I got very dismayed when I first came to the U.S. and took the driving =20 test -- I had to maneuver a car at something like 15mph in a parking =20 lot, then given a license to go fend for myself on a highway with =20 crazies doing 70mph. I was not bothered then as I had been driving =20 for 5 years already in a Caribbean country (ie: I was one of the =20 crazies), but I can't understand what's supposed to bridge the gap for =20 others. I always figured that when I have kids of driving age, I would get =20 them into auto-crossing for some proper car-handling skills, as IMO =20 when the car does things that are not normal (sliding, skidding, etc), =20 inexperienced drivers get all confused and just let go. A few years ago, I was in a driver's license office in Fr. Lauderdale, =20 Florida and some guy came around the line asking if anyone spoke =20 French, and I told him I spoke some. He asked me to translate for him =20 so he could take his written test, so an examiner showed him road =20 signs, and he would tell me what they meant (in French), and I would =20 tell the examiner. The guy really knew *nothing*. Prob got every =20 question wrong IIRC. The examiner got frustrated and told me we need =20 to practice more, but when I pointed out that I did not know this guy, =20 he let our this frustrated sigh and let the guy have the license =20 anyway. This is why I pay so much for insurance. Cheers, -Neil. Quoting Sean Breheny : > I wish we were more like Finland in this regard. I first got my > driver's license in the US state of Pennsylvania. The theory book was > all about traffic laws and nothing about physics or techniques. The > practical training should require, I believe, practice at full-speed > emergency stopping, stopping and steering in slippery conditions, > controlling slides and skids, etc. Too many people just freak out the > moment the car does anything other than act like it is glued to the > road. I also think that it should be mandatory to watch a video about > the injuries caused by car accidents and people should get to see, > firsthand, wrecked cars. I live in Massachusetts now, and I happen to > live very near to a towing and body work company who always has a > large lot full of wrecked cars which they towed away from accidents > and held until either they were repaired or (in many cases) inspected > by the insurance people and/or police and then scrapped. Just walking > through that lot and seeing up-close how cars have been ripped apart > and crushed by accidents gives you a WHOLE LOT more respect for the > danger in driving. There's nothing like seeing the body caved in > around the driver's seat and thinking to yourself "that could have > been me in there and there isn't enough room left for my intact body > there!" > > Sean > > > > On Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 7:55 PM, Bob Blick wrote: >> On Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:38 -0600, "YES NOPE9" =A0wrote: >> >>> I would be interested in how other PIClisters teach driving. >> >> Driver's training in Finland: >> >> In Finland, the car driver's training can be obtained either in a >> private driving school or given by a near relative who has a driver's >> license. If the person is trained by a relative, the relative must >> obtain a special instructor's permit and have a car fitted and inspected >> with an extra set of brake pedals for the front passenger. The training >> for B class license requires 30 hours of instructed driving, including a >> spell on a slippery driving course, and 20 theory lessons. After this, >> the person must pass a computerized theory test and a driving test in >> city traffic with a minimum length of 30 minutes. C class training is >> similar, but longer. >> >> from Wikipedia. >> >> If you want to win, get a Finn :) >> >> Bob >> >> -- >> http://www.fastmail.fm - Access your email from home and the web >> >> -- >> http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive >> View/change your membership options at >> http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist >> > > -- > http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive > View/change your membership options at > http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist > --=20 http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist .