Graduated Licence Program

[Jayhall]

Here in BC, we have this stupid Graduated Licence Program. Pretty much, you get your Learners (Class 7L), and have to drive with a qualified supervisor (Class 5, and 25 years or older) for 1 year, with more restrictions. Cant drive between Midnight-5am, and obviously zero tolerance for any alchohol, and worst of all you have to display a big red "L" on the back of your car.

Then you can go for a road test to get your "N" which is class 7N. You still have restrictions, zero tolerance for any alchohol, can only drive with 1 passenger who isnt family, and you have to display a big green "N". This licence must be kept for 2 years.

When thats done you can go for your full licence (class 5). Which consists of yet another road test. Once you pass that test your restrictions are lifted, you can drive with a passenger and are allowed a blood alchohol level of 0.08% (but, you will still get a 24 hour suspension, just not convicted)

So, if you get your licence ON your 16th birthday, and get all your road tests on the FIRST eligable day, then you can get your full class 5 licence by the time you turn 19. 3 years to be able to drive with more than 1 passenger, and to be fully certified to drive.

My question is, do any other states/provinces have anything like this in place? I think its a rediculous process and a waste of time and money. I DO think some kind of schooling should be neccesary for driving, but i dont think this way is the anwser. Thoughts, ideas?

 

[IwantMKIII]

TBO, while some people don't need this....

A LOT of people do. Most people just suck at driving and shouldn't have passed the first exam.

What they really need to do is make the exams MUCH MUCH more strict.

 

[SupraMario]

TBO, while some people don't need this....

A LOT of people do. Most people just suck at driving and shouldn't have passed the first exam.

What they really need to do is make the exams MUCH MUCH more strict.

AMEN! I would do this, if it kept 99% of the dumbasses we have here in the states off the fuckin road. I bet 99.999999999999% of all of our accidents could be avoided if people knew how to fuckin drive.

 

[screaminglemon]

damn, i wish we had that. not perfect, but a helluva lot better than the single simple test they give out here. im still completely baffled when i meet people who failed the first time around.

 

[Jayhall]

well, beleive me. This program, isnt preventing any accidents. Dumb asses are still out there. all it does is show that the dumb ass drivers can jump through the hoops

 

[LilMissMkIII]

We do this here in Aus...

Get L plates at 16, have to do 100 hours supervised driving, all has to be recorded in a logbook before you can go for your driving test.

If you pass, you get your P1 Provisional license, which you must hold for a minimum of 12 months. Whilst you have this license, you have a speed limit of 90kph on all roads, have restrictions on the vehicles you can drive (basically no V8s or turbos), cannot have more than one passenger under the age of 21 after 11pm, and a 0.00 blood alcohol limit.

After this, you sit a computerised hazard perception test, and if you pass, gain your P2 provisional license. Same restrictions as above (i think), but your speed limit is increased to 100kph, and you are also able to tow a trailer. You must hold this license for a minimum of 18 months before you can go for your final test (another computerised one) before you can get your "full/unrestricted" license.

 

[Jayhall]

wow, theres alot more restrictions in Australia. But, do you think it really makes people better drivers? or does it just drag out the licencing process?

 

[Phantom]

Here in California, a similar type of law was made around 2000. Basically, the first six months a person over 16 but under 18 drives they have to be with some 25 years or older (like a responsible family member or relatives for example) and they could drive during certain amount of time. If I recall correctly they couldn't drive between 11pm to 5am.

Didn't really matter to me. I got my license at 18 years old. I didn't have anyone paying for driving school or my car for me. I had to work and save up to pay for driving school, pass the exam, and buy my own car.

To be honest, it's programs like these that save many people everyday, especially young drivers. Given that the law came into effect around the same time the first Fast and Furious movie came out, I'm sure it has prevented some young drivers from being careless. I know some young people that would drive like they have skills and show off in front of their friends just because they just got their license, regardless if there was a street racing movie or not.

I know that at the same time, it kind of sucks for the young drivers that are responsible and aren't careless. But I guess it's better for everyone to be safe. If I can last through high school without driving, I'm sure others can too.

 

[Quin]

That's ridiculous. That just wouldn't work around here, about 70% of HS kids here have jobs and it would be impossible for nearly all of them to get to school/work with no car. 90KPH speed limit? So you can't drive on the highway or interstate? Ridiculous (for the same reason above), and I'm sure that if one looked at the number of crashes they'd still be basically the same... Not too many people wreck on the interstate/highway, compared to in town.

Here, it's 15 and driving school for your permit, 16 and a month for your license if you took driving school. Otherwise, 16 for your permit, which you must hold for 6 months before you can get your license. Permits require no tests, but only allow you to drive with someone over 21 in the passenger seat. License requires a 60 question written test and a road test. For the first 90 days after you get your license, you can't have anyone under 18 in the car period, or over 18 with no license.

Everyone ignores the 90 day law... if you think about it, the first 90 days are when you should drive the best. You haven't had time to learn any bad habits, especially if you start driving in an auto... I almost failed my road test because I don't drive with two hands on the wheel (learned to drive in my manual Celica, right hand never left the shifter).

 

[BorHor]

Here in California, a similar type of law was made around 2000. Basically, the first six months a person over 16 but under 18 drives they have to be with some 25 years or older (like a responsible family member or relatives for example) and they could drive during certain amount of time. If I recall correctly they couldn't drive between 11pm to 5am.

Didn't really matter to me. I got my license at 18 years old. I didn't have anyone paying for driving school or my car for me. I had to work and save up to pay for driving school, pass the exam, and buy my own car.

To be honest, it's programs like these that save many people everyday, especially young drivers. Given that the law came into effect around the same time the first Fast and Furious movie came out, I'm sure it has prevented some young drivers from being careless. I know some young people that would drive like they have skills and show off in front of their friends just because they just got their license, regardless if there was a street racing movie or not.

I know that at the same time, it kind of sucks for the young drivers that are responsible and aren't careless. But I guess it's better for everyone to be safe. If I can last through high school without driving, I'm sure others can too.

Werd.. Also Cali just toughened up the written part of the test.

 

[Poodles]

They all suck...

If you want GOOD drivers, look at Germany and their laws.

 

[Isphius]

Yeah germany is crazy. I believe its against the law to drink or eat anything while driving there. I always said they should have a minimum height instead of age, and you should have to pass a vision, IQ/road knowledge test, and a very difficult driving test. That would keep most bad drivers off the road. And also a retest every few years(keep the old people off the road, if they cant pass the test why should they be allowed to drive?) I know i didnt deserve to have my license at 17 but luckily i made it out of some very stupid stuff without hurting myself or anyone else. I also lucky i didnt have any decently fast cars like ive had recently!

 

[annoyingrob]

Alberta and Ontario have graduated license programs too.

Although the Ontario G2 is pretty much a full license anyways.

 

[Poodles]

I know we have some Germans on the forum... which they'd chime in.

From what I can remember, their driver's license is difficult to get because of cost, but once obtained, it's yours for life.

Their traffic laws are much more strict than ours, but honestly I wouldn't care as their roads are FAR safer than ours.

 

[Jayhall]

Id like to think that a program such as one of the mentioned would save lives. Sure driving with parents will keep most people driving sanely. But, what happens as soon as a young person gets rid of their learners licence, and no longer require a mature supervisor? Even with only 1 extra person in the car, theres a good chance someone will do something stupid.

There does need to be something put in place, I dont think for a minute that a 16 year old should be handed the keys to a car and sent out on the road. What i find to be a little much is the amount of time you have to wait, 1 year with your learners, really? 6 months i could see making a little more sense. Then 2 more years with an "N" displayed on the back of the window, and only 1 passanger? Is it just me or does the displayed "N" just give other drivers a reason to bitch about young drivers, or new drivers in general.

 

[Quin]

Maybe it was just me, but I had everything down after about 45 minutes... I couldn't stand waiting as long as I did. On the other hand, I know people that should have had to wait much longer and practiced much more. It really should be a skill+knowledge type thing, in my case I didn't gain a whole lot of experience (other than adverse road conditions, as I learned in the winter) until I actually had my license.

 

[Fuzz420]

I waited untill i was 18 got my permit waited six months, and got my license. Written test for the permit and driving test for the license. Pretty simple

 

[RazoE]

that sucks..

I just walked into the DMV, took my written test, then got my permit, took my driving test, and walked out with a license...





granted I was 19..


EDIT: Did the same as fuzz..

 

[LilMissMkIII]

I think it's an awesome system... Displaying "P" plates on cars (as we do here when the driver holds a provisional license), let's people know that the drivers are n00bs, and also makes them stand out to cops... Sure, they get hounded on a bit more than most drivers, but it's for their own safety...

Quin - whilst being a provisional driver, you are allowed on all roads... Just if you're on the highway/motorway/freeway, you have to adhere to your designated speed limit (and therefore stay in the left lane whilst everyone else overtakes you...)

 

[Quin]

Quin - whilst being a provisional driver, you are allowed on all roads... Just if you're on the highway/motorway/freeway, you have to adhere to your designated speed limit (and therefore stay in the left lane whilst everyone else overtakes you...)

That's definitely a fail.