Different Levels Of Licenses?

[NastyEllEssWon]

After reading through a few threads on multiple boards of young kids with fast cars plowing into people at insane high speeds I thought I'd ask an interesting question.


Do you think there should be different levels of licenses for certain cars. Such as Passenger, Performance and Light Truck in the same way they have the Motorcycle, Hazmat, Commercial and Airbrake endorsements. Maybe anyone under 21 should only be allowed to have a Passenger car endorsement and must take a specific oriented test for the other two upon reaching the age of 21.

[Wolfblitz]

Good i dea but i believe this would be good for everyone.

[NastyEllEssWon]

it would be for everyone but anyone under 21 would only be allowed to have the ''passenger car'' endorsement. wouldnt be able to take the performance and light truck test till theyre 21

[LTb1ow]

Can't keep kids from being stupid.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

You can go fast enough to kill people and do stupid things in pretty much any vehicle.

[Frosty]

No.

[Firebird67dude]

Most cars can do 100 mph it'll just take the teen to get there slower but same outcome.

[transmaro93]

^^^ yea only difference is instead of going 120 in a gto they will be going 100+ in their parents corolla that handles a 1/4 as good as the gto... there is no benefit to this other than creating more crazy laws... they already have the provisional liscense crap now... iv owned muscle/sports cars since i was 16 and have yet to get in a terrible accident (knock on wood) especially due to excessive speed or recklessness... most on this site prob are in the same boat... so no i dont support it... unforunatly like matt said you cant fix stupid... and accidents are going to happen and people will die... look at all the dui cases that go on for 3 -4 or more offenses and the people still drive without their liscenses... i doubt it would fix anything but hurt responsible kids with a love for the hobby as we all were at one time...

[fmybody]

i agree with the above. and its not always teens. and it doesnt need to be such a high speed to be dangerous. what about old people? its just peoples personalities and maturity levels.

or maybe its just cause im not 21 yet :(

[NastyEllEssWon]

im saying that 21 plus would still have to take the same tests, same endorsements just limit the age you would be eligible to take those tests. even without the age limit, have specific tests for vehicle types. seems like it would limit just the random idiot getting in a 400 hp car.



im not trying to take the gun away from the person, just trying to soften the ammo. :wink:

[FlyingDutchman]

i noticed that teens, atleast in my school, that owned passenger cars were worse than those who drove performance cars.. really depends on the person though IMO

[V]

look at the new Ford tarus SHO, drivers can be programmed and parents can limit top speed and music volume for their kids. now thats a good step by ford imo

[transmaro93]

look at the new Ford tarus SHO, drivers can be programmed and parents can limit top speed and music volume for their kids. now thats a good step by ford imo

i agree... leave the responsibility to the parents...

[12secondv6]

I'm not sure about different levels...... but I do feel that people should have to take recertifications.

September 2008 - a late 20's/ early thirties woman hit me at 40 mph - she wasn't looking.

June 2009 - a mid 50's man t boned me - he wasn't looking.

Both accidents have permanently affected me for the rest of my life (spinal injuries).

While I do feel younger drivers are reckless.... stupidity affects all drivers - no matter what their age.

[fmybody]

look at the new Ford tarus SHO, drivers can be programmed and parents can limit top speed and music volume for their kids. now thats a good step by ford imo

interesting.

and you dont drive a 400 hp car any different than a 120 hp car.. not on a driving course anyways.. so i dont see how it would make a difference. its a gas pedal and a brake pedal and maybe a clutch ohh and a steering wheel .. they all work the same way in all cars.. so im still not seeing how it would differ... maybe in a truck because its larger in size? or higher up.. but a civic to a vette? like on a drivers course it would be the same thing.. ur not flooring during a driving test..

[Mike]

one thing... a gto is a "passenger car" a g8 is a "passenger car", etc. what criteria would you use to differentiate a "performance" car from a "passenger" car?

[Squirrel]

No.

+ 1

[BonzoHansen]

This: "You can go fast enough to kill people and do stupid things in pretty much any vehicle"

Extra fail on the basis you cannot determine what a 'performance car' is. Look how many of you guys go around inspection now. Then there is the cost.


I like graduated license program they have now. I think they should retest drivers every 10 years and every 5 from age 65+

[Knipps]

Like most everyone else said, NO. Not to mention this would also affect the jobs people can have depending on their license.

[B4C]

i noticed that teens, atleast in my school, that owned passenger cars were worse than those who drove performance cars.. really depends on the person though IMO

Agree to a point :lol: The people who tend to lack common sense tend to lack it in all areas...so that includes behind the wheel.

[sweetbmxrider]

europe and other countries give you a special sticker to put on your car/vest (motorcycle rider) to let everyone around know you suck at life.

can't stop the inevitable....

[z28rob18]

its a terrible idea. your sayin that since some kids cant handle sports cars all kids shouldnt be allowed to drive them? thats retarded

[creeper]

i'm 19 and i'm a hell of a lot better of a driver than most people on the road. i can't count the number of accidents i've avoided that were almost caused because of other peoples' carelessness and poor judgment.

parents really just need to do more. if your kid is an idiot, don't let them get a fast car. if they're irresponsible, make them pay for the insurance. if they do something dangerous, take the car away. you can't blame it all on the parents, but they can definitely do more. seems like most parents who give their kids brand new sporty cars can't tell their children "no". you can't penalize all teenage drivers for a few peoples' mistakes.

[T69SS]

I like graduated license program they have now. I think they should retest drivers every 10 years and every 5 from age 65+

I agree completely. The fact that some drivers on the road today passed their basic driving test over 50 years ago is crazy! A mandatory re-test every now and then would benefit everyone on the road.

[12secondv6]

I agree completely. The fact that some drivers on the road today passed their basic driving test over 50 years ago is crazy! A mandatory re-test every now and then would benefit everyone on the road.

Yup, agreed.

I would have no complaints if I had to recertify every 10 years and pay for it. Good way to make the state some money.... and great way to get idiots off the road.... and greater way to save in auto insurance.

[Mike]

why not go a step further...

17-18, current graduated license program
18-25, regular license, retest at 25 (this one is shorter due to young driver, and to get on even schedule)
25-35, regular license, retest at 35
35-45, regular license, retest at 45
etc
once the driver hits 65, go back to 5 year intervals.

UNLESS

a driver at any age has a moving violation or at fault accident. then they automatically get put into the 5 year bracket (maybe for the next 10 years, that way they retest 3 times in 10 years)

could work well i think... will keep the dumbasses in dmv, and might make people that drive stupid just for the hell of it from wanting to get into the 5 year program

[NastyEllEssWon]

sounds lke that would work

[Knipps]

Mike, I like your idea but we all know someone somewhere would have a problem with it and there would be a bunch of loopholes, exceptions, and other legal jargon thrown in too. Gotta love politicians

[sweetbmxrider]

if you drive stupid for long enough, it catches up. you could also turn around and limit driving times. people with either violations or certain age/retest fails/whatever can only drive 8am-8pm or after dawn-before dusk or any number of fun things.

[CHRIS67]

I think it would be cool to have different classes of licences based upon a test and safe driving history. One residential and roads under 50 and a second class for highways. Might keep the poor drivers out of high speed situations. Easy to spot with a diferent colored plate. At least you would know who to keep your distance and keep the bad drivers from doing 60 in the fast lane. :nod:

[Knipps]

I think it would be cool to have different classes of licences based upon a test and safe driving history. One residential and roads under 50 and a second class for highways. Might keep the poor drivers out of high speed situations. Easy to spot with a diferent colored plate. At least you would know who to keep your distance and keep the bad drivers from doing 60 in the fast lane. :nod:

if Junior just borrows someone's car, he's not going to have his own set of license plates
I know I'm still not even listed as the "owner" of my car for financial/insurance reasons.

[CHRIS67]

There goes my idea. :rofl:

[T69SS]

There goes my idea. :rofl:

Thats the only problem with different classes of licenses and even coded plates (which was a good idea), it would be next to impossible to fully enforce and tons of loopholes would develop.

[Whiplash Performance]

Most of the kid that drive recklessly around here drive Honda Civics.

[sweetbmxrider]

I think it would be cool to have different classes of licences based upon a test and safe driving history. One residential and roads under 50 and a second class for highways. Might keep the poor drivers out of high speed situations. Easy to spot with a diferent colored plate. At least you would know who to keep your distance and keep the bad drivers from doing 60 in the fast lane. :nod:

actually, thats how it was in ireland. the big highway, pretty much like the gsp, the certain lesser experienced drivers were not permitted on them. there was a symbol on their car or on the orange vest of the motorcylers. that is a great law, make motorcycle guys wear a brightly colored vest. they always complain people don't see them, that would help some.

as for the loopholes/not in your name situation, you get caught, you pay. its like the hours restrictions on graduated drivers license or whatever it is. when they catch you driving when you shouldn't or if there are too many people in the car, you pay.

[79CamaroDiva]

Make the written drivers test harder than what it is now. probably 50% of people can pass it without ever reading the book, and the other 50% can usually pass it without much more than a read through of the questions they missed. If its harder and based on real life situations and common sense, the idiots wont be driving in the first place.

[Featherburner]

Yup, agreed.

I would have no complaints if I had to recertify every 10 years and pay for it. Good way to make the state some money.... and great way to get idiots off the road.... and greater way to save in auto insurance.Good idea in theory but, who's to say they will catch the "idiots"? Look at who they give a license to now.

[Knipps]

While license plates isn't the best idea I know other countries have signs provisional drivers have to put in the window, it notifies both the police and the cars around them. But again, it can be "skipped" but should come with a price

[1QWIKBIRD]

You can't legislate safety with endorsements on a license. There are already too many laws that don't get enforced. Quit letting people dumb down the offenses in court and plead to non moving violations. Make people accountable for their actions. Once the insurance bill comes or the license is suspended maybe people will wise up. And if they don't wiseup at least they won't be on the road (legally anyway).

Retesting is a good idea. And the whole drive school thing to get points rubbed out, that should culminate with a driver retest, either written or field or both. No pass, no points rubbed out.

[HeadlessNorseman]

I do agree with the overall sentiment but i am also very pro-freedom. Its a tough argument because driving is NOT a right, and therefor fundamentals of freedom technically dont apply... But, Its also not fair to punish the strong for the mistakes of the weak(or so to speak)

Edit: also agree with retesting. Police have to test for their weapons...A car is just as or even more deadly

Edit Edit: Im also a fan of making the license test much harder in general. Nothing extreme but something that definitely proves you are a competent driver and can properly manuever and stop different types of vehicles at highway speeds

[Frosty]

How about making the driving test itself harder, screw the written test. A dumb****, retarded monkey could pass that(yet, ironically I know people that have failed it multiple times). How about making the "driving" part more than a quick drive around the block, into the parking lot for a parallel parking job? Take someone out on Rt130 or 295...now THAT is driving.

[NastyEllEssWon]

lol my driving test was around a little shanty town course at bakers basin :lol:

[sweetbmxrider]

iceland has a bad ass driving test

[BonzoHansen]

How about making the driving test itself harder, screw the written test. A dumb****, retarded monkey could pass that(yet, ironically I know people that have failed it multiple times). How about making the "driving" part more than a quick drive around the block, into the parking lot for a parallel parking job? Take someone out on Rt130 or 295...now THAT is driving.

IIRC the written test has too much stupid in it, like fines & non-driving facts, and not enough driving related questions. they might have changed it since the old days. lol

[Frosty]

I took my test in '98 when I was 18(yeah I waited, didn't feel I was ready at 16 and half) so I'm sure it has changed since then.

[Anti_Rice_Guy]

IIRC the written test has too much stupid in it, like fines & non-driving facts, and not enough driving related questions. they might have changed it since the old days. lol

Without a doubt. I took it 5 years ago and I had Form "c" and it was close to half of just fines/punishments (i.e. jail time, points).

[Knipps]

The written exam has things like how far must you park from a stop sign/fire hydrant etc. but I'll admit @ 21, I don't remember any of them

[Savage_Messiah]

The written exam has things like how far must you park from a stop sign/fire hydrant etc. but I'll admit @ 21, I don't remember any of them

Nobody does, that's why they put up signs and paint the curbs...

[Knipps]

Not always