Foo - Stupid driver's ed.

I signed up and payed for driver's ed online on Saturday, and it told me that the minimum amount of time that can be spent on completing the driver's ed course is 30 hours.

I've finished just now, and its only been 10 hours.

This is stupid.

at least you aren't in special ed.

30 hours and you can get your license? Yikes.

It was 50 in Michigan with at least 10 in adverse conditions, and honestly I don't think that's nearly good enough. I think that drivers training should encompass a lot of things it doesn't, like how to overcome a slide, and do basic maintenance. The product of the standard USA drivers ed is kids who don't know how to drive safely, or keep their cars running well.

30 hours and you can get your license? Yikes.

It was 50 in Michigan with at least 10 in adverse conditions, and honestly I don't think that's nearly good enough. I think that drivers training should encompass a lot of things it doesn't, like how to overcome a slide, and do basic maintenance. The product of the standard USA drivers ed is kids who don't know how to drive safely, or keep their cars running well.

No, 30 hours of drivers ED (question and answer) to get my permit.

6 hours of driving with a professional teacher to get my permit ;)

And we don't have "slides" here in So Cal.

Modern cars don't need upkeep. Just bring it up to the dealer when they call.

Even tho I want an old Beetle, not a modern car.

No, 30 hours of drivers ED (question and answer) to get my permit.

6 hours of driving with a professional teacher to get my permit ;)

And we don't have "slides" here in So Cal.

Modern cars don't need upkeep. Just bring it up to the dealer when they call.

Even tho I want an old Beetle, not a modern car.

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

Have fun with your car, Kiddo! And don't forget to bring your mobile phone along to call for help......

no wonder you guys have horrible drivers. Bad instructors teach bad habits.
our driver's ed + graduated licensing system is better, but driver's ed in Germany and Japan have some of the best methods.

And we don't have "slides" here in So Cal.


Sure you do.

Flash-flood warning issued for Southern California mountain, desert areas (http://articles.latimes.com/2008/aug/05/local/me-rain5)

Hydroplaning (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroplaning_(tires))

Maybe you should spend that 20 hours doing more studying? ;)

I put this in the car crash thread, but here it is again:
http://www.streetsurvival.org/

When my car needs maintenance, I just set my cell phone in the front seat.

I never took a drivers ed class. My father taught me to drive and maintain my car.

I never took a drivers ed class. My father taught me to drive and maintain my car.

Did you run a phone line to your car or did you have cell phones back then?

In contrast, the Federal Government only requires 40 hours of flight time to get a Pilot's License, and only 20 of that has to be with an instructor.

Did you run a phone line to your car or did you have cell phones back then?

What's that new fangled junk you're talking about? I used smoke signals if I broke down.

Modern cars don't need upkeep. Just bring it up to the dealer when they call.


:twitchy::lol:

MERTON, is that you?!

Did you run a phone line to your car or did you have cell phones back then?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/124/350893191_3b128c494f.jpg?v=0

Reminds me of what I did about a month ago. I took a written "test" at the DMV in IL to renew my license. It was one of the easiest tests I've ever taken. Gee... what's the octogonal red shape mean!? Seriously, that was one of the questions. :roflmao2: I think a preschooler could pass it!

Nice one PC2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!111:D:roflmao2::lol::roflmao2::lol::roflmao2:

In contrast, the Federal Government only requires 40 hours of flight time to get a Pilot's License, and only 20 of that has to be with an instructor.

True.

But, unlike driving, you WILL have to pass a 3rd class physical every two years, and it is far more than "turn your head and cough." Also, a great deal of your training time is spent practicing, emergency maneuvers, precision handling of the aircraft, plus take-offs and landings. Most pilots going for their private exam will have closer to 60 hours total time behind the yoke; 40 hours is just the absolute minimum. During the exam, you WILL be asked to competently perform emergency skills, in addition to a general verbal review of your knowledge. The flight examiners that I've met don't give "passes" on sloppy performance.

Finally, after all of that, you will have a Private ticket; which is your intro flight license. You will be able to fly a single engine, fairly low performance aircraft, in generally good meteorological conditions, without financial compensation. You want to make a little money from flying, or fly in less than 3 miles visibility, well those are additional tickets, with a corresponding increase in instruction. At the very top, is the ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) ticket. They get a full, and very comprehensive physical every 6 months (1st class physical). It will take you years to get to that point.

If half of the rigor, and corresponding cost, of a basic Private Pilots ticket was applied to drivers training the roads would be very safe indeed.

True.

But, unlike driving, you WILL have to pass a 3rd class physical every two years, and it is far more than "turn your head and cough." Also, a great deal of your training time is spent practicing, emergency maneuvers, precision handling of the aircraft, plus take-offs and landings. Most pilots going for their private exam will have closer to 60 hours total time behind the yoke; 40 hours is just the absolute minimum. During the exam, you WILL be asked to competently perform emergency skills, in addition to a general verbal review of your knowledge. The flight examiners that I've met don't give "passes" on sloppy performance.

Finally, after all of that, you will have a Private ticket; which is your intro flight license. You will be able to fly a single engine, fairly low performance aircraft, in generally good meteorological conditions, without financial compensation. You want to make a little money from flying, or fly in less than 3 miles visibility, well those are additional tickets, with a corresponding increase in instruction. At the very top, is the ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) ticket. They get a full, and very comprehensive physical every 6 months (1st class physical). It will take you years to get to that point.

If half of the rigor, and corresponding cost, of a basic Private Pilots ticket was applied to drivers training the roads would be very safe indeed.

All true. I had, I think, 55 hours or so when I took my practical. I think you dated yourself. The Class 3 is good for 3 years if you're under 40 :)

If half of the rigor, and corresponding cost, of a basic Private Pilots ticket was applied to drivers training the roads would be very safe indeed.Because they'd be nearly empty.

Because they'd be nearly empty.

And that would be bad?

When I went through Drivers Ed in Wisconsin back in the 80s, our instructor told us that we were required to have 10 hours behind the wheel with him before we could try for our license. I went out with him and another student 6 times. Class periods were 40 minutes. We probably got 10 minutes of actual driving time per trip. The instructor signed off on my card so I could take the test, even though I only had 1 hour of behind the wheel instruction. It's no wonder I failed my first attempt. One month later, after lots of practice with my parents, I passed w/ no errors.

Back when I got my license, we needed [xx] hours of behind the wheel. I had been driving since I was 12 already, so after 30 minutes in the car, the instructor signed off and said I completed the entire behind the wheel.

Got a 96 on my road test a few months later. Still have never been in even a close call situation, pulled over and ticketed, etc. Knocking on plastic wood looking interior parts as I type this...

Back when I got my license, we needed [xx] hours of behind the wheel. I had been driving since I was 12 already, so after 30 minutes in the car, the instructor signed off and said I completed the entire behind the wheel.

Got a 96 on my road test a few months later. Still have never been in even a close call situation, pulled over and ticketed, etc. Knocking on plastic wood looking interior parts as I type this...

You should not text and drive, maybe you have been in tons of close calls, but never knew.:innocent:

Reminds me of what I did about a month ago. I took a written "test" at the DMV in IL to renew my license. It was one of the easiest tests I've ever taken. Gee... what's the octogonal red shape mean!? Seriously, that was one of the questions. :roflmao2: I think a preschooler could pass it!

Lucky for you.

When I had to take the written test to renew my license in NJ it was a whole different story. I figured it'd be stupid easy, but failed it the first time. There were questions like:

"You are a 122lb female, and have been at a bar for 3 hours. In that three hours you have consumed 1 shot of hard liquor, half a glass of wine, and 2 12oz bottles of beer. Your BAL is:
a. 0.07
b. 0.08
c. 0.10
d. 0.11"


Uhhhh.. first I am a guy, second I don't drive after having any alcohol at all. Lots of stuff like that.

It turns out that if you read the state manual, they have all of these examples with the answer. You basically had to recite the examples from what you read. I heard they have changed the test/requirements quite a bit since then, but man was it a dumb exercise.

When it rains we don't drive fast enough to slide.

When it rains we don't drive fast enough to slide.

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao2:



Oh, wait, were you serious? :twitchy:

Funny... it only takes 40 hours to get a pilot's license!!

Then again, the standards are a lot higher on the tests, too.