Page 1 of 1

Different License Classes based on vehicle mass/power

PostPosted: Apr 4, 2006 @ 1:42am
by James S
I've had this idea in my head for a while that there should be several different classes of licenses, these licenses classes ranked by vehicle weight and power, and in order to purchase a car of a certain weight and/or power one must be certified for this class vehicle by taking a proof of competency test at your DMV. So in order for someone to buy a 5000 pound Hummer or a 400 hp Corvette, one must take a state instituted test in a car of that class in order to be certified to drive that class vehicle.

Discuss. Pro's, con's? What affect would this have on a person's personal freedom and liberty? I see none, since the test would be open to all that desire to pay the fee to take it. Affect on traffic? Would people that want an SUV actually learn to effectively drive one, or would they just go buy a Honda Fit or VW Polo instead?

What's your opinion?

PostPosted: Apr 4, 2006 @ 3:01am
by chuck

PostPosted: Apr 4, 2006 @ 3:56am
by damian

PostPosted: Apr 4, 2006 @ 11:10am
by David Horn
Are American tests still much the same as "drive around the corner - there you go, have your license?"

A lot of people in the UK want our test difficulty increased, but I think they're holding it at an average 40% pass-first-time level.

PostPosted: Apr 4, 2006 @ 7:28pm
by James S

PostPosted: Apr 4, 2006 @ 8:21pm
by Presto

PostPosted: Apr 5, 2006 @ 3:40am
by James S

PostPosted: Apr 5, 2006 @ 3:57am
by damian

PostPosted: Apr 5, 2006 @ 4:24am
by James S

PostPosted: Apr 5, 2006 @ 2:15pm
by chuck
Yes, but driving is still a privilege, not a right.

PostPosted: Apr 5, 2006 @ 2:30pm
by gamefreaks
I question what the point of doing that would be.

In the UK, young drivers are stopped from driving poweful cars as you can't insure them. You are effectily priced out of the market.

PostPosted: Apr 5, 2006 @ 4:26pm
by David Horn

PostPosted: Apr 6, 2006 @ 1:52am
by James S

PostPosted: Apr 6, 2006 @ 5:18am
by damian
Come to think of it, I think it's much more of a control thing, of knowing your SUV's limitations and not rolling it over, etc. How can an exam test that? I mean, all you do is drive slowly (assuming you're in a real state, of course, and actually take a test) and carefully. How does that translate to knowing not to go 60 in the snow or swerving violently? Until their limits are reached, SUVs don't drive that much differently than cars do.

PostPosted: Apr 6, 2006 @ 7:16pm
by James S