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[in the US] i'd prefer the voting age be 21, the driving age be 18, and the drinking age be 16, or none at all. basically, we have it backwards. i also think

[in the US] i'd prefer the voting age be 21, the driving age be 18, and the drinking age be 16, or none at all. basically, we have it backwards. i also think there should be different classes of driving licenses with different speed limits, but now we're just indulging in crazytalk.

seanp2k2 10y ago
Or like how England does motorcycle classes: the 16 y/o with rich parents can't drive the C63 AMG until later.
lorenzhs 10y ago
Germany has a drinking age of 16 (for beer and wine, spirits are 18+), a driving age of 18 (there is assisted driving at 17, where you need to have a parent/relative in the passenger seat until you turn 18), and voting age of 18 for federal elections (state and local elections vary, some states allow 16-yr olds to vote). It was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1970. Different speed limits for different drivers could result in a "lower-class" driver being an obstruction for others. I don't think that would work out. That said, motorcycle licenses in the EU are separated into several classes with various maximum engine sizes (16+ for 11kW/15hp, 18+ for 35kW/47hp, and 20+ unlimited). They're separate tests.
- beachstartup 10y ago
  > Different speed limits for different drivers could result in a "lower-class" driver being an obstruction for others. I don't think that would work out what i'm really saying is that you should be able to test for a higher speed limit in the US. slow drivers will be slow regardless of what the limit is, and unsafe. i've driven on the autobahn in the no speed limit sections (primarily around munich) and there were still slower, unsafe morons occupying lanes they shouldn't have been. maybe tourists. remember, in the US we have very low speed limits of ~100kph pretty much anywhere. i think it should be higher. people routinely drive 145kph here in southern california, enforcement of 100kph is arbitrary, which is not healtyh for respect for the law in general.
  - hx87 10y ago
    Higher speed limits for separate highways that would require a special license to enter? I'd support that.
  - lorenzhs 10y ago
    Well wouldn't better driver's ed solve most of those issues? A tiered license system seems like an overly complex solution. I've driven in both Germany and the US (DC area, while on holiday), and found US driving a lot more relaxed. There are some odd rules here and there, but in general it was less unpleasant. Driving on the Autobahn can be quite stressful when you have a few people who want to drive really fast. Those kinds of speed differences reduce road capacity significantly. I'm not saying these people are necessarily unqualified to drive at such speeds, they may be the best drivers in the world, but everyone would reach their destination sooner if those folks were to stick to 130-140km/h. That said, the posted speed limits in the US are definitely on the low side. The same roads would have a higher speed limit in Germany.

seanp2k2 10y ago

Or like how England does motorcycle classes: the 16 y/o with rich parents can't drive the C63 AMG until later.

lorenzhs 10y ago

Germany has a drinking age of 16 (for beer and wine, spirits are 18+), a driving age of 18 (there is assisted driving at 17, where you need to have a parent/relative in the passenger seat until you turn 18), and voting age of 18 for federal elections (state and local elections vary, some states allow 16-yr olds to vote). It was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1970. Different speed limits for different drivers could result in a "lower-class" driver being an obstruction for others. I don't think that would work out. That said, motorcycle licenses in the EU are separated into several classes with various maximum engine sizes (16+ for 11kW/15hp, 18+ for 35kW/47hp, and 20+ unlimited). They're separate tests.

beachstartup 10y ago
> Different speed limits for different drivers could result in a "lower-class" driver being an obstruction for others. I don't think that would work out what i'm really saying is that you should be able to test for a higher speed limit in the US. slow drivers will be slow regardless of what the limit is, and unsafe. i've driven on the autobahn in the no speed limit sections (primarily around munich) and there were still slower, unsafe morons occupying lanes they shouldn't have been. maybe tourists. remember, in the US we have very low speed limits of ~100kph pretty much anywhere. i think it should be higher. people routinely drive 145kph here in southern california, enforcement of 100kph is arbitrary, which is not healtyh for respect for the law in general.
- hx87 10y ago
  Higher speed limits for separate highways that would require a special license to enter? I'd support that.
- lorenzhs 10y ago
  Well wouldn't better driver's ed solve most of those issues? A tiered license system seems like an overly complex solution. I've driven in both Germany and the US (DC area, while on holiday), and found US driving a lot more relaxed. There are some odd rules here and there, but in general it was less unpleasant. Driving on the Autobahn can be quite stressful when you have a few people who want to drive really fast. Those kinds of speed differences reduce road capacity significantly. I'm not saying these people are necessarily unqualified to drive at such speeds, they may be the best drivers in the world, but everyone would reach their destination sooner if those folks were to stick to 130-140km/h. That said, the posted speed limits in the US are definitely on the low side. The same roads would have a higher speed limit in Germany.