I think driving tests should be abolished, 30h of driving lessons will not teach you how to drive, it will at best teach you how to pass the test. You only actually learn how to drive properly after passing the test by driving by yourself, so the driving test proves nothing, it only gives you a false impression of your own abilities.
And to the people who disagree; how many idiots with licenses are on the road?
How many idiots with suspended licenses are on the road?
How many idiots without licenses are on the road?
Did the law stop them? No. Because it’s a classic example of a law that only affects the people who didn’t need to be told to behave in the first place; and all of those who it should apply to the most will just ignore it. As it stands this law only further disenfranchises low income families by adding extra cost to their children’s path to adulthood and provides minimal to negative safety benefit.
The driving test proves you can competently drive to a safe standard. I agree that you learn more through experience, but first you need to be able to drive to a particular standard before being allowed to drive on your own.
What’s the alternative if there’s no test? You just allow anyone who reaches the driving age to get in a car and drive on their own?
And not just as a refresher/competency test! It should also be a chance to educate on updates like legislation that get passed, safety information and tips as research improves, and new traffic controls like double diamonds or roundabouts that weren’t in use when people learned to drive in their youth.
But at a minimum you should have to re-validate that you are a competent and safe driver every decade or so, agreed.
I don’t know what makes roundabouts so hard that 90% of people stop in my town when nothing is in it instead of yield like the sign they had seen in their drivers test.
As someone who learned to drive in 2 weeks and then passed the test 20+ years ago it’s kind of bonkers that I can get into a car and start driving rn. I haven’t driven since passing the test. I have no idea what many of the signs mean.
We also don’t have emissions tests. Pretty sure both are the result of being a mostly agricultural state as in the past both requirements would disproportionately impact farmer’s time and ability to work if they failed either one. We really should start requiring both.
What’s the frequency for forklift/crane certificates or similar? Driving a car should be regulated similarly (with the proviso that it is accepted that many blameless people will be found unfit to drive, and society should accommodate them by means other than lowering safety standards).
Forklift certs last for 3 years, but the test isn’t much. You take a quiz (can be all done online), and then someone at your workplace who is a certified instructor gives you some pointers.
I wouldn’t base car licensing around that. It’s almost nothing.
I know a couple of people who just had to pass a written test (basic multiple choices test on sign recognition and road laws) and no behind the wheel test. Heck my wife’s best friend lived somewhere where one person out of every class could get their license without any behind the wheel test. They’d draw names out of a hat and the lucky individual just had to pass the written test
With how dangerous cars are, retesting and recertification should be required with every renewal. An hour or two of class time to cover “here’s what’s new this decade” plus a 20 minute behind the wheel test would filter a lot of people who really shouldn’t be driving away from their licenses
On the other hand, there’s a ton of people who drive without a valid license regularly due to barriers to getting one and infrastructure that prevents any alternative method of getting around, so this would probably just exacerbate this issue
personally i think everyone should be required to retake a driving test every 10 years it’s absurd you only take it once at 16ish
I think driving tests should be abolished, 30h of driving lessons will not teach you how to drive, it will at best teach you how to pass the test. You only actually learn how to drive properly after passing the test by driving by yourself, so the driving test proves nothing, it only gives you a false impression of your own abilities.
And to the people who disagree; how many idiots with licenses are on the road? How many idiots with suspended licenses are on the road? How many idiots without licenses are on the road? Did the law stop them? No. Because it’s a classic example of a law that only affects the people who didn’t need to be told to behave in the first place; and all of those who it should apply to the most will just ignore it. As it stands this law only further disenfranchises low income families by adding extra cost to their children’s path to adulthood and provides minimal to negative safety benefit.
The driving test proves you can competently drive to a safe standard. I agree that you learn more through experience, but first you need to be able to drive to a particular standard before being allowed to drive on your own.
What’s the alternative if there’s no test? You just allow anyone who reaches the driving age to get in a car and drive on their own?
And not just as a refresher/competency test! It should also be a chance to educate on updates like legislation that get passed, safety information and tips as research improves, and new traffic controls like double diamonds or roundabouts that weren’t in use when people learned to drive in their youth.
But at a minimum you should have to re-validate that you are a competent and safe driver every decade or so, agreed.
I don’t know what makes roundabouts so hard that 90% of people stop in my town when nothing is in it instead of yield like the sign they had seen in their drivers test.
I like your ideas.
As someone who learned to drive in 2 weeks and then passed the test 20+ years ago it’s kind of bonkers that I can get into a car and start driving rn. I haven’t driven since passing the test. I have no idea what many of the signs mean.
You guys are retaking driver’s tests?
Seriously, I haven’t taken one since getting my license in the 90s.
that’s what i mean. i think they should be required to retake it. it’s wild that you only do it once as a teenager.
Agreed!
We also don’t have emissions tests. Pretty sure both are the result of being a mostly agricultural state as in the past both requirements would disproportionately impact farmer’s time and ability to work if they failed either one. We really should start requiring both.
What’s the frequency for forklift/crane certificates or similar? Driving a car should be regulated similarly (with the proviso that it is accepted that many blameless people will be found unfit to drive, and society should accommodate them by means other than lowering safety standards).
Forklift certs last for 3 years, but the test isn’t much. You take a quiz (can be all done online), and then someone at your workplace who is a certified instructor gives you some pointers.
I wouldn’t base car licensing around that. It’s almost nothing.
My work just had the warehouse driver show me the controls and move a couple of pallets. Now i’m forklift certified.
Still more than some of the covid era driver exams had… (Cousin in a small town spent less than 15 mins with the proctor)
I know a couple of people who just had to pass a written test (basic multiple choices test on sign recognition and road laws) and no behind the wheel test. Heck my wife’s best friend lived somewhere where one person out of every class could get their license without any behind the wheel test. They’d draw names out of a hat and the lucky individual just had to pass the written test
With how dangerous cars are, retesting and recertification should be required with every renewal. An hour or two of class time to cover “here’s what’s new this decade” plus a 20 minute behind the wheel test would filter a lot of people who really shouldn’t be driving away from their licenses
On the other hand, there’s a ton of people who drive without a valid license regularly due to barriers to getting one and infrastructure that prevents any alternative method of getting around, so this would probably just exacerbate this issue