I'm new to the Triumphs mailbox, so if this has been discussed before
lemme know:
I agree with Mr. Petrolati 110%! At 16 I was immortal. The only reason
I survived past 20 to write this email was dumb luck. I desperately
needed to know what my limits were and what the results of my "speed
experiments" could be before I killed myself or someone else.
And now for a favorite rant of mine :-) - I think this kind of
training should be extended, in some form, to anyone who gets a
license. Every day we see evidence that people who have been driving
for years, and think they know what they're doing, don't even know the
basics like how to enter and exit a freeway. I don't know how many
times I've seen, and been stuck behind, people entering freeways at 35
mph or even stopping on entrance ramps to wait for an opportunity to
enter the traffic stream. I'm sure we all could give many examples of
behavior that is obstructive and dangerous and caused mainly by many
driver's ignorance of how to fit into a traffic stream and what their
vehicles are capable of.
We need to wake American drivers up when they're driving. I've driven
in a number of other countries and while they may drive faster and
often more recklessly, at least drivers in other countries seem to pay
more attention to what they're doing. Yeah yeah I know it varies a lot
from country to country, but the spaceyness of American drivers makes
me crazy sometimes!
And I also think we in this country should go to a system like that
used in many other countries where the left lane is **clearly and
explcitly** reserved for those who wish to go fast and drivers in that
lane are obligated to get out of the way of faster traffic. The
current "system" we have is a mess and results in many stupid,
dangerous and unnecessary situations being created by those who think
they can just putt-putt along anywhere on the road at any speed they
choose.
End of rant.
jims@autodesk.com
74 TR6
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: re:Re: driving tests, speed limits, etc
Author: Gregory Petrolati <gpetrola@prairienet.org> at smtpcc
Date: 5/8/96 10:29 AM
On Tue, 7 May 1996, Joseph M. Kramlinger wrote:
>
> This is NOT intended as a flame! :-)
> for my gas, and chip in for kegs at weekend parties. Had I not had a
> car, I would have been stuck riding a bicycle to dates, and public
> transportation simply isn't everywhere.
> Teens, as stupid some of them may be, need to have access to cars and
> licenses.
I agree 100%. Having said that I will reiterate the point that I
made a couple weeks back. Since you can't stop the hormones, educate
the brain. Give them a fighting chance by giving them PERFORMANCE
DRIVING LESSONS. Drivers Ed. today, for all the good it does, is the
equivalent of a slide show and a few weekends with dad.
Contract with Bondurant, Bertil Roos or even the local SCCA chapter.
Let them learn what it feels like to go into a skid and correct it.
Let them learn about proper braking. Let them learn about a
vehicle's limits by driving at the limits... in a safe environment
where the only thing hurt will be a little pride. Oh yes, while
you've got these young people as an audience, teach them about cars
in general. So they are not at the mercy of people fobbing off unsafe
used vehicles, or (the scum of the earth) dishonest repair shops.
Then to steal a great idea from a fellow SOL, Make them work a few
weekends in an ER as a living example of what happens when you don't
use your head behind the wheel.
Of course there will be those who ignore everything... That's
Mother Nature's way of thinning the herd of the weak and stupid...
My opinion... Flame away!!!
Greg Petrolati
gpetrola@prairienet.org 1962 TR4 (CT4852L)
"That's not a leak... My car is just marking its territory!"
Greg Petrolati, Champaign, Illinois
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