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It's usually an equity issue, or championed as such by equity groups. America is so car dependent that for folks at the margins failing a driving test is the eq

It's usually an equity issue, or championed as such by equity groups. America is so car dependent that for folks at the margins failing a driving test is the equivalent of losing your job. That's why DL renewals almost rarely require any re-testing and never require demonstrating driving skills.

whimsicalism 4y ago
Hitting pedestrians also poses issues for folks at the margins, yet we don't seek to educate those people on how to avoid this potentially life destroying situation.
- notch656a 4y ago
  I think you would be hard pressed to find someone currently living with a license that got it at a time where it was OK to will-nilly hit pedestrians.
  - CJefferson 4y ago
    I bet I can find plenty of people who have a licence, but if retested now would fail -- which suggests they now can't be trusted not to willy-nilly hit pedestrians.
- Karrot_Kream 4y ago
  I agree but a lot of equity groups are not willing to advocate for pedestrian lives. The perception a lot of Americans have is that folks are either walking because they have literally no option and are thus probably not really working-class folks or they're out for recreation. There's a growing number of organizations advocating for pedestrian and cyclist safety but they have a lot less funding and fewer connections that equity groups which protect drivers. If you have the opportunity in your area, donate to such a group or help make one yourself.
Invictus0 4y ago
Nonsense. It's an elderly issue, everyone knows elderly people shouldn't be on the road but no one wants to take their licenses (they vote in droves).
- Karrot_Kream 4y ago
  That is one end of this issue, yes. But there's more to it than just the elderly.
Swizec 4y ago
> failing a driving test is the equivalent of Devil's advocate: Maybe you shouldn't be driving, if you might fail a driving test. Being tested on this should be a complete non-issue for anyone with a few years of real world driving experience.

whimsicalism 4y ago

Hitting pedestrians also poses issues for folks at the margins, yet we don't seek to educate those people on how to avoid this potentially life destroying situation.

notch656a 4y ago
I think you would be hard pressed to find someone currently living with a license that got it at a time where it was OK to will-nilly hit pedestrians.
- CJefferson 4y ago
  I bet I can find plenty of people who have a licence, but if retested now would fail -- which suggests they now can't be trusted not to willy-nilly hit pedestrians.
Karrot_Kream 4y ago
I agree but a lot of equity groups are not willing to advocate for pedestrian lives. The perception a lot of Americans have is that folks are either walking because they have literally no option and are thus probably not really working-class folks or they're out for recreation. There's a growing number of organizations advocating for pedestrian and cyclist safety but they have a lot less funding and fewer connections that equity groups which protect drivers. If you have the opportunity in your area, donate to such a group or help make one yourself.

Invictus0 4y ago

Nonsense. It's an elderly issue, everyone knows elderly people shouldn't be on the road but no one wants to take their licenses (they vote in droves).

Karrot_Kream 4y ago
That is one end of this issue, yes. But there's more to it than just the elderly.

Swizec 4y ago

> failing a driving test is the equivalent of Devil's advocate: Maybe you shouldn't be driving, if you might fail a driving test. Being tested on this should be a complete non-issue for anyone with a few years of real world driving experience.