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Re: driver's ed. is a joke



video@3DRESEARCH.nauticom.net (jd) wrote:
>
> In article <3ugfo0$r8l@ceylon.gte.com>
> Jeff Witzer <muthiah@sunflash.eng.usf.edu> writes:
 
[snip]
 
> > Seriously, since most people are motivated by money instead of morals
> > or intelligence, why not mandate insurance discounts for professional,
> > accredited driving school graduates?  Since these people would,
> > hopefully, be better drivers anyway, why not recognize them as lower
> > risks than others who drive the same type of vehicle?
> > 
> > > Janos Dohanics
> > Jeff Witzer (using a friend's account)
[snip]
 
> On the other hand, I was wondering, how good an indicator is a speeding
> ticket of propensity to cause accident? Since this is the argument for
> raising your rates.

I hope you didn't think I was supporting such logic!  That's the 
insurance industry's logic, probably because it would be too difficult
to accurately track insurance risks.  I assume that they equate speed
with recklessness, when, at worst, habitual speeders may have less
repect for speed limit laws and, with a great leap, for all auto
laws and regulations in general. <their thinking(?), not mine>

I think they should concentrate more on punishing recipients of
"reckless driving" or "driving to endanger" citations than simple
speeders.  These citations allow the officer to use his/her judgement
to indicate endangement to others.  Better yet, concentrate rate
increases more on those with a history of at fault accidents and 
endangerment citations.

Who, besides me, has received a speeding ticket delivered with the
phrase "I don't think you were doing anything *wrong*, but I felt
obligated to cite you for exceeding the speed limit"?  He tried to
make it up to me, though, by citing me for 14 mph over the limit
(at 15+ over its 4 points instead of 3 on your license) when I was
doing 130+ on a 4 lane interstate at 9am Saturday morning with
NO ONE else in either direction for MILES (literally).  Did I deserve
the fine?  ABSOLUTELY!  Was I endangering anyone besides myself?
NO!  Would I act irresponsibly and do something similar with other
vehicles around?  NEVER!  I think the cop realized this by my
equiptment (New Honda VFR 700 Interceptor, proper dress, full-face
helmet, etc) and my attitude (calm, mature, respectful).  He could
have easily thrown my ass in jail.  Instead, he thanked me for pulling
over when I saw him lite his blues on the side of the road a mile 
ahead.  He said he'd never have been able to catch me if I had
decided to try and run (Mustang GT State Trooper).

That's an extreme case where someone at the scene with a judgement
call can decide to recind someone's driving priviledge or just impart
a slap on the wrist speeding ticket for "5 miles over".  The insurance
industry seems to be trying to take a "record of speeding" (meaning
ONE ticket within the past 3 years) as a reckless scofflaw attitude
(no matter how wreckless you really are (sorry, couldn't resist)).
 
> Janos Dohanics
> National Motorists Association
> Pennsylvania State Chapter Coordinator

Jeff Witzer (using a friend's account)
1993 Mazda RX-7 - Competition Yellow Mica - Pettit Turn Key Terror


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