Restrictions take effect for new drivers Jan. 1

WTNH Television ^ | 12/24/03 | Puppage

[BraveMan]

Will they actually do anything in Connecticut? Time will tell . . .

Has it lessened the number of teenage injuries & fatalities in Wisconsin? The data strongly supports that conclusion.

Then again, the data also makes a strong case for mandating helmet use in Wisconsin . . . for Automobile drivers!

I personally would prefer a more pragmatic approach to driver education. Specifically, drop the PC out of driver education and bring back the death and gore movies, like Red Asphalt and Blood On The Highway. Make them required viewing. Take students to the morgue and let them see firsthand the aftermath of accidents. Show students the reality behind careless driving.

[Puppage]

I personally would prefer a more pragmatic approach to driver education

I couldn't agree more with you.

[raybbr]

You are not presenting any facts just vitriol. I also noticed that you did not respond to the eventual extrapolation of your case.

Were you not able to get your license at 16? Is this the reason for your lack of objectivity in this issue?

[ContraryMary]

We're not taking away the kids' driving privileges. You can't equate it to gun control. It's a common sense measure that will have a positive effect. Because it's not a complete cure-all doesn't mean that it can't have some effect.

[Puppage]

Is this the reason for your lack of objectivity in this issue?

To the contrary...I am extremely objective. I see no reason to apply restricitons on people for the false sense of security/safety, whatever. No matter what the issue.

Why are you keen on forfeiting your liberties for an unproven sense of security? That's crazy. It is the Statue of Liberty, not the Statue of Safety.

[Puppage]

It's a common sense measure

Oh, I see. So, everytime you take away a liberty it's "common sense", is that it? JUST LIKE the fallacy that is gun control. No fact, just feeling...aka "common sense".

[mewzilla]

FWIW, graduated licensing works. Check out the states that have implemented it and look at the changes in accident stats. FL is a good example.

[Agamemnon]

It's obvious that you're upset about this issue; I just still have no idea why.

Well Bob, could it possibly be that this asinine law doesn't affect you, who happen to live in California, where Puppage and I live in CT and have to put up with the road nannies?

BTW, I have a son who will be learning to drive next year. This law will accomplish NOTHING for the promotion of safety! It will just give the road nazis around here just another stupid excuse to pull my son or me over.

[raybbr]

I see no reason to apply restricitons on people for the false sense of security/safety, whatever.

So, you do advocate allowing children of all ages to drive.

You are ignoring information and data that support this law. There is no logic in your arguement. Just your "feeling" that you so vehemently decry.

[Bob]

This law will accomplish NOTHING for the promotion of safety!

The links provided in this thread indicate otherwise. Have you followed any of them?

[freedumb2003]

Monotonously repeating that it's a FEEL GOOD LAW (regardless of any bolding, italics, and even font size) isn't an answer

I can understand the limited effect of bolding and italics -- but font size doesn't work? Now I have to totally rethink my FR debate strategy!

Why didn't anyone tell me?

[mollynme]

Were you not able to get your license at 16?

You're assuming that he has actually reached that age, are you? LOL

[meyer]

16 and 17 year old kids need to learn how to drive without the temptation of speeding, racing and other dangerous acts without the skills needed to perform them. Lets also include the temptation of having a few beers at the same time.After what I did behind the wheel 35 years ago as a kid I think it may be a good law.

Based on my youthful experience, I was more apt to race when there was nobody in the car but me. Why? Because adding the weight of passingers to the that of the vehicle doesn't help you win the race.

This is a silly law. It puts the government in the position of doing a parent's job. It leans towards the idea of dummying down the actions of all teens to that of the lowest denominator. It does nothing to reduce the activities that it purports to reduce, but it will add vehicles to the road. Instead of 2 young couples going to the prom together in one car, there will be 2 couples going in two cars. They may even race. :)

[eastforker]

Sorry but IMHO 16 and 17 year olds probably need to be chaperoned to the prom anyway. Heck around here they rent limo's for the prom.

[BraveMan]

It puts the government in the position of doing a parent's job.

LOL! Your parents should give you a speeding ticket then . . .

[meyer]

Sorry but IMHO 16 and 17 year olds probably need to be chaperoned to the prom anyway. Heck around here they rent limo's for the prom.

Sometimes, I wonder if they shouldn't be locked in their bedrooms until 30. :) But seriously, in my day, about half of us had a car if that. It wasn't a particularly nice car (except for the few spoiled brats whose parents bought them one), but it had wheels and got us to our destination. We drove ourselves to the prom, and wherever else we wanted to go. Some got to use their father's car for that "special night".

Limo's are a relatively new thing as far as proms go, perhaps becoming popular over the last 10-12 years or so. It wasn't even on the radar screen during my youth.

I'm really not against parents making this restriction on their own kids, but this law puts the government in place as a surrogate parent and usurps that parental responsibility. And, I really don't think it will be very effective on the problems that it purports to solve.

Or maybe kids aren't as smart as they used to be - we always raced alone, with all of our passengers lined up at the start line to see the spectacle. Of course, there would be 50-100 cars at the racing site each Saturday night. People even brought their families to the event.

[Bob]

And, I really don't think it will be very effective on the problems that it purports to solve.

Graduated licensing has been shown to work. Several states use it in various forms. Follow any of the links on this thread and you'll find a great deal of information that illustrates this.

[hosepipe]

Giving money and power to Government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -- P.J. O'Rourke

[raybbr]

It started to dawn on me that this may affect him more than I originally thought. Probably 15 1/2 and now he has so wait longer to party with his "buds".

[raybbr]

it puts the government in the position of doing a parent's job.

Huh? I didn't know that parenting included drivers ed. When I learned to drive it was all at a state drivers ed class. And, since the state is issuing the licenses then they can pur whatever restrictions they want.