anybody else reading "how's your commute?"

[26667]

Am I the only one thinking, "these people" should all just be shot and then we'll give their vehicles to the homeless and solve two problems at once!!?

It'll probably start a fight and get moved from Campfire to Tavern OTS, and then Doghouse, but seriously, why can't we do something about this? Sometimes it's infrastucture related, sure. But mostly it's the monumental stupidity and rudeness. I mean good criminy! Having tried to make cars and hiways "idiot-proof" all we've done is to breed idiots. And rude ones at that.

Why CAN'T we start a National Look In Your Rearview Mirror, and Use Your Turn Signals Day? Or a system of signage like the old Burma Shave ads that essentially says, "PAY ATTENTION... pay attention ... pay attention...HEY! keep paying attention; you're not there yet.'' I know it doesn't rhyme. Anybody old enough to remember the PSA's about how to drive on limited access hiways that aired shortly after the interstate sytem was being built? How to merge, which lane's which, and so forth? We need some clarification on which things are the roadways and which are the buildings, trees, and birds. There is obviously some confusion.:usa

[BubbaZanetti]

licensing requirements need to be made much more stringent

public transportation infrastructure needs to be improved


driving, when thought of as a chore, or not though of at all, is a dangerous activity.

[henzilla]

licensing requirements need to be made much more stringent

public transportation infrastructure needs to be improved


driving, when thought of as a chore, or not though of at all, is a dangerous activity.

Well...Back in the 50's....:laugh :laugh :laugh OK, 'nuff of that

Texas just seems to want the revenue as the testing sure seems weaker than it did years back. High school used to offer drivers ed, long gone now and kids with big ass graduation cars seem to increase every year with no experience. I used to live in a "every child deserves a Lexus or a Hummer" lake area town and it was very scary about this time of year nearing graduation time. I grew up with a VW and a Honda 90:dunno
Some of the big towns in TX are slowly getting on the public trans wagon...but it is still ill received by most.

[32232]

Any North American who's driven in Europe will realize how lax our licensing regime is this side of the pond.

I drove in Europe for three weeks and didn't see anyone get passed on the right once. Not once. They stay out of the left lane unless passing. All the other skills are far superior as well. Wish that was the case here.

[AKBeemer]

On the Brit TV show "Top Gear" a few weeks ago they did a piece about Finnish drivers and why the produce so many top tier drivers from such a small population. The answer? Their driver's training is long and demanding. A student driver spends more time on a skid pad than his American counterpart spends in total behind the wheel. In the USA the hardest thing we do is parallel park; in Finland they are learning how to control a car in a power slide. There was no mention of what they go through to get a motorcycle license. Maybe this explains why we breed such poor drivers.

I lived in Germany for several years; passing on the right could get you in serious trouble.

And by the way, thanks 26667. I enjoy a good rant every now and then and yours was something that needs to be said.

[kahuhna]

What ever did happen to Public Service Announcements? I was out of the country for 14 years. Did cable do away with them? I thought a certain amount were required for licenses by the FCC.
We desperately need a hands free cell phone law here in VA. I have written legislators about it and they assure me that it will happen in time. It's a hot potato for sure politically.
With all of the immigration and non English speakers, I don't see how proper driver ed or instruction can be accomplished. A story on NPR a couple of days ago told of companies getting illegals their licenses in Maryland for a fee. Where does it end?
Campaigns by large groups (MOA?) could have an effect.
I suppress the urge to educate other drivers daily. When I was a young man I followed them and enlightened them, not a good idea these days.
Anyway, you obviously struck a chord.

Greg

[MCMXCIVRS]

I always found it amazing that the hardest requirement of the driving test was parallel parking. Just how many people are killed each year in horrible parking related incidents? Maybe the lack of those incidents is a sign that the system is working :rolleyes

[AKBeemer]

Just how many people are killed each year in horrible parking related incidents? Maybe the lack of those incidents is a sign that the system is working :rolleyes

:p :p :p :laugh :laugh :p :p :laugh :p :p :p

[BubbaZanetti]

I always found it amazing that the hardest requirement of the driving test was parallel parking. Just how many people are killed each year in horrible parking related incidents? Maybe the lack of those incidents is a sign that the system is working :rolleyes

no better than the focus of most DMV motorcycle testing being slow speed maneuvering as the be all and end all of a "qualified" rider.

[SIBUD]

No

[SIBUD]

Am I the only one thinking, "these people" should all just be shot and then we'll give their vehicles to the homeless and solve two problems at once!!?

Yes, yes you are.

However, I see you live in Chicago and the worst drivers in the whole world live in Cook or the collar counties so that explains a lot to this S. Illinois rider. :laugh

[wezul]

Yup, parking lots are dangerous . . .
Or patios.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30159652/

:doh

[glurkus]

I believe the problem lies in the current driver's ed programs. High schools don't offer them anymore. So you either go to a private instructor for big bucks or a friend or relative teaches you how to drive, which could perpetuate bad information and poor driving skills.
Part of the problem is that anyone can buy a car or motorcycle without a license and just drive.

[pffog]

Any North American who's driven in Europe will realize how lax our licensing regime is this side of the pond.

I drove in Europe for three weeks and didn't see anyone get passed on the right once. Not once. They stay out of the left lane unless passing. All the other skills are far superior as well. Wish that was the case here.


Can't agree more. BUT it will continue to get worse, each generation is getting taught by lesser and lesser skilled people.

If we do not toughen the requirements we need to increase the penalties, and fines even with jail time. Too many accidents caused by repeat offenders that had licenses pulled, but go out get another car, and drive again. Serious penalties need to be levied when it happens.

[26667]

Am I the only one thinking, "these people" should all just be shot and then we'll give their vehicles to the homeless and solve two problems at once!!?

Yes, yes you are.

However, I see you live in Chicago and the worst drivers in the whole world live in Cook or the collar counties so that explains a lot to this S. Illinois rider. :laugh

and so, all by my lonesome, that's an idea...a "two-fer" if you will, I'm trying to promote. Some of those vehicles could accomodate two or three families! Plus with these gas guzzlers off the road we can really start to thumb our noses at the Saudis; another worthwhile goal! It's not the money we give them so much as the having to kiss their asses, too. I want the pres' or sec'y o' state to be able to flip off a guy whose job title is "king." I can see it now. No more wondering if my airhead is over-heating sitting stuck in traffic! just zooming along, expressing on the expressway! actually going. No more taxicabs driving on the sidewalk. Just two-toned cars with window-boxes full of posies and kids playing on roof-top swingsets. Waving as we drive past.

And while I proudly agree that we have some of the World's Worst Drivers here in Chicago-land, you ain't seen nothin' till you've been to Boston. C'mon, MA riders; tell 'em!

[26667]

and thanx, you guys w serious answers. It's just that it's so bad, that sometimes you hafta laff.

But i don't know how you get politicos to support stricter, more sensible req's. They know it'd be a tuff sell, and no politician would ever do ANYTHING remotly difficult, or useful.

[nytrashman]

here in the NE some of the worst drivers are the illegal immigrants. they can barely speak the language let alone read and understand all the road signs. i am willing to bet a full 75% don't even have a drivers license. all the training and education in the world will do no good if these people who are in this country illegally continue to drive with no regard for our laws or licensing procedure.

[kahuhna]

And while I proudly agree that we have some of the World's Worst Drivers here in Chicago-land, you ain't seen nothin' till you've been to Boston. C'mon, MA riders; tell 'em!
__________________

Boston hasn't got anything on the Miami-Dade area. I found Boston much easier to drive in than Chicago, Miami, or say San Juan,P.R.
The main reason for reckless drivers is the lack of enforcement (or the ability to enforce). Ask any L.E.O. They are taxed w/ tasking and paperwork and the most mundane B.S.anymore...And the politicos just keep writing more laws and regulations. Maybe there should be a moratorium on new laws until the ability exists to enforce the ones being ignored presently.
I was just talking with a neighbor about the wheelie and stunt idiots on our local expressway. There is actual racing every day around here. Unbelievable.

[henzilla]

What ever did happen to Public Service Announcements?
Greg

The networks still are required I recall reading, the do not have to place them in a certain time slot, so it seems 2 AM-4 AM is good for them since they get no revenue from them. We tried to get some electrical safety ones on Austin channels while I was with the city...they said MAYBE around 3AM would work for them...really reaches a wide audience then doesn't it?

[BONEY]

Part of the problem is that anyone can buy a car or motorcycle without a license and just drive.

I think that it's the entire problem.

If you don't have a license, you have no use for a car. Right?

[535is]

I believe the problem lies in the current driver's ed programs. High schools don't offer them anymore. So you either go to a private instructor for big bucks or a friend or relative teaches you how to drive, which could perpetuate bad information and poor driving skills.
Even those are woefully inadequate to prepare anyone for actually driving. The object of those courses is to teach you to guide your vehicle around slowly and carefully so you don't actually hit anything. There are some folks trying to teach real-world skills like hard braking and steering in extreme situations, and as one of many volunteer instructors, I'm proud to be one of 'em. [Blatant plug follows:]

http://www.streetsurvival.org/images/logo.gif (http://www.streetsurvival.org/)

If you haven't already heard of it, click the logo to read about it. We think it's about time people learned to drive. This program was founded on ideas the BMW club had been teaching for several years. The BMW CCA Foundation was started in order to fund this idea. Tire Rack came on as the first name sponsor and most recently (just this year), the SCCA Foundation has come on board. You could do a lot worse than to send your kid to one of these.