Jumping back on the bad driver bandwagon:
My anecdotal experience is that the elderly pose a far greater risk to my safety on the roads than SUVs. I’d like to see anyone over 70 have to retake their license every year. Just the other day I was on my way to the dentist and this ooooold man pulled smack in front of me. The guy never even looked. Good thing the brakes on my Yukon work so well, ‘cause his Tempo just about ate it. If I had been about 50 feet further along when he eased on out there I probably would have T-boned him and killed him. (This was along a busy four-lane road, I was going about 40 mph) Would that have been the SUV that I drive’s fault? I don’t think so. Bad, and in this case old, drivers are the problem.
I think it would. I’m a fairly good driver when it comes to passenger cars; however, I had a lot more difficulty when I had to drive a U-Haul a few months ago. I drove carefully and safely, but it was still more difficult – especially when backing up and parking.
Will having SUV licenses make a big difference? Maybe, maybe not… but I think it would make some difference.
Before we think about special licenses for driving SUVs, we should think about special licenses for driving Recreational Vehicles (RVs).
These behemoths put even the biggest Monster SUV to shame. Some are over 30 feet long. Some even have more than 2 axles. And yet you can still drive a 3+ axle road-hogging RV, even while towing a trailer, while posessing only the same kind of driver’s license they issue for driving a Yugo.
Next to that, squabbles over SUV licensing seem pretty minor.
catsix, while the web is my friend in doing research, it doesn’t help if I misread what I find there. You are, of course, correct, in that most drivers in Pennsylvania hold a Class C license.
The idea of annual driving tests for elderly drivers has been discussed in the past, but the potential for lawsuits in having elderly drivers singled out seems to be the sticking point. However, if all drivers were to be required to pass a road exam periodically there would be no basis for a descrimination suit. So, I now modify my original proposal:
Every driver is required to pass a road test on some periodic basis (probably not annual, but every two or three years at most), and they are required to pass the test in the largest vehicle they currently own (based on state motor vehicle registration records.)
I don’t think it would be that big of an issue. All you need is a finding by Congress that there is a compelling interest in putting extra regulations on old drivers. Then Congress ties highway funds to the states testing old people more. I don’t think that AARP would get very far in a suit on this issue. However, IANAL.
Ok, so let’s go with the idea of a special license requirement for SUV drivers. How does it work? And who enforces it?
When I buy my next Land Rover, does my dealership have to see the special license before they take my money? Or do they report my purchase to the local DMV and let them deal with it?
Then what does the DMV do? Do I have a 30 day window after my SUV purchase to pass my test and get my special license?
Let’s say I don’t bother. Will the CA DMV even notice? Will they send me a demand letter, or put a hold on my next registration, or try and issue a DMV “bench warrant?”
And erislover, it would sure as heck matter if you had to pass your test in an SUV and you didn’t. It would mean you wouldn’t get your license.
I think it’s a silly idea.
Playing along…
It’d follow the same rules we currently use for motorcycles, I’d imagine. Can’t drive one of those without a special license, either.
Sure, why not? Most dealers end up photocopying your license as part of the purchasing procedure anyway.
And tracer’s notion of special restrictions for RV drivers gets a thumbs up from me, too. Though I imagine there isn’t an outcry over the dangers of oversized RVs because they’re not dotting the landscape the way SUVs are. At least RV owners have the sense not to use the RV to commute (solo!) to work…