmission. How does this change if you're driving a front-wheel drive automatic?
- You're driving a six-speed, rear-wheel drive Pontiac Firebird (350hp V8). You're about to pass a truck on on a two-lane, 55mph road. You downshift from sixth to fourth to accelerate.. except you miss fourth gear, and now you're in second gear at 55mph, and your Firebird is now sideways. You're watching trees go from right to left out your windshield, and you can see oncoming traffic in your passenger window. Now what? How do you recover your vehicle without crashing? Running off the road is not an option; trees and a ditch on either side. (This happened to me.)
These aren't easy questions, and when you get your license, you're not asked to think about them. No driving school. No defensive driving training. Nothing but stop signs and blinkers.
I propose the following:
- Mandatory pre-license training, with a minimum number of hours behind the wheel with a certified instructor, covering emergency situations and defensive driving, under normal conditions and (simulated?) inclement weather.
- Stricter driving tests that cover emergency situations, quick stopping, swerving, and basic physical laws of driving a vehicle under duress.
- Mandatory re-tests every 3-5 years - including senior citizens.
- Driver pays for 100% of training.
Yes, licenses would become more expensive and more difficult to obtain. I submit that this is a good thing. Most of us are woefully unprepared.
original post @nwfdailynews.com