Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Require Driving School? Yes or No?

[clyderomero (clyderomero]

No one out there wants to admit they can't drive,ride or F*ck
with airplanes its worse since they tend to take family members with them
Sad but true
When you are talking about that type of money
They don't want to hear it!
All you can hope for is that they take themselves out and end the DNA chain!
We are too much into personal freedoms at others expense
In other words come save me in spite of my short commings

My 2 cents

Clyde
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Lindsay <rolindsay [at] yahoo.com>

Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:29:10 
To: clyde<clyderomero [at] worldnet.att.net>
Cc: The FerrariList<ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Require Driving School? Yes or No?


Mr. Galletta, P.E. wrote;

> Great topic....surprised this hasn't come up before.

   Same here.  Opinions will fly on this one and I'm glad to see some already 
surfacing.

> I think either a special upgraded license could be sought, or maybe
> some kind of "test" given either by the manufacturer or some
> sanctioned racing group. Somehow, someway there would need to be 
> evidence that the driver is "minimally competent" at certain driving 
> exercises.

   We have this.  Its called a 'driver's license'.  The system just doesn't 
work.  When I lived in New Orleans, I knew kids who's fathers brought their 
licenses home to them!  The kid then just went in to have a picture taken.  No 
test, no experience, nothing - except connections.  Then again, New Orleans is 
not on this planet so the example it rhetorical, at best.

> I use the term "minimally competent" because that's the term licensing
> boards use to judge whether those who pass licensing exams in
> engineering (and I'm assuming medicine, legal, as well etc.) are good 
> enough to a degree to merit being a practitioner of that profession. 

   True.  As my wife says, "Do you know what they call the medical school 
graduate with the lowest GPA?"  Answer:  Doctor.

> So if you pass the exam, you are minimally competent, but by no means 
> are you necessarily a full fledged authority who can do no wrong. ;)

   True.  We should all remember those words, "minimally competent".

> If you made it too hard in either case, you won't get any
> practitioners of these professions, and on the automotive side, no 
> exotics could be sold.

   By 'it' I assume you're talking about a driving test, right?  I don't see 
where the second part fits.  People drive exotics without insurance and after 
their licenses have been revolked.  For example, that dickhead musician who 
just got arrested in a rented Lambo, because he couldn't stop beating his 
girlfriend long enough to drive.

> I've always pushed for the US to have a driver's licensing program
> as stringent as that of Germany but it just seems like that will never 
> fly in this country because it would infringe on the freedoms of so 
> many, lol. If anything, maybe a "super license" could be created.

   I would advocate for a license with various levels of restrictions.  The 
highest levels might offer the most privledges.  The lowest licenses might be 
restricted to driving automatics with speed governers, for example.  That's 
kind like the restrictions placed on learner's permits.  
   My license says that I am not allowed to drive without my glasses on.  My 
wife's license says she can drive anything with four wheels but she could get a 
car with a manual gearbox out of the driveway!  Its legal for her to try though.

> I could have sworn I thought I heard that Chevrolet was supposed to 
> require attendance of a high performance driving school for those who 
> buy the new ZR1? If you can't require the skills outright, then at
> least attending the class is making some progress.

   Great way to sell cars.  Tell the new owners that they are elite and 
special. That's what new Corvette owners want to hear.

> Make it required, and part of the cost of the car. There, problem
> solved for now. :)

   BMW has something like that, although not required.  They do sponsor driving 
schools though.

>
> FG

   Then again, I want the drivers around me to be competent to the level where 
they are not a threat to MY life or hardware.  Do I care if a dumb-ass athlete 
goes out and wraps an Enzo around a power pole?  No, so long as I 'm not up the 
pole at the time.  The thing that is DOES influence is insurance costs.  When 
said dumb-ass files his claim and sues because the pole "is in a dangerous 
place" we all have to pay.

   And I am absolutely NOT a socialist.  I would recommend the opportunity to 
learn, perhaps even if state sponsored, but I wouldn't require licensing beyond 
Fellippe's minimal competency concept.  Let's just make sure that we define 
'minimum competency' before we start testing.  If not, the 'greenies' or 
'global warming chicken littles' will get into the act and muck it up for all 
of us.

   What I would support is periodic re-testing.  You can't take an old person's 
license just because he's old.  You have to wait until he drives through the 
front doors of the WalMart (and sues because of unsafe door placement).   My 
father-in-law is in his 80s and still drives.  He can't see, he can't hear and 
he can't turn his head more than about 30 degrees.  When he drives, his 80s-age 
wife has to tell him when to go and when to stop.  He is VERY dangerous, IMHO, 
but he is still legal to drive.

   Why re-testing?  Because technology changes.  Laws change.  Traffic changes. 
  We change.  And overall driving styles change.  And the only reason I say 
re-testing for all is because re-testing beyond a specified age would get you a 
discrimination lawsuit faster than you can say 'ambulance chaser'!

   Okay guys, there are some topics to discuss.  Have at it.

   And DAMN, I wish the F1 season would start!

rick

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