USA Drivers licences

[Caligastia]

Its a risk that can be reduced though.

[Arrian]

How's this: make the driving tests harder. There are a lot of really bad drivers out there. I've heard that driving tests in Europe are much more difficult, and it is common to fail a couple of times before getting your license.

Arrian's 1-step program for improving driving across the US: instruct the police to actually enforce the law regarding the use of turn signals.

Of course, that would mean the cops should probably start using their signals too (which, in my experience, they don't).

-Arrian

[drake]

I want to know what some of these rules are that differ state to state and could pose a risk. I can't think of any traffic laws that are specific only to single states.

Arrian...about the turn signals. I do my part and beep the crap out of people that slow down and turn in front of me without the blinker.

It takes minimal effort. A little courtesy. Why people can't get that through their thick skulls baffles me.

[MrFun]

Originally posted by Caligastia
Its a risk that can be reduced though.

It just would not be worth it in my opinion, to federalize such driving regulations.

Each state can do just fine with their driving regulations.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by drake
I want to know what some of these rules are that differ state to state and could pose a risk. I can't think of any traffic laws that are specific only to single states.

Making right turns on red lights. Traffic island right-of-way rules.

Those are two I can think of right away.

[drake]

Right turn on red lights are legal in any place unless posted otherwise to my knowledge, but then I suppose I could be wrong.....

What the hell is a traffic island right of way?

We actually have some different rules here in Mass:

Yellow Lights/ Yield Sign = Go
Red Lights/ Stop Sign = Yield

Atleast thats the way it seems most of the time round here

[Adam Smith]

Originally posted by drake
I want to know what some of these rules are that differ state to state and could pose a risk. I can't think of any traffic laws that are specific only to single states.

A couple of examples.

1. The District of Columbia, which is almost exclusively urban, allows right turn on red only where posted. Other states, mainly rural ones, allow right turn on red unless posted otherwise. IIRC, Illinois and Wisconsin also used to have different laws in this regard. (First pendant to complain that DC is not a state gets shot. )

2. States on or west of the Rocky Mountains generally allow large trucks on the interstate highways (2x48' or 3x28'). States in the eastern part of the country generally do not. The reason is that eastern interstates often tighter curves and narrower lanes than those in the west. Note that none of this has stopped the trucking lobby from pushing for huge trucks nationwide.

[Arrian]

Originally posted by drake
Arrian...about the turn signals. I do my part and beep the crap out of people that slow down and turn in front of me without the blinker.

It takes minimal effort. A little courtesy. Why people can't get that through their thick skulls baffles me.

It's so common I no longer honk my horn unless the person also cuts me off (also fairly common). Then they get a full-on response: car horn honkin', middle finger in the air.

There are few things that irritate me more than lack of signaling. My bloodpressure rises just thinking about it.


Cali does have a point about Turn on Red regs varying from State to State. But that usually just results in some extra ticket revenue

-Arrian

p.s. The most aggressive drivers I've ever seen are in Boston. I hate driving in Boston (and I would be considered an aggressive driver by most people).

In CT, the "stop sign" is actually the "roll slowly through sign."

[chequita guevara]

U-turns aren't legal in every state, MrFun. In some states you can pass on a double yellow, in others you cannot pass when there's a solid yellow.

tandeetaylor's taxing scenario is a insane. You can't be taxed for another government's program. However, to replace taxes for the loss of the DL, they could institute a road tax, all residents have to pay for the maintence and upkeep of their road system.

[chequita guevara]

Oh the other hand, I do think people should have to take the written exam every year, and the drivers test every five. Once people get their license that act like it's a freakin' entitlement and get lazier and laizer with their driving.

[Caligastia]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Oh the other hand, I do think people should have to take the written exam every year, and the drivers test every five. Once people get their license that act like it's a freakin' entitlement and get lazier and laizer with their driving.

Until recently (when they changed the rules) my New Zealand drivers license said: expiry 2045

[moomin]

Or then you can all just get yourselves international driver's licensens and be done with it. Good in every state - and, incidentally, although most yanks won't care - good in every country on Earth.

"It's my way! It's the highway!"

[tandeetaylor]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
tandeetaylor's taxing scenario is a insane. You can't be taxed for another government's program.

It was a joke, Chegitz. It may not have been funny, but it was a joke.


Here's another joke that's not funny:


Wait. There are rules to taxing?

[Arrian]

No, actually, "My way" refers only to the far left lane of the highway. I forget the name for the middle lane, but the right lane is "the glory lane."



-Arrian

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think we should keep the seperate licenses. After all, while it may make sense in Jersey to have 17 be the age for licenses, in some rural states maybe it'd be better for 15 or 16 to be the age for licensing (for say, driving tractors, etc.). Each state has its own age limits.

Hell, I like a little decentralization on things .