# Driver's Ed should be harder, and require refresher courses **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 3, 2009, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-ed-should-be-harder-and-require-refresher-courses/479644 "2009-01-03T00:00:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-ed-should-be-harder-and-require-refresher-courses/479644/81 "2009-01-06T01:06:49Z")
> [@](#): > > **Cisco** said: > I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen a post composed of 5 strawmen nothing else. So you get some points for that, at least. There was a valid point raised about rules it is not necessary for the every day driver to know… > [@](#): > > **TheLoadedDog** said: > But we get by. Society hasn’t collapsed because getting a licence is tough. And it’s saved lives along the way. I can’t even imagine a number of lives that would make me want to put up with that kind of bullshit. > [@](#): > > **TheMightyAtlas** said: > You said he/she needs to know all the rules. He listed a bunch of rules that it would be more or less useless to know, which you would fail the test for, and would make _no_ actual difference in your driving safety. He is showing why the loading up of the testing with hundreds or thousands or rules is stupid. How can this be called a strawman argument. She, and yep. Given time and a bunch of DOT regulations in hard copy I could come up with thousands more. > [@](#): > > **Critical1** said: > taking a refresher class, lets say 4 hours. cost would be 50$ or so. if you cant afford 50$ and 4 hours every 5-10 years I dont know what to say. I can afford it. I just happen to think I’d much rather spend 4 hours cutting a 50$ bill into confetti than take traffic school. > [@](#): > > some times its something astoundingly obvious (like moms who fucking text while driving wtf lady?) And as soon as they are not in your car, they’ll go right back to doing it. > [@](#): > > **featherlou** said: > Regarding basic rules of the road: I recall a thread here ages ago where we were discussing who has right of way, a right turner or an oncoming left turner, both turning into the same lane. I’d say the opinions were split about 50/50 on that issue. I know that is just anecdotal, but I’d say it is fairly indicative of the level of knowledge of common and critical driving laws amongst the driving population. Reason for the confusion? Pennsylvania motor vehicle law does not give _anyone_ the right of way. It only states who has to yield the right of way. Unless you can find that _exact_ scenario in a traffic code or government produced document for driver training, then it’s a judgment call which is usually going to break along the lines of who arrived at the intersection first, and what will least impede the flow of traffic. Is this a 4 way stop? Traffic light? Is there a left turn arrow? A right turn arrow? Did both people arrive at the same time? Are there no stop signs? There’s probably no single hard and fast rule that covers it, and when people use their judgment they will not all judge things the same. That is not, in and of itself, a bad thing. > [@](#): > > **Odesio** said: > As I have already conceded I’m sure I’d walk away with something I either forgot or was never taught, however, in and of itself, this does not necessarily make the class worth my time. And you would probably forget it within days after taking the class. We all would. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-ed-should-be-harder-and-require-refresher-courses/479644/82 "2009-01-06T03:53:15Z")
This is my uninformed opinion, but the things I see on the road that are dangerous are things that either cannot be taught in driver’s ed, or are things that if people don’t know already, then you can make them get a Phd in Driving and they still won’t get it. Drunk driving? Surely it is a well-kept secret that it is a bad idea to do that, right? How many people are arrested for it in your neighborhood? People yapping on cell phone, not paying attention; late for work, weaving in and out of traffic cutting you off; light turns yellow, FLOOR IT! What of these things could be improved upon with driving classes? ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-ed-should-be-harder-and-require-refresher-courses/479644/83 "2009-01-06T05:46:02Z")
In California, I had to retake my written test last year when I renewed my license after six years. This was due to my two moving violations within that time period, and it ain’t no easy test! Here’s one - The proper distance to stay behind a Fire Engine with sirens and flashers is \_\_\_\_\_? This is a question that varies state to state, so common sense doesn’t help much on this. It’s only 20 questions, so to all those out in the West with me, pick up that driver’s ed manual (free) before you take it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drivers-ed-should-be-harder-and-require-refresher-courses/479644.md?page=4)