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Re: driver's ed. is a joke



In article <3ubr2o$ics@khis_news.khis.kodak.com>
king@khis.com (Robert King) writes:

> In article Fpr@pgh.nauticom.net, video@3DRESEARCH.nauticom.net (jd) writes:
> >In article <3u9mgf$11u@ixnews5.ix.netcom.com>
> >lily1@ix.netcom.com (J. Hale ) writes:
> >
> >> How can we even think of raising the speed limits to a reasonable level
> >> with the current lack of skill displayed by most drivers on the road
> >> today?  It seems to me that the whole driver's training system needs to
> >> be revamped and all who are currently licensed need to be recertified
> >> under more strict regulations before any other changes to driving laws.
> >>  It's just too damned easy to get a license in this country.  Opinions?
> >>  Comments?
> >> 
> >> Eric
> >
> >I don't think we should expect that the 'system' (any system) could
> >prevent unskilled, irresponsible and lousy drivers on the road.
> 
>    On which road?  If I own a road, (racetrack, whatever,)  I have a
> perfect right to demand anyone using it to show me proof of competence
> before I let them on it.  The Government has that same right.  Driving
> on public roads is a previlidge extended to us by our government.
> 
> 
If you, a private entity, owns the road, you make the rules, no
question. It may be somewhat different with a 'government-owned' public
road, paid for by tax dollars, since restricting usage appears to
collide with your right to travel (one of your not-emerated rights in
the 9th Amendment). But check out
<http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~karl/govt/driver.html> for more on this.

> >I don't think much will change that some states increase their speed
> >limits to a breakneck 65.
> 
>    Agreed.  People tend to drive at a speed they are comfortable at.
> That speed happens to be higher than 65 on interstates.
> 
> 
> >But indeed, it would be better if people could drive better. So here is
> >an idea:
> >
> >Most people, when asked, would say they consider themselves good or
> >great drivers. Some are, and most are not. Most of them would resist
> >the idea of (additional) driver education & practice.
> 
>    If nothing else, its an additional hassle for them.
> 
> 
> >Today, speeding fines and fines for other traffic infractions go into
> >state and local coffers. What if laws were changed that these dollars
> >would be returned to the cited drivers in the form of vouchers good to
> >professional driving schools (such as the ones that advertise in
> >Autoweek)?
> 
>    I have a problem "rewarding" cited drivers like this, but I think
> you're looking in the right direction.
> 
> 
I really don't think most people would perceive having been sent to
driver education and made pay for it as a 'reward'. This is still a
'big brother' approach just a tad more sensible than spending the money
on more radar guns.

> >I realize that such a change would still be troublesome for those of us
> >who think speed is best regulated by your own responsible judgement.
> >This is certainly not a solution that would cure all problems but at
> >least would connect traffic fines with traffic safety. As a side
> >effect, such a re-routing of dollars might just decrease interest in
> >writing traffic tickets.
> 
>    I agree.  It would be nice (although impractical at present,) to have
> limited access roadways (like a tollway,) that would have essentially
> unlimited driving speeds (an American Autobahn, if you will.)  Access to
> this roadway would only be granted to DRIVERS who have exhibited competence
> at driving in general and at high speeds, and to vehicles who have been
> certified to run safely at these high speedsi.  (Both would be subject
> to recurring certification fees to help defray the cost of setting this
> thing up.)  The technology is already there for this kind of non-intrusive
> monitoring.  Two "tolltag" like devices would be needed.  One permanently
> affixed to the car, and one in the posession of a certified driver.  These
> tags could be moonitored as the vehicle enters the roadway.
> 
> 
> 
> ---
> +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
> | Robert A. King                |                                       |
> | Systems Software Engineer     |                                       |
> | Kodak Health Imaging Systems  |    "I drank WHAT?!?" -- Socrates      |
> |                               |                                       |
> | king@khan.khis.com            |                                       |
> +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
> | The opinions expressed here arn't even mine, much less my employer's! |
> +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
> 
Wouldn't it be nice to have such highways? I don't expect government to
build them. But private enterprise could one day.


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