I think we need additional drivers training

[EMPshockwave82]

I was finishing my motorcycle safety course today and started thinking how good it would be for people to have to go through additional training before being allowed to get their drivers license.

It's already required to go through the drivers education classes and take a written and hands on skills test before being allowed to get behind the wheel but I think that with the way people drive it's not enough. Perhaps we need drivers to have additional training in the beginning of their driving careers or occasional driving skill checkups to make sure they still remember what they are supposed to be doing out there.

* As big of an inconvenience as it would be maybe we need to take the written test more often or maybe we need to take the behind the wheel skills test more often.
* I think everyone should learn how to drive a manual transmission so they can understand how to do more than 1 thing at a time behind the wheel (thinking, steering, changing gears)
* Take the motorcycle safety course to be more aware of what other drivers go through on the road

Maybe it's just me but in the Chicago area there are a lot of piss poor drivers that think that when 2 lanes merge into 1 lane that everyone else goes first... after them. People that pull up 2 feet behind a motorcyclist at a stop light. Double / Triple lane changes without any signals or sometimes even looking.

 

[Andrew1990]

I never liked Chicago driving. Too many cars so the first time was my last.


What they really need to do is get a mass transit system that rivals Tokyo in Chicago. Especially for the Olympics.

 

[paperfist]

Screw that we need traffic police that only patrol and ticket for bad driving. That's big government I can support! Drivers who have multiple offenses need to take additional road tests, if they can't pass those they can't drive. Have a good driving record? Great you only have to take a driving test every 5 years.

Just think about how much we'll save on car insurance

Seriously there's a lot of bad, inconsiderate drivers with broken left hands who live in NY.

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Or just throw those without licenses in jail.

Don't fuck around driving and you won't lose your license.

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: EMPshockwave82

* I think everyone should learn how to drive a manual transmission so they can understand how to do more than 1 thing at a time behind the wheel (thinking, steering, changing gears).

Um, I can drive while simultaneously eating an ice cream sandwich, dialing a cell phone, finding a playlist on the iPod, checking the GPS, flipping off the jerk driving only 10mph above the speed limit in the left lane (what is wrong with people?), and adjusting the mirrors. Now you want me to shift at the same time? I'd have to set my drink down, fer Christ's sake.

 

[zerocool84]

Look at Germany. They have very strict rules on how to drive and it's very expensive to get a license and they have a highway with parts on it that have no speed limit but it's still one of the safest highways in the world.

 

[BoomerD]

I've had the "privilege" of quite a few driver training courses in my life.

Driver's Ed in high school

USMC Military Police driver training after Vietnam
FBI Offensive Driver training for the US State Department (while I was MSG in the Corps)

Heavy Truck Driver training (to get my class A license)

Renault/Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat, Colorado
Renault/Bridgestone Ice Driving Academy in Steamboat, Colorado


Then...a couple of times, to keep a stupid ticket off my otherwise spotless driving record, Kahleeforneeya Traffic School...:roll:

 

[Gooberlx2]

Ugh, aside from the ridiculous amount of additional load at the DMV, and thus possibly increased taxes and wait times to support it...it wouldn't accomplish anything.

Most everyone knows how to drive properly and defensively when being tested. It's their habits that dictate how they drive in the real world.

Renault/Bridgestone Winter Driving School in Steamboat, Colorado
Renault/Bridgestone Ice Driving Academy in Steamboat, Colorado

I could get behind winter/ice driving courses as required parts of driver's ed. At least for the northern states. Take the main course during the spring/summer/fall and a winter/ice supplement during the winter season.

 

[helpme]

I support a mandatory hands on course that includes:

HOWTO: Merge
HOWTO: Drive in wet weather
HOWTO: Brake (I bet most people don't realize how hard they really can press the brake pedal...)
HOWTO: Street/Highway etiquette (passing, etc)
Low and high speed car control (Explain understeer, oversteer, and how to feel when the car is going to lose control) with required wet and dry skidpad exercises!!!

Of course, this doesn't get rid of the jackasses who drive poorly on purpose, or as previously stated develop bad habits, but it will allow people who have very little interest in driving be more aware of car control. Plus, actually spinning your car during a class will at the minimum increase your respect of how dangerous driving a car can be (and hopefully lead you to be more careful on the street!).

I would require at least a few spins on the skidpad in the wet and dry to give the driver an understanding on how the car feels before it loses control. I bet that the majority of people who lose control of their cars and crash in single car accidents (non mechanical failure related) didn't realize that they had passed the limit of their ability or their cars ability until it was too late.

A skid pad/braking class is actually required in Sweden!!