That is a great idea OJ...reviewing the rules of the road...especially since so many were not aware here in most states of the 'move Over' law. I wonder what has maybe changed since I read and studied one.

Here in my state the instruction booklet is free for the taking. I think I'll pick one up and peruse it, since you mentioned it.

BF and I both comment on one another's driving. I get on him for speeding, particularly through residential areas, or small towns where the speed drops briefly to 45 MPH. His complaint with me is that I'm driving too slowly to suit him...though we are never late, or in a hurry...or a hazard...always just more of an outing and off the beaten path. He laughs at me when I come to a complete stop at a stop sign in the country in the middle of no where. I figure it is just a good habit to have. I tease him about his Hollywood stops. Sometimes just for fun, I'll tell him he just went speeding by the fuzz. We always have fun....no matter where we are or what we are doing.

sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Hollywood stop at Urban Dictionary

Hey ED, I have 2 GS's that are taking drivers Ed now & I did read their books to up-date my OLD mind!! Interesting-

Donna (^_^)

Hi Ed,
I am still learning to drive - there is a lot to do when you are driving - it baffles me to no end when I see people chatting on cell phones, eating, applying makeup, text messenging....today I drove the car (G1 learner level) with hubby to drop it off for a spring tune-up - it's amazing how fast the car can go when I'm concentration on the area around me - twice hubby reminded me to watch my speed - especially in our neighbour hood with kids going to school. I'm paranoid about kids popping out from between cars.
This is excellent advice. Some rules have changed since hubby learned to drive - like passing on the left in multilane highways...very dangerous if you ask me.
Thanks for this tip. I always enjoy reading about your experiences and ideas. Keep them coming!
And congratulations again - they say 3rd time is a charmer. You must have charmed them to no end!
McPeg

Missouri's driving laws are not nearly strict enough. When I worked, we had elderly residents driving that couldn't hear (as in legally DEAF), couldn't see, couldn't walk to their car except to use a walker and baby-step to it. Many were not aware of their surroundings, getting lost and needing to be 'rescued' to get back home. It is the responsibility of family members to make sure their loved ones are safe drivers, and when they are not, take the vehicle from them, or do whatever it takes to get them off the road!

I believe drivers should be re-examined in all phases of driving every two years. If it was done this way, there would be lots fewer accidents!

A few years ago, we had two different incidents at an intersection, whereby 8 people were killed, because the elderly drivers made a left-hand turn at the wrong time, on a 55-mph stretch of road. These folks were all in their 80's and both sets of family members stated that they 'tried to get them to stop driving'.

Not that long ago, in California, an elderly gentleman, who was visually and hearing-impaired, plowed through an outdoor flea market, killing people - don't remember how many, but it was preventable.

In a neighboring town, a young executive (24), was on his way home from work. He was within TWO blocks of his home, when an elderly gentleman turned in front of him - the old guy was drunk and in his 80's - both were killed. Once again, the family said they tried to take his car keys away, but he got 'mad'!

If you feel someone is a menace to other drivers, be they elderly or whatever, you can file a written complaint with your state's department of transportation, and they will investigate the driver, taking the necessary measures to assure that they are a safe driver. If they are not, then something will be done to keep them from LEGALLY driving.

There is nothing to prevent someone from driving if they have the desire to drive, access to a car that runs, keys and gas money!

Ottawa had a recent incident in a shopping mall - an 80 year old lady was driving and somehow wound up hitting the accelerator too hard and ran over a bus shelter behind her. I seriously injured and one died. She is being charged now.

We were nearly pushed into another lane by an elderly gentleman passing us on our city expressway - he was short a good 4 feet of clearing our car when he started to return to our lane. Nearly caused an major accident - thank God we were able to slow down, without panicking and the car behind us noticed and slowed down at the same time. We did honk which probably frightened him but I honestly don't think he was aware of the situation at all.

Ed, Thank you for the good advise!
We have our books from the 55-Alive program, which is a refresher course for older folks. By taking the course you get a 10% discount on your auto insurance. We figured out that the cost of the book and course was equal to the 10% so we didn't bother again. Shame on us!

Ole, sorry you are struggling with this. I remember when you had one accident, someone plowed into the back of you, wasn't it?

Are you in a rural area? I wonder if that might cause you to be less attentive since there is so little traffic. Also assume you do not drive at night which is good. Can you get cataract surgery? I assume the driving instruction you took pinpointed your weak areas and helped you pass the third time. Keep those areas in mind.

Thanks for the reminder to us all. My license is coming up for renewal, and I may have to take a test also. In CA we have a paperback booklet with tons and tons of little facts and important info. It's a lot to remember, distances, speeds under specific circumstances. Ugh.

When my youngest dtr turned 16, I took her to DMV. She passed the eye test but couldn't pass the written test. They gave her a booklet, which she studied carefully, and she passed the written test the next day. I
looked at the booklet, more than half of it had to do with drunk griving, driving while on medication, even driving when overly tired. I was surprised to see how much of driving depends on the driver's mental state. And I thought the hardest part was parallel parking!!! She got her license at 16, and bought a used car a year later. However, the following January,2007, she drank beers at a friend's (???) house, then got in her car to drive home and hit a tree. She eneded up in court with three charges against her. She is now 18, unable to legally drive, and very miserable. She will be eligible to get her license back this coming August.

I have two sons in the process of getting their driver's tests. I have read their books. Good thing too since the last time I looked was back in the 80's in California. South Carolina just issued me a new license good for 10 years-

Trish

I think that our drivers' licences must be renewed every three (or five?) years, but it's mostly a matter of updating, not much re-qualifying through most of the years of one's driving life.

When one gets to 80, must take a group session and pass a written test every 2 years but, as I mentioned earlier, it seems to me that the driving test is the important part, when one ages.

The first examiner reprimanded me for driving too slowly. And some of the things that I was supposed to do, or not do, wasn't in the book, but the driving instructor told me.

Though I have no trouble turning my head, as some do, the first examiner marked me as in error a number of times (we take their evaluation sheet home) for not checking blind spots enough.

The instructor told me to check blind spot when I checked mirrors, and I said that I had - by turning my eyes, and I have quite good peripheral vision.

He told me to turn my head 90 degrees - so that the examiner was aware of my check of the blind spot.

That said, I had not checked blind spot as much as necessary, on the first test, I'm fairly sure.

But - were some of you evading the issue that I brought up as the subject of this post?

My suggestion was that you check once more, and brush up on/upgrade your own driving skills.

Good wishes for many years of safe driving.

ole joyful

P.S. I am much more aware of my own driving, and what's going on around me, than I was a few months ago.

o j

I'm much more aware of mine too, since your problems as I told youS. I am going to get a manual and study it. I have thought of several things that I am not sure of and best I learn now.

I am a stickler for knowing the rules, and I hate people who break them. I doubt I could pass an eye test right now without glasses. I was so glad when they took the parallel parking off of our test, because I simply can't do it!

In Florida, everyone has to take a test when they turn 70, then every 5 years thereafter, or at least I think so. I'm not 70 yet, so I'll have to look that up. It was in response to so many older people causing accidents. It seemed that the elderly cause more fatal accidents than anyone else here, although they are usually the ones to die.

Our books used to be free. I don't know now, what with all the cutbacks in state government.

Congratulations, Ed!

Ohio has free bookelets. I have two of them from my kids, and a nephew has borrowed it once and returned it. I also found that in DS's packet, there was a "tips" bookelet. That opened my eyes! There were more law type things listed it that than there was in the test booklet!!!! Donna, see if your grandson got one. You get the packet when you go to get your temps. I can't figure out why they don't put the laws in the test booklet you are supposed to study to get your license.

Tami

OJ, this is fantastic advice. DH is a police officer, so I have my own audio version of the manual. LOL.

You posed a great question - what would you do if you lost your driving privileges. First, let me say, I LOVE that you call it a privilege - as that is EXACTLY what it is. So many people think it is a RIGHT. As for the question, I know I absolutely could NOT do what I do without this privilege. My life would be altered so drastically.

I just renewed my license two months ago. And by renewal, I mean, I simply went online and put in my credit card number. No retesting. They give an option of a 3 year (I think?) and a 10 year. I took the 10 year, and thought it was great to not have to deal with it again for a long time. But this really is a valid point. The laws change and people are not aware of them. As much as I liked the convenience, I would much rather every one be TESTED every few years.

~Michelle

Shame on me, haven't read a book on driving since I took my driving test!
Guess it's time, eh?

"First, let me say, I LOVE that you call it a privilege - as that is EXACTLY what it is. So many people think it is a RIGHT."

I couldn't disagree more! I can't speak for other countries, and I won't speak for other states, but in Minnesota and most likely in all other US states, driving is a RIGHT and not a PRIVILEGE, just like voting. So, what's the difference? Well, simple. If it truly was a privilege, it could be randomly and arbitrarily given to some and not to others who have the same criteria, status, qualifications and the like. A right eliminates this. Yes, it can be a privilege to drive Mom & Dad's car, given to one child and not another, and also one can feel privileged to drive, but it's a real sore spot when someone tries to say that one race, religion, political supporter, hair color, etc, can drive when they won't let another. No, it's not your "privilege to drive", it's your "right to drive".

Voting is a right and like your right to drive, you can lose those rights, as well as many other rights (unless you consider those to be privileges also) under certain circumstances. And even though it's more politically correct to say "privilege" rather than "right", I'll exercise my privilege of free speech to call it what it is.

Around here, if you watch the news, you're bombarded with reminders about the "move over" law. Yet, I guess people must not watch the news much, or they don't pay attention. Maybe they need a text message sent to them or a call on the cell phone or a note put on the Megabuck$ coffee cup to spread the word. It's a good law and something I've always done. If you've ever been stuck on the side of the road you know what it's like having cars whipping by at 70-80 mph just a few feet from you.

Curiously, I thought about it a month or so ago about what would happen if I lost my right to drive :) Since I need to drive for work it would be an interesting situation. It's bad enough when I have car trouble! But one thing I've noticed as I have aged: I drive more attentively, make full stops nore than I used to, am not in as big a hurry to get someplace, etc. I used to get worked up when people would cut me off or something on the road and now I just take a deep breath and tell myself to relax, I have plenty of time and hopefully they'll have a flat tire, break down or drive into a ditch or something! Maybe I'm wrong! But still....

cynic,

Move up here, get an Ont. licence, get drunk, drive and kill someone ...

... and you'll find that your "right" has been suspeneded for a few years.

Plus ... in many cases, you'll go to jail for a while, as well.

If you're 14, you have no such "right".

And, if you've achieved 16, you have to pass a written test, then get a restricted licence, where you must have a 4-year licensed driver ride beside you, absolutely *no* drinking and driving, no driving on freeway, no driving between midnight nd 5 a.m., no driving with more than one other teen in car, and a few other rules ... which, if you violate any of them, your "right" gets suspended pretty fast.

Up here, it's a "privilege" ... equally available to every person, without regard to their race, colour, religion (or lack of it), language and a few other things ... but a person has to jump through some hoops to avail him/herself of that privilege. And to keep it.

Very clearly spelled out on the first page of the "Driver's Handbook" ... and the "Highway Traffic Act".

Happy motoring!

ole joyful

Sorry Joyful, but you proved my point! That's exactly the difference between a right and a privilege. Here in the states it's illegal to kill someone. Need I repeat what I said before? OK. You can lose your rights! You do not have a right to kill someone. And certain rights are extended to certain age groups, so 14 year olds cannot vote or drive. That said, it's pretty much acknowledged that in the US, upon attainment of certain ages and upon performance of certain requirements we have a right to vote, right to free speech, right to freedom of religion, however, and I'll say it again so there's no misunderstanding, all of those rights can be lost in the event you get drunk and kill someone so Ontario is no different in that respect. Virtually all rights can be suspended or lost completely for cause as I said before.

A right does not mean you have no responsibility. A right does not mean there's no hoops to jump through to avail yourself of those rights. On all the rights specified, you have to jump through hoops. You must register to vote, you may not shout "FIRE" in a crowded theater, you must observe rules of the road, you may not make human sacrifices in the name of religion, etc. So, does registering to vote mean it's a privilege and not a right? Hardly. Clearly, just because a 14 year old does not have the right to vote does not mean that it's a privilege for an adult to vote.

I was pondering whether it's an argument of syntax, but clearly it's not. Case law actually has ruled that driving is a right in this country and from what you've said, north of the border is similar, which I'm sure it is.

Again, a privilege is something that can be given or taken away without cause or due process. Driving clearly is not a privilege, it is a right that we are privileged to have. A privilege, by definition, cannot be availabe to everyone unconditionally, even if restricted.

I still agree with our traffic act ... that it's a privilege ... to drive on the public highway.

Any person has a right, wearing a seat belt or not, to drive any vehicle, licensed or not, passed mechanical/emissions test or not, on private property ... but only if s/he owns it. Or has the owner's permission ... which makes that situation a "privilege" that must be granted, doesn't it? How would you like to have me tell you that I have a right to drive my car on your driveway? farm?

In our area, a youth can only drive on the public road initially if s/he can pass a test showing that s/he knows many of the traffic laws ... and only if accompanied by a licensed driver, for some time, until s/he has proved her/his capacity to operate a vehicle within appropriate parameters (which until that time does not include driving on an expressway, or driving between midnight and 5 a.m., or with more than one other youth in the car, or with any trace whatever of alchol on his/her breath) at which time s/he is granted an unrestricted licence (except can't have more than 0.08% of alcohol on his/her breath).

And if s/he transgresses those parameters, the privilege will be withdrawn ... for a period.

In fact, I don't have a right to drive any vehicle on the highway, as is. When I purchase a vehicle, it must pass certain mechanical tests and limited emission tests before the government allows me to put a licence plate on it, and if I am caught driving it on a public road without a licence plate, I have some serious consequences to face, regardless of whether I possess a driving licence.

Actually, if I don't pay a fee before my birthday next year, the "right", "privilege" or whatever we choose to call it, will expire, and if I put it on the road the next day, there'll be consequences that I won't like (if I'm caught by certain designated persons policing the rules). Plus, every couple of years, it must re-pass an emissions test and if it doesn't, they won't accept my fee in order for me to continue to exercise my "right" ... "privilege" ... whatever ... to continue to operate it on the public roads (but I can operate it on my own farm, even if it doesn't pass the emissions test).

If it's been through an accident and an evaluator assesses that it has suffered structural, rather than merely cosmetic damage, I will not be allowed the "right" ... "privilege" to continue to have a licence on it.

But this issue is beside the point ... my suggestion here was that everyone choose to make a distinct effort to re-evaluate and most likely upgrade their driving knowledge and skills.

Probably we upgrade our computers oftener than re-evaluate/upgrade our driving skills. But the choice not to re-evaluate/upgrade our computer will hardly ever be responsible for someone's death or serious injury, whether that of others or our own.

ole joyful

Who would have ever thought that this OP would turn into good fodder for the Hot TopicsForum.

Might it be that it is six of one and half a dozen of another?
Might you both be right?
Might this be splitting hairs?
Maybe you say po-tay-toe and I say po-tah-yoe

I have heard it often said that so and so was caught driving while drunk, and he lost his driving privileges (for such and such time.)

my suggestion here was that everyone choose to make a distinct effort to re-evaluate and most likely upgrade their driving knowledge and skills.
And what a wonderful suggestion it was.

Sue

Here is a link that might be useful: Google search-driving is a privelege

I was Sydney's drivers ed teacher this past year and it was tough....we had 16 chapters to learn and read and at least 15 to 20 ?'s each chapter....but I did relearn alot. Now this summer I am teaching Dylan then the next year Tanner I should really be brushed up on my driving skills. Here they give the books for free at the highway patrol office...Stacy

I don't want to repeat what's already been said. Clearly I'm not making it clear so I won't dwell on it, rather I'll just remind that with rights come responsibility. As I said you can lose your rights, and virtually all rights have parameters of limitation. I can't think of any that don't have limitations, criteria and/or requirements but enough on that.

Joyful, my friend, I guess there is no such thing as a right, but only privileges. To paraphrase what's been attributed to Voltaire (accurately or not), I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right privilege to say it! :)

And I'm not trying to pick a fight, just express a different view, and one I believe is intrinsically important. Joyful and I agree on a vast majority of things and I'm sure there's not an issue with us disagreeing on something. I have the utmost respect for my Canadian friend and whether I'm wrong or whether I'm privilege, as Justin Wilson would say "it don't make some difference"!

So, for anyone offended or who misunderstands my position I submit as a peace offering a link to a listing of online driver manuals. Pick a state. Most are available. Even some Canadian driver handbooks are available online. Worth looking over if you're interested. Might find something useful in there.

Just one question.... Joyful, old buddy, if I'm not banned from visiting sometime, just need to know, when I turn into your driveway, would I take a left or a privilege??? ;)

Happy and safe motoring all.

Here is a link that might be useful: Links to online driver manuals

Depends which way you're coming from.

o j