Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.3 4.3bsd-beta 6/6/85; site sdcc13.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!ittatc!dcdwest!sdcsvax!sdcc3!sdcc13!kemasa From: kemasa@sdcc13.UUCP (kemasa) Newsgroups: net.flame,net.auto Subject: Re: Driving as a right or privilege Message-ID: <343@sdcc13.UUCP> Date: Wed, 30-Oct-85 17:49:22 EST Article-I.D.: sdcc13.343 Posted: Wed Oct 30 17:49:22 1985 Date-Received: Sat, 2-Nov-85 07:30:38 EST References: <189@ucdavis.UUCP> Reply-To: kemasa@sdcc13.UUCP (kemasa) Organization: U.C. San Diego, Academic Computer Center Lines: 59 Xref: watmath net.flame:12591 net.auto:8613 California might be one of the harder states to get a license, but it still is too easy. My parents had all of us kids take private driving lessons, which prepared us to be better drivers. I can imagine being able to get a license after only driving a few hours. I couldn't even get my license until I had taken the driving section of the class from High School (We got to go driving for I think 3 hours for three days, had a good time, the only comment the instructor made was to one guy who was going too slow on the freeway), the private school wasn't good enough for the state. The actual test only took 10 minutes, just driving around the block. I haven't been back to the DMV for about 7 years and I don't have go in until 1988 because I haven't had any tickets. We some of the people on the road who "know how to drive" scares me, I wish that it was alot harder to get a license, so hopefully less people would be killed. I could have gotten my license from just the state classes, but I don't think I would feel safe. I also think it would be a good idea if people could take their car out ant learn how to control it in a skid, and under other such cases, I don't think most people will remember what to do just from seeing a paper telling them. A note about motorcycle and cars: I have seen it said that the cars should watch out for the motorcycles, which is true, but in rush hour traffic I have been scared by several motorcycles who go past me at about 30+ when I am stopped and because freeways are not straight and with that much difference in speed you might be trying to change lanes and not see the motorcycle. Another comment is that I was driving in LA rush hour (I used to and still kind of do live there, or survive) and I had stopped and the lanes are narrow in places and a motorcycle pulled up right next to the rear fender of my car on the passenger side. Traffic started to go and so I took my foot off the break and started to go when I felt a bump, it turns out that the motorcycle rider put his foot in front of my rear tire and got mad when I ran it over. I stopped and he calmed down saying that it happens alot and that is why he got mad. With a rider like that I don't feel at all sorry for him. I have a couple of friends who ride motorcycles, one of which has taken the classes and is very careful and watchs out for cars, the other is just plain crazy, but what do you expect from a Digital Employee (I used to be one until I decided to leave the real world and go back to school), the reason I say this is that I doubt that I would ever have a problem seeing the one who had taken the class because he is where you would expect to find a car or a motorcycle. I really don't think it is up the driver of a car to look everywhere for a motorcycle, yes they should be looking out, but I wouldn't look a mile back on the freeway for a motorcycle or a car before going into the emergency lane if I had car problems. HOW ABOUT A DEMAND FOR A RETURN OF EMERGENCY LANES IN LA!!!!!!! There was a bad accident that I had the misfortune to see, a car was stopped with a flat tire and was hit by a car doing about 55+. The woman from the stopped car was very lucky and was standing by her car and saw both cars destroyed. Kemasa