Hi I'm a Idiot Driver RANT!

[RICLARK]

I'm not sure how the whole CDL process works, but I think you have to get a physical every year, or the year you renew your license.

Did you know that in PA the only motor vehicle that is allowed to disregard all traffic laws is a Fire Engine while responding to a fire? Even tho we have this leeway, I know our company doesn't abuse it, we still "drive to survive", meaning we try to obey all traffic laws while responding to an incident... with flashers that can change traffic lights and loud sirens and flashy lights it makes things easier, but you wouldn't believe the idiots who just don't pay attention and somehow don't see a huge flashy and loud fire engine coming.

By the way, all of our apparatus can only go a max of 70 mph and we've found driving the speed limit vs. speeding to an incident only has a difference of 45 seconds... so, we take our time and ride with the mentality of "arriving alive".

i try to apply this to my everyday driving as well, there is just no need to speed if the difference is only going to be 45s.

You have to get a Physical every 2 years if you don't have high blood pressure or any other physical ailments. If you do its every year. As far as testing...I have to take a written test every 4 years when I renew for my hazerdous Materials endorsement. If there was a written test for everyone every 4 years I would have to take the "General Knowledge", "Combination", "Double's and Triple's", "Tanker", "Hazmat" and "Air Brake" Tests every time I renew, Thats a boat load of money on top of renewing my license and license plates. It would cost me about 300.00.

 

[kornkob]

Making people re-take tests doesn't prove anything. People study up and/or straighten up when a test proctor is around for either written or wheel tests.

We need police ON THE STREET observing illegal driving behavior and ticketing the crap out of people so that they have to pay fines, get points towards losing their license, and jack up their insurance bills.

I've always hated the shotgun approach. Why punish EVERYONE by retaking tests when there's that select few that needs fixing?

I believe that we should have volunteer undercover semi-police that are properly trained and are able to take down license plate info and call a ticket into the real cops who send out tickets.

It's not punishment: it's testing to ensure that people have the minimum requirements to perform. It also ensures that people spend the time to get updated information.

Once every 10 years having to take a written and behind the wheel 're-qualification' exam seems pretty reasonable. It also ensures that people who's changing medical condition (mostly as people get old but other medical conditions change too) gets assessed in actual driving conditions once every 10 years.

 

[jezter6]

I agree that it's not unreasonable. I just think it sucks and per sentence #2 of my quote - I don't think it would work anyways. At least not as much as it needs to.

Sure, it might fix the guy who's gone semi-blind that can no longer pass the eye test but isn't willing to admit he's blind, but I'm sure 90% of the idiot drivers out there are capable of sitting up straight, holding the wheel at 10 and 2, and not being an idiot for the 10 minutes it takes to pass a test - then going out and being a tard on the way home from the exam.

I have not had 2 hands on the wheel since 2 weeks after I got my license. While I may not be 100% perfect behind the wheel, I don't drift between lanes or tailgate truckers at 85mph down the highway. I'm willing to bet that the guy you see doing that wouldn't be doing it at his driving test.

 

[kornkob]

I guess I disagree with one of your fundamental assumptions: that the real bad drivers out there are capable of controlling their bad behaviors for a test. I think that people get into the habit of doing things a certain way and are doing many of those things unconsciously-- which wouldn't change for a test.

 

[RICLARK]

I think It is too easy to pass a driving test personally, I think it should be just as hard as a truck driving test with the inspection and everything. I know it is not practical but I think everyone should have to take a hazerdous weather driving test rather it be live or in a simulator.

 

[jezter6]

Depends - How many idiots do you see driving 95mph and weaving in and out of traffic suddenly slow to 62mph when a cop is at the front of the pack driving 62mph?

He sees the cop, his brain becomes aware that he's driving like a dillhole, and he corrects his behavior and pulls in behind the cop and starts pacing the cop car until the cop pulls off or speeds up.

In the presence of authority (cop car or test proctor) people who normally are without competency are capable of greatness. It's like the whole 'mother can lift a car off her baby' kind of strength - people are capable of all sorts of things under the exact right circumstances.

Seems like we're both pessimists - just in different sides.

 

[kornkob]

Seems like we're both pessimists - just in different sides.

No, we're in complete agreement but we're talking about solving different problems.

You are looking for ways to stop the people who choose to be jerks in traffic and I'm looking for ways to cull the incompetent drivers.

Road tests and written exams only catch the incompetent.

 

[Melana]

Road tests and written exams only catch the incompetent.

Hey, even this would be a start!

 

[brauhaus]

btw, +1 to the a-hole who speeds up in passing lanes!

everyday this middle aged woman in a Toyota Camry drives about 10mph below the speed limit, i don't mind when people drive the exact speed limit, but is it necessary to drive 10 below?

anyway, she speeds up in all the passing sections and today she decided to race me up a hill while I was attempting to pass her. The speed limit is 55, she was driving 45, I sped up to 60 to pass her... but didn't since she decided that she wanted to go 65 mph up the hill like a *******.... i don't like to pass anyone going higher that 65mph, esp when the highway is strewn with state troopers.

So she drove like a complete ******* so I immediately just backed off, no sense in passing someone who obviously has issues about other drivers... thank god she doesn't travel the same route my entire hour communte to work.