Why is it so easy to get a license in the states?

[overst33r]

Compared to other countries such as Germany, basically any other developed country in europe...i realize our country is so much bigger...but i wonder what it would take to implement a rigorous driving test such as in europe...lots of lives could be saved

I also realize a car is a necessity almost anywhere in america...but IMO that doesnt mean that everbody gets to have a permit to drive 3000 lbs of killing power...

 

[notfred]

IMO, the issuing of drivers licenses in the US is completely pointless. It creates extra work for everyone, and doesn't make the roads any safer than they would be if they weren't issued and just anyone could drive.

Considering that nearly *everyone*, including those who have poor driving skills, is issued a license, and the fact that the few people who have thier licenses legitimately revoked tend to keep driving without a license anyway, the population of drivers on the road currently is pretty much identical to what it would be if we just let people drive without a license.

 

[mugs]

What difference would it make if they made it harder to get the license? Do you see people on the road following the rules they have to know to pass the test? No. If you want people to drive better, you have to enforce the rules.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: mugs
What difference would it make if they made it harder to get the license? Do you see people on the road following the rules they have to know to pass the test? No. If you want people to drive better, you have to enforce the rules.

well my comparison to europe would explain that...its hard to get a license over there and just making it past the driving test makes you a better driver...

 

[RedArmy]

When my mom grew up in Britain she had to take a road test that was 45 minutes long in a standard car going through London. Then, when she moved into the states and was on a military base in PA she had to take it in a coned off course.

 

[mk52]

At least people would have to learn to park causing less scratches on my bumper

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: mugs
What difference would it make if they made it harder to get the license? Do you see people on the road following the rules they have to know to pass the test? No. If you want people to drive better, you have to enforce the rules.

well my comparison to europe would explain that...its hard to get a license over there and just making it past the driving test makes you a better driver...

I'm not very familiar with the driving tests in Germany and other European countries, so be specific - what is it about their tests that makes people better drivers? What do they have to do to pass the test?

 

[Genx87]

Because people dont want to offend anybody. Thus the reqs are ridiculously low.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

most fender benders are caused by people who suck at driving. Most serious accidents with injuries and deaths are caused by idiots.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: notfred
IMO, the issuing of drivers licenses in the US is completely pointless. It creates extra work for everyone, and doesn't make the roads any safer than they would be if they weren't issued and just anyone could drive.

Considering that nearly *everyone*, including those who have poor driving skills, is issued a license, and the fact that the few people who have thier licenses legitimately revoked tend to keep driving without a license anyway, the population of drivers on the road currently is pretty much identical to what it would be if we just let people drive without a license.

About a year after I got my license in Texas, the local gov't allowed any new driver who had simply passed a Driver's Ed course to get a license. No test was required. The number of accidents increased not long after. The testing was reinstated.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: mugs
What difference would it make if they made it harder to get the license? Do you see people on the road following the rules they have to know to pass the test? No. If you want people to drive better, you have to enforce the rules.

well my comparison to europe would explain that...its hard to get a license over there and just making it past the driving test makes you a better driver...

I'm not very familiar with the driving tests in Germany and other European countries, so be specific - what is it about their tests that makes people better drivers? What do they have to do to pass the test?

I remember reading that in Germany is cost around $2000 just to get your license...I believe it was mostly course fees.

You have to do a timed road course. The timing cut off is so tight, that in order to pass the test, you have to slingshot your car around the sun and go back in time to before the test starts to pass.

 

[JS80]

so illegals can drive and terrorists can get on airplanes

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: mugs
What difference would it make if they made it harder to get the license? Do you see people on the road following the rules they have to know to pass the test? No. If you want people to drive better, you have to enforce the rules.

well my comparison to europe would explain that...its hard to get a license over there and just making it past the driving test makes you a better driver...

I'm not very familiar with the driving tests in Germany and other European countries, so be specific - what is it about their tests that makes people better drivers? What do they have to do to pass the test?

i dont know the details either...but I would imagine it would take greater mental and physical skill to pass a driving test in europe than currently required in the US.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
Compared to other countries such as Germany, basically any other developed country in europe...i realize our country is so much bigger...but i wonder what it would take to implement a rigorous driving test such as in europe...lots of lives could be saved

I also realize a car is a necessity almost anywhere in america...but IMO that doesnt mean that everbody gets to have a permit to drive 3000 lbs of killing power...

Put an American driver in Europe and they will die in 1 day. Put them in Asia they will die on 1 hour.

Driving in the states is a joke. If you live in the suburbs like most people do, it's a joke to drive through any of our streets. Even when I go downtown to places like San Jose, it's still a joke. The only place I still don't like to drive in is San Francisco, and a lot of people will tell you it sucks to drive there. Only when you go downtown, traffic gets a bit hectic, but it's still NOTHING compared to what Asians are used to.

In Taiwan, there is no courtesy and you get cut off every 2 minutes if you drive like you do in the US.

So why is it so easy to get a license here? Because it's easy to drive.

Does this mean Asian drivers are better (I mean the ones in Asia, not the Asian drivers we have in the US)? Well I say they are more skilled because I would probably crash in 5 minutes driving in Taiwan or China, but it doesn't mean they're better. Sure they can weave in and out better than I can, and parallel park faster than I can, but hey, I have ZERO respect for the way they drive.

 

[xanis]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: mugs
What difference would it make if they made it harder to get the license? Do you see people on the road following the rules they have to know to pass the test? No. If you want people to drive better, you have to enforce the rules.

well my comparison to europe would explain that...its hard to get a license over there and just making it past the driving test makes you a better driver...

I'm not very familiar with the driving tests in Germany and other European countries, so be specific - what is it about their tests that makes people better drivers? What do they have to do to pass the test?

i dont know the details either...but I would imagine it would take greater mental and physical skill to pass a driving test in europe than currently required in the US.

The driving exam itself is very rigorous, and anyone who wants a license is required to spend money for many hours of professional instruction before they can get a car.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

i dont know the details either...but I would imagine it would take greater mental and physical skill to pass a driving test in europe than currently required in the US.

Yeah, I'm sure that a more difficult test would help to an extent, especially with younger drivers who seem to cause a lot of accidents. But with older drivers I think they KNOW the right way and choose to drive a different way. A lot of it is selfishness, everyone drives like they're the only (or most important) car on the road. We are a little behind in terms of using technology to monitor and control the flow of traffic, and I think we could benefit from that a lot.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Put an American driver in Europe and they will die in 1 day. Put them in Asia they will die on 1 hour.

Driving in the states is a joke. If you live in the suburbs like most people do, it's a joke to drive through any of our streets. Even when I go downtown to places like San Jose, it's still a joke. The only place I still don't like to drive in is San Francisco, and a lot of people will tell you it sucks to drive there. Only when you go downtown, traffic gets a bit hectic, but it's still NOTHING compared to what Asians are used to.

In Taiwan, there is no courtesy and you get cut off every 2 minutes if you drive like you do in the US.

So why is it so easy to get a license here? Because it's easy to drive.

Does this mean Asian drivers are better (I mean the ones in Asia, not the Asian drivers we have in the US)? Well I say they are more skilled because I would probably crash in 5 minutes driving in Taiwan or China, but it doesn't mean they're better. Sure they can weave in and out better than I can, and parallel park faster than I can, but hey, I have ZERO respect for the way they drive.

I have noticed that some of my Asian co-workers have very very bad driving habits, like changing lanes without looking, etc.

 

[Baked]

One word, Law suit. Ok, maybe that's 2 words. You can't enforce anything here. 'Cause if you do, 42 "We suck at driving but still wanna drive 'cause it's within our rights" groups will come outta no where and create a shed storm. Hooray for retarded rights for people who don't deserve them.

 

[Mrvile]

Originally posted by: mugs
What difference would it make if they made it harder to get the license? Do you see people on the road following the rules they have to know to pass the test? No. If you want people to drive better, you have to enforce the rules.

And yet we're always the ones bitching and moaning about the speeding tickets via camera...

 

[JoeFahey]

Yeah, I heard in Germany it cost a LOT more too, like $2000. Im not sure if more money is the way to go, but I think it should be a requirement that you have to take a driving education program. For all the DMV knows, the person just went out practice driving for the first time that day. Experience is key, and that should be started under the watchful eye of a driver instructor.

 

[lozina]

Originally posted by: DLeRium

Originally posted by: mariok2006
Compared to other countries such as Germany, basically any other developed country in europe...i realize our country is so much bigger...but i wonder what it would take to implement a rigorous driving test such as in europe...lots of lives could be saved

I also realize a car is a necessity almost anywhere in america...but IMO that doesnt mean that everbody gets to have a permit to drive 3000 lbs of killing power...

Put an American driver in Europe and they will die in 1 day. Put them in Asia they will die on 1 hour.

Driving in the states is a joke. If you live in the suburbs like most people do, it's a joke to drive through any of our streets. Even when I go downtown to places like San Jose, it's still a joke. The only place I still don't like to drive in is San Francisco, and a lot of people will tell you it sucks to drive there. Only when you go downtown, traffic gets a bit hectic, but it's still NOTHING compared to what Asians are used to.

In Taiwan, there is no courtesy and you get cut off every 2 minutes if you drive like you do in the US.

So why is it so easy to get a license here? Because it's easy to drive.

Does this mean Asian drivers are better (I mean the ones in Asia, not the Asian drivers we have in the US)? Well I say they are more skilled because I would probably crash in 5 minutes driving in Taiwan or China, but it doesn't mean they're better. Sure they can weave in and out better than I can, and parallel park faster than I can, but hey, I have ZERO respect for the way they drive.

I was in Europe just this summer. Rented a car in Germany and mostly stayed in that country. The driving experience there was so much better than driving at the states.

Here in the states driving is stressful. People cut you off, wander into your lanes, sit in the fast lane of the highway going 40, etc... Then on top of that you have cops who don't care how bad people drive they are only interested in handing out costly speeding tickets. 55 MPH on a nice flat straight highway is a joke. Feels like you're not even moving.

But in Germany everyone was disciplined and courteous. Traffic flowed so well especially on the highways where you are always given the elft lane to pass the slower people and you can drive pretty much as fast as you want without worrying about some cop looking to make a few bucks off you.

 

[Injury]

Like you said, driving is a necessity in the states. Because of that, there are so many people getting liscenses everyday, we simply don't have the manpower to spend 30-45 minutes giving a driving exam.

In lieu of this, Driver's education classes are supposed to certify a certain amount of driving time before a liscense can be acquired. (amount varies state to state, usually about 8-12 hours)

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: Mrvile

Originally posted by: mugs
What difference would it make if they made it harder to get the license? Do you see people on the road following the rules they have to know to pass the test? No. If you want people to drive better, you have to enforce the rules.

And yet we're always the ones bitching and moaning about the speeding tickets via camera...

Yeah... because they're often wrong