I think it was Brock Yates who advocated a two-tier driver's license system several decades ago. The idea is that there would be a special license for advanced drivers who could pass an especially rigorous driving test that would evaluate thier ability to handle a car in high speed situations. Drivers with this license would not be restricted to posted speed limits on limited access highways and other roads where high speed would not pose a danger to pedestrians and the like. Their cars would also have to be approved as suitable for performance/high speed driving and handling.

What do you think? I think most of us are candidates for this license

 

I think you could be asking for trouble. I think it would be much too easy for a poorly prepared and skilled driver to get the top tier license. I think you would get a lot of unqualified high speed drivers on the road.

I also think traffic law enforcement would become a nightmare. How would a police officer determine if you're speeding or qualified to speed? The only way to avoid this would be with the construction of special "high performance lanes". Who would be willing to pay for that?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Rick Hesel
.....The idea is that there would be a special license for advanced drivers who could pass an especially rigorous driving test that would evaluate thier ability to handle a car in high speed situations.

 

Even though I think Yates is more of a hot-air machine than even yours truly - I love this idea!

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by paS2K

There already IS this system in Germany, and probably other EU countries. They just skipped the lower tier It's hard to pass the exam to get a license and those who do....seem to know how to

 

I'm all in favor of a two tiered system with AARP members being forced to retest before being allowed to renew their licenses.

 

Well it may be a pleasant thought, but I would say that the probability of this actually happening, on a scale of 1 to 10, is about -8. The opposition from almost every front would be overwhelming, for both irrational and rational reasons. Nothing to prevent an absent-minded driver on a cell phone from swerving into your lane as you passed at high speed. No way to tell a tier 1 driver from a tier 2 driver without stopping the car and checking the driver's license. No way to tell if a tier 2 car was actually in shape for high speed driving - brakes good, alignment good, etc.

If your going to wish for a better opportunity to drive at speed, wish for a proliferation of inexpensive "racing country clubs" that offer a racetrack to their members rather than a golf course.

 

Ah, who needs it anyway. I certainly drive like I have a license on another tier, although I can't seem to persuade the cops who stop me for speeding that that's the case

 

The other issue...does being able to drive fast equate to being able to drive well...?