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Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!seismo!hao!hplabs!hp-pcd!harold
From: harold@hp-pcd.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: POINT TO PONDER - (nf)
Message-ID: <1188@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Jun-83 03:21:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.1188
Posted: Tue Jun 21 03:21:19 1983
Date-Received: Wed, 22-Jun-83 07:15:24 EDT
Sender: netnews@hp-pcd.UUCP
Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Corvallis OR
Lines: 49

#R:tekid:-130800:hp-pcd:2400010:000:2102
hp-pcd!harold    Jun 20 17:07:00 1983

FINALLY, someone has hit at the base of the problems associated
with this nation's highways.  The real problem is NOT that people
speed, it is that people are unqualified to operate their vehicle
under the given conditions.

I had the opportunity to live in England for two years.  While
there, I did a LOT of driving.  (I drove in downtown LONDON as well
as out in the country.)  I also had to obtain an ENGLISH driver's
liscense.  Please induldge me while I make a few observations.

First, it is TRUE that you have to PROVE that you can drive before
they will grant you a liscense.  Driving in England is a priviledge,
NOT a right, and you must prove "worthy" of that priviledge.  I had
driven for several years here in the States and had had several 
professional driving lessons before taking the English test and I 
FAILED on my first attempt.  Let me summarize what that test is like.

1) It MUST be taken in a standard transmission.
2) Any mistake will result in your failing the test-
   a) Not signalling properly
   b) Having your tires squeak during your emergency stops, or
   c) Not stopping fast enough to qualify as an emergency stop
   d) Grinding your gears or missing a gear
   e) Not checking mirrors, etc., often enough
   f) Not "properly observing traffic conditions"
   g) ETC., ETC.-- Basically any of the things that are considered
      to be "trivial" in the US but which give the examiner the 
      impression that you are in the least bit unqualified to drive.
3) It involves AT LEAST 30 minutes of actual driving in traffic.

There is a LOT of detail I've left out-- if more people are interested,
I'll be happy to give all the gory details.

Since I've run out of time, suffice it to say that the English drivers are
as a whole orders of magnitude better drivers than we in the US.  I would
MUCH rather drive in LONDON where they DO drive like crazy than in any of the
US cities which I have visited.

I would very much favor making it MUCH more difficult to obtain a liscense
here in the US.  I've seen the results.

Been there in England,

Harold Noyes
Corvallis, OR