Comment on This is the dumbest idea ever
LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 21 hours agoWhat does the driving portion demonstrate outside of the drivers ability to properly drive under specific, controlled circumstances?
People choose to ignore speed limits, roll through stop signs, pass illegally, use their mobile devices etc. but they’d follow the rules for the duration of a test for the same reason they slow down when they see a cop on the side of the road.
The o be clear, I don’t really have a preference one way or the other but I’m struggling to understand the purpose of both a written and practical portion for renewal.
glimse@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
It’s true that it would do nothing for someone who deliberately breaks the law but, especially when it comes to the elderly, poor vision and reaction time is a big factor in driving ability - both would be obvious during a practical exam.
LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 19 hours ago
Then why do it at every 10 years instead of when the applicant hits a certain age threshold?
In Minnesota, your vision gets tested every time you renew your license and if you have to put on corrective lenses to take it then that goes on your license. You get pulled over not wearing corrective lenses and it’s on your license you can be penalized for that. You fail the vision test you don’t get to renew.
glimse@lemmy.world 19 hours ago
Because things change? People get worse at different ages? I dunno man, I like the idea of some routine verification that someone is capable of safely using a 2-ton murder machines.
How many deaths does it have to prevent for it to be worth it?
LilB0kChoy@midwest.social 19 hours ago
Legally using a 2-ton murder machine. The requirement itself doesn’t actually stop anyone from driving.
I don’t even know how you’d prove it prevents deaths. The increased fatal crash risk among older drivers is largely due to their increased susceptibility to injuries, particularly to the chest, and medical complications, rather than an increased tendency to get into crashes.
I ask these questions to try and understand how you came to your premise but I’m thinking you picked something arbitrary that sounded good?
I’m all for measures to reduce traffic related deaths and injuries but it’s always a balance trying to implement effective legislation that doesn’t create an undue burden on the people or the systems affected by the legislation.