Quote:
Originally Posted by Superman
In Europe, drivers and vehicles are required to meet certain performance and capability requirements. In order to obtain a driver's license in most European countries, you must first demonstrate you can safely operate a motor vehicle, and you must be well-versed in the legal and practical details of motoring.
In America, if you're seventeen years old and you have about $30, you can be driving by the end of the day. Virtually no requirement to demonstrate proficiency. You can, as we all know, be blissfully ignorant of traffic laws and still maintain a driver's license. I think this is a problem. Of course, the car companies and the oil companies don't see a problem, but I do. And since the oil companies and car companies are basically in charge here, I think we can forget about proficiency testing.
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100% agreed.
However, do you HONESTLY think this is ever going to change?
Too many people make way too much money getting (and keeping) people dependent on cars. Car manufacturers, car dealerships, insurers, banks/financiers, parts manufacturers, the oil/gas companies (obviously), etc.
Enough politicians are in the back pockets of one/more of these "big money" players such that meaningful change will never occur. Add to the mix the deliberate and systematic killing of appropriations for decent public transit and you get exactly what you describe - a society that will dole out licenses to any buffoon who can fog a mirror. Because there's too much $$$ at stake to deny them.
Governments make way too much off this too. They LOVE IT when people buy cars - particularly new cars. With high taxes and fees associated with them.
Everyone wins when people drive - except the drivers.