When my child turns 16, I'm going to find him an old Ford LTD Crown Vic. I'll put a 4 cyl 2.3 liter Pinto motor in it and remove the back seat!

This should be a great learning car. 3,800 lbs; 110 hp and he can only take one passenger!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Colombino
[B]Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!?!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Allan Haggai
[B]When my child turns 16, I'm going to find him an old Ford LTD Crown Vic.

 

I like the dry wit of this. Of course, it's not bloody likely that 16-year-old US drivers are better than German 18-year-olds, given the differences in training and age.

Fortunately, there are VERY few 16-year-olds running around US roads with S2000s or other equally powerful cars. But ursuppe is right to point out that the government doesn't prevent this, only the good sense of parents (an uncertain and variable thing at best).

Of course, the US government doesn't regulate drivers' licenses at all. This is done by the 50 individual state governments, so age and training requirements vary all over the place. But no state requires training like the Germans get, and I think the highest age requirement is 17. IMO, it's a national disgrace, especially in light of 40,000 highway deaths per year. (Consider that number relative to the 9/11 death toll...)

A few side notes:

-- I bought a 325i and picked it up in Munich a few years ago. I flat-out LOVED the Autobahn. Everyone kept strict lane discipline and watched their mirrors, and the contrast to the US in terms of driver skill could not have been clearer. I was only sorry that break-in requirements of the car limited it to 90 mph. At this speed I was often passed by 911s and S-Class Panzers at delta-V's that made me feel like I was parked by the side of the road.

-- At least US speed limits on rural interstates are now up to 70 mph, and on most of these roads the median speeds are 75 or 80. But it's still nothing like the Autobahn, and with the way people drive here I wouldn't want it to be.

 

"In the AF we trust 18 year old kids with everything from handling M-16's, to working on those jet engines I talked about earlier. They have lives in their hands everyday."

Colombino, the difference between the young guys in the AF and 16 year old kids on US highways is TRAINING! U.S. driver training sucks! My home state (NC) has graduated licenses; that's a start but we have a loooong way to go.

Chris D... you are showing your age bud (or perhaps your wisdom for not seeing a National Lampoon movie)! That Pearl Harbor quote was from the movie "Animal House".

 

Allan Haggai I agree that driver training in the US is pretty bad, but it doesn't take long to get good at it. I'd say six months to a year at most and you are capable of being a very average driver. So maybe it is a good idea that while you're on your permit you drive a good 'training' vehicle like a low hp sedan.

The whole point though is that a young person is capable of being responsible. Just because you own a 240hp car doesn't mean you get to drive like Mark Martin. That goes for drivers of all ages. At 16 I don't know that anyone here didn't know that. No training required.

 

Back when I was in college I thought it would be a great idea to increase the driving age to 18. This would cut back on costs for the schools. They wouldn't need a large parking lot, security. This would also reduce insuranace risks for young drivers. Great idea eh? Well, I seriously doubt it will happen. We'll see 14 and 15 year olds drive before we see it increase. The 16-18 year old range is too profitable for traffic tickets and insurance rates, and not to mention how are the working 16 year olds going to get to work when they have children to feed and support?

I think the largest reason for having such a lousey testing in the states is due to the lack of public transportation in most areas.

 

quote:
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Originally posted by Colombino
Just because you are young doesn't mean you are automatically stupid.
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Just not educated or wise.. Go find your history book..



cdelena, Young people may not have the experiences of 30+ years of life, but that does not mean they are uneducated. Plus, most uneducated kids in this country could only get their hands on an S2000 if they stole one. It is highly unlikely that a family with the money to buy their kid an s2000 would not bother to educate them. He or she may not be a smart kid, but that's a different matter. Also, any young person who is capable of buying an S2000 on their own is most definitely not uneducated and possibly more intelligent and resourceful than I may ever be.

As to the history book you were referring to, it wouldn't happen to be the one about Alexander the Great would it? I may be a year or two off, but what was he 12 when he took the throne, 16 when he had conquered much of the known world.

 

For comparison, I spent ~5 hours in classes, plus 7 hours of driving instruction, and got my license on my 16th bday. 25 multiple-choice questions (sign recognition), no road test.

It depends on the state; most have a max of 65mph on highways, though a few allow 70 or 75 now.

The real problem in the US (with the exception of NYC), has completely useless public transportation. If we were structured anything like Europe, we could have the same driving requirements.

TXR

 

quote:
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Originally posted by Colombino
Did we give up when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor!?! HELL NO!!

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Ever see Animal House?