4 million miles and no accidents

[Q45tech]

Fox has a story about the best truck driver in US:

"Stay focused and vigilent and DON"T LOWER yourself to the standards of the idiots on the road. Don't drink or eat or smoke behind the wheel, no cell phones and only listen to soft classical music at a medium volume." paraphrased.

I have another idea remove the mirrors/lights in vanity visor.Make all passengers sit in back with mouth shut.........children in trunk sedated.

Raise driving age to 21.Anyone with an fault accident goes to jail [community service] for 30 days hard labor.........single car accidents the same if they survive the tree.

4,563,000 auto accident cases requiring emergency room visits in 2000 (CDC) Deaths from Automobile accidents injury: 42,443 deaths in USA 2001 (CDC).In the United States, the automobile had cost its first million dead by 1952, its second million by 1975, and the third million is likely by 1994. Along the say, some 90 million Americans have sustained disabling injuries in auto accidents. In all, the more than 2.5 million Americans who have died violent deaths on our highways represent more than four times the 641,691 Americans killed in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam combined. . . . The 1.8 million American who sustained disabling injuries in traffic accidents during 1987 alone represents more than a half-million more injuries than the number sustained by Americans in all 20th-century wars. . . .http://www.publictransit.us/in...id=14

Makes being a soldier in Iraq look very very safe compared to driving in US.

[AZhitman]

I have another idea remove the mirrors/lights in vanity visor.Make all passengers sit in back with mouth shut.........children in trunk sedated.

Raise driving age to 21.Anyone with an fault accident goes to jail [community service] for 30 days hard labor.........single car accidents the same if they survive the tree.

You gotta love Dennis...

[Q45tech]

After all a single car accident means improper equipment [tires, brakes, mods etc] or reckless driving .........to fast for conditions. Or just buying the wrong SUV with the wrong tires........some kind of negligence.

Of course wrecks are Darwins way of helping control population........where would we put all those that don't die each year.........cemetaries and funeral homes might go bankrupt, poor casket makers and those who are employed digging holes, florists, etc. 45,000 x $10,000= ~ $5 Billion per year in lost associated wages.

Emergency rooms could close early..............or have more room for gun and knifing victims plus all those special fentanyl laced heroin over doses.

[elwesso]

I did definitely chuckle a little bit... i can see it now, someone pulls one of our Q owners, the kid is in the trunk knocked out, 2 passengers in the back seat (no one shotgun) with tape over their mouth... Officer is obviously stunned, the car owner simply says "Q45tech said so!!!"

Anyway, im glad that most states are getting better about cracking down on cell phone use... I dont mind it so much with hands free, that doesnt bother me... Ive seen people chowing down on a big-mac AND talking on the cell phone... the japanese and the germans had it right.. Dont even put cup holders in the car, if you wanna eat stop for 10 mins and have at it... but dont do it when your moving!

I think that people need to pass a better driving test to get their license. hell you dont really even need to speak english to do it... They should be required to do a standardish auto-X course in a certain amount of time... or something like that... The written test is all common sense, so i dont really see the use in changing that..... Theres no use to memorize a bunch of crap...

[FarFetched]

Behold of myriad of standard cupholders, sunvisors with mirrors cell phones and other gizmos!. The place I work, drivers( I don't drive) have monthly (mendatory-if-missed-points removed-BAD) safety meetings. I've watched couple of tapes. I'll say some of the vidoes (our busses equipeed with on-board cameras) you'll never see on any kind of TV program, so graphic beyond imagination.IMHO: all the stop-right-turn-allowed should be outlawed once and for all. It will alone reduce accidents by 20-30%. Look in Europe, if you make right turn on red and Policai sees your a$$ doing it - big trouble!Cops are too soft here. We need good old 60-70th with "NAZI POLICAI" Too much so-called "freedom" we have here. Cheers!

[FarFetched]

Quote »I think that people need to pass a better driving test to get their license[/quote]Hell, when I was 21 (back in Russia) I've bought my licence for 150$. However, it didn't mean I drove like a drunk or stupid. I obeyed all the rules and was polite with Policai. Always carried 5-10$ to get freed from one if cought off guard So. IMHO it doesn't matter when and how you pass your test for driver's licence, it is your blood to be responsible!Too many people HAVE to drive because they cannot afford to live close to work. Just my 0.02$ Cheers!

[Q45tech]

Years ago to get a drivers license in South America, I had to memorize 50 questions and answers in Spanish. No special English test was available although there was a version in German......can you guess which country this was.

[hannibal]

Suriname???

Those numbers are a shock to me. Almost 2 million disabling injuries from car accidents in 1987. Thats almost 1% of the population.

I definitely agree with raising the driving age. I remember some legislation was introduced in GA after tons of kids died in accidents over a summer. But they never changed it. And you should have to pay for a license so kids (and parents) would realize driving is a privilege that comes with risks.

[szh]

Years ago to get a drivers license in South America, I had to memorize 50 questions and answers in Spanish. No special English test was available although there was a version in German......can you guess which country this was.

Argentina?

Z

[maxnix]

No special English test was available although there was a version in German......can you guess which country this was.

Don't hide from me Argentina.

[Rex]

... realize driving is a privilege that comes with risks.

A M E N

[Jesda]

Unimpressive.

A truck driver spends most of his time on the highway, where FAR fewer accidents occur.In addition, truck drivers are trained professionals, a vastly different kind of driver from a neighborhood cell phone chatting soccer mom.

I say keep the driving age at 15/16 while increasing probationary periods and training. Inexperienced 21 year olds with new licenses? No thanks. That just makes for less experienced 25 year olds.

[maxnix]

I agree with Wes and Jesda. Some of the worst drivers were the ones who learned during the mid 70's speed restrictions (55 mph). They had no idea what to do at higher speeds that later became prevalent.

Legal training is good, and certainly should be required. But without a familiarity of dynamics at the edge of the envelope, emergency situations are almost always severe or fatal in their result. Current driver training at vehicle dynamic extremes is like current sex education - just don't do it. Both fail.

[AZhitman]

[hannibal]

I say keep the driving age at 15/16 while increasing probationary periods and training. Inexperienced 21 year olds with new licenses? No thanks. That just makes for less experienced 25 year olds.

Good point...

[szh]

I say keep the driving age at 15/16 while increasing probationary periods and training. Inexperienced 21 year olds with new licenses? No thanks. That just makes for less experienced 25 year olds.

A very good point ...

Z