re: Daytime Running Lights

[Mark Quinn/HNS <Mark_Quinn@notesgw.hns.com>]

Psycho Bob (+others) writes:

>>>I agree with Bob 100% on this issue: using DRLs to solve the problem of
>>>drivers not paying attention is the wrong solution.
>>
>>Um, I'd agree about the problem, but not about your solution. With all the
>>braindead drivers out there, *we* need all the help we can get to stay out
>>of their way. (snip)
>
>Ah! Why settle for 5% increase in margin of safety, when you can settle
>for 200% (or more!) by petitioning change on what and how people need to
>do/pass to get their driver's license? (snip)
>
>Why not go to the source of the problem -- namely, not letting "lamers" to
>pass and hold driver's license -- and get it over with?

Man! A topic close to my heart.  Being an ex-pat Brit, I have experience
of the driving tests on both sides of 'the pond'.  When I moved over to
Maryland I couldn't believe the pathetic driving test.  In the UK, you spend
(when I took it anyway) about 30 mins on the road.  The test includes,
amongst many other things, being able to back around a bend following 
the curb, an emergency stop (triggered by the tester) and being able to 
start off on a hill with zero rollback.  Nothing truly amazing - just showing
that you can control your vehicle under normal conditions on the road.

When I came here, however, I found the test comprised about 5mins in
the back parking lot of the MVA, and involved stopping at a stop sign and
a (very easy) parallel park!  Even the written test was 20 multiple choice
questions, where obvious clues were given by the drawing illustrating the
question. For instance: Drawing: A car stopped in the left lane of a 4lane
road (dual carriageway), waiting to turn left into a side road across 
approaching traffic.  Question: when can you stop in the left lane of a 
4lane road?  Ans Choices: (A) anytime, (B) when waiting to turn left, 
(C) never.  Its truly incredible.  How can anyone expect safety when it
so easy to get a license without knowing the first thing about vehicle 
control?  How come the Insurance companies don't jump on THIS 
instead of Radar Detectors and pathetic speed limits?  Bah!

(Writer gets slowly down off soapbox.)

-Mark Quinn