Comments on: Driven Mad: South Africa’s Insane Drivers License Process http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/ General interest observations and true web-log. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 02:18:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: hhopper http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850798 hhopper Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:47:17 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850798 <blockquote><em>About the same everywhere in the world, from what I’ve seen. Went to Puerto Vallarta once. Got into a taxi at the airport, then shot at top speed down the just-barely-wider-than-the-car center lane, inches away from the car in front, as the car skidded (I could hear it) around curves. No seat belts so we were sliding back and forth on the bench seats. Since it was nearly dark, the driver flipped on the lights which caused smoke to billow from something shorting out in the dash. He turned the lights off (ie, drove in the dark) and never slowed down while coughing heavily from the smoke.</em></blockquote> Damn Uncle Dave! You could sell that skit to SNL! That's hilarious! Too bad you don't have a video of it.

About the same everywhere in the world, from what I’ve seen. Went to Puerto Vallarta once. Got into a taxi at the airport, then shot at top speed down the just-barely-wider-than-the-car center lane, inches away from the car in front, as the car skidded (I could hear it) around curves. No seat belts so we were sliding back and forth on the bench seats. Since it was nearly dark, the driver flipped on the lights which caused smoke to billow from something shorting out in the dash. He turned the lights off (ie, drove in the dark) and never slowed down while coughing heavily from the smoke.

Damn Uncle Dave! You could sell that skit to SNL! That’s hilarious! Too bad you don’t have a video of it.

]]> By: Bob http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850770 Bob Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:22:58 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850770 Holy Shit!!!! Holy Shit!!!!

]]> By: billabong http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850755 billabong Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:56:24 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850755 Let me mention again! The law is designed to keep black people off the road.BTW it works! Let me mention again! The law is designed to keep black people off the road.BTW it works!

]]> By: MikeN http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850727 MikeN Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:03:21 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850727 My driver's test was almost as tough. Got docked points for not checking my mirror, had to parallel park, 3pt turn in a driveway, treating it as a two lane road, drive in reverse, etc. We should make our tests more rigorous. Since everyone pays for auto insurance, having better drivers would lower our rates. My driver’s test was almost as tough. Got docked points for not checking my mirror, had to parallel park, 3pt turn in a driveway, treating it as a two lane road, drive in reverse, etc. We should make our tests more rigorous. Since everyone pays for auto insurance, having better drivers would lower our rates.

]]> By: GetSmart http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850652 GetSmart Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:46:55 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850652 Unfortunately, in Amerika the ability to drive is not a right, not a privilege but a necessity approaching that of oxygen, water and food. I'm quite sure that after major illness and corporate downsizing, the 3rd major cause of homelessness in the USA is being without an automobile. Maybe I feel that way because outside Fulton County here in the Metro Atlanta area, it takes two to three hours on a bus to get to somewhere 10 miles away. So I don't want to hear any pure silliness about public transportation being an alternative, because most places in the country, it isn't. And the LAST time I rode the bus here, it cost me over $500 in lost work and doctor bills, because four days later I came down with the worst case of flu I've had in years. I've moved close enough to my current job to walk if necessary. And that's not an option for most folks either. Unfortunately, in Amerika the ability to drive is not a right, not a privilege but a necessity approaching that of oxygen, water and food. I’m quite sure that after major illness and corporate downsizing, the 3rd major cause of homelessness in the USA is being without an automobile. Maybe I feel that way because outside Fulton County here in the Metro Atlanta area, it takes two to three hours on a bus to get to somewhere 10 miles away.
So I don’t want to hear any pure silliness about public transportation being an alternative, because most places in the country, it isn’t. And the LAST time I rode the bus here, it cost me over $500 in lost work and doctor bills, because four days later I came down with the worst case of flu I’ve had in years. I’ve moved close enough to my current job to walk if necessary. And that’s not an option for most folks either.

]]> By: Uncle Dave http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850651 Uncle Dave Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:46:28 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850651 Driving around Las Vegas where I live is like driving in a foreign country. Green and yellow lights mean exactly the same thing. Turning red means if the guy in front of you (who couldn't imagine stopping on the yellow) slowed you down enough so you're poking along at the speed limit you have plenty of time to get through the intersection. Red means, OK, I'll stop, I guess. Sometimes. When I moved here I sold my $40K Saab convertible for a $10K used, beater commuter car. Because this is Vegas -- bumper car and car theft capital of the West -- my insurance on this car is nearly double what my Saab was in a more sedate town. Driving around Las Vegas where I live is like driving in a foreign country. Green and yellow lights mean exactly the same thing. Turning red means if the guy in front of you (who couldn’t imagine stopping on the yellow) slowed you down enough so you’re poking along at the speed limit you have plenty of time to get through the intersection. Red means, OK, I’ll stop, I guess. Sometimes.

When I moved here I sold my $40K Saab convertible for a $10K used, beater commuter car. Because this is Vegas — bumper car and car theft capital of the West — my insurance on this car is nearly double what my Saab was in a more sedate town.

]]> By: Improbus http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850633 Improbus Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:25:10 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850633 Speaking as a person with a commercial drivers license I have to agree getting an auto license in the United States is a joke. It might help if you had to pass an IQ test first. Speaking as a person with a commercial drivers license I have to agree getting an auto license in the United States is a joke. It might help if you had to pass an IQ test first.

]]> By: Enforcer http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850621 Enforcer Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:14:44 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850621 In the United States there are more than 40,000 fatalities due to car accidents each year. That's about five people killed each single day. Or about 1/10 of a person per State per day. My point? Don't drive out of state. In the United States there are more than 40,000 fatalities due to car accidents each year. That’s about five people killed each single day. Or about 1/10 of a person per State per day. My point? Don’t drive out of state.

]]> By: Tom Tcimpidis http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850596 Tom Tcimpidis Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:39:16 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850596 Maybe we would have better drivers in the US if some of these requirements were applied here as well. Driving tests in the US are a farce. Maybe we would have better drivers in the US if some of these requirements were applied here as well. Driving tests in the US are a farce.

]]> By: babaganoosh http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850579 babaganoosh Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:14:33 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850579 @#8 Jonathan Peel He was being facetious, Jonathan. @#8 Jonathan Peel

He was being facetious, Jonathan.

]]> By: Jonathan Peel http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850575 Jonathan Peel Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:03:39 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850575 Chuck It is comments like that, that make me glad I am not an American... :-) Chuck

It is comments like that, that make me glad I am not an American…

:-)

]]> By: chuck http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850569 chuck Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:56:20 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850569 It would never work in the US. Thousands of Americans would never let the lack of a valid driver's license, or a suspended license, prevent them from actually driving. Many celebrities demonstrate this on a daily basis. Driving is a God-given right! It's what our fore-fathers fought for in Vietnam! It would never work in the US.
Thousands of Americans would never let the lack of a valid driver’s license, or a suspended license, prevent them from actually driving.
Many celebrities demonstrate this on a daily basis.

Driving is a God-given right!
It’s what our fore-fathers fought for in Vietnam!

]]> By: Uncle Dave http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850561 Uncle Dave Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:50:51 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850561 About the same everywhere in the world, from what I've seen. Went to Puerto Vallarta once. Got into a taxi at the airport, then shot at top speed down the just-barely-wider-than-the-car center lane, inches away from the car in front, as the car skidded (I could hear it) around curves. No seat belts so we were sliding back and forth on the bench seats. Since it was nearly dark, the driver flipped on the lights which caused smoke to billow from something shorting out in the dash. He turned the lights off (ie, drove in the dark) and never slowed down while coughing heavily from the smoke. About the same everywhere in the world, from what I’ve seen. Went to Puerto Vallarta once. Got into a taxi at the airport, then shot at top speed down the just-barely-wider-than-the-car center lane, inches away from the car in front, as the car skidded (I could hear it) around curves. No seat belts so we were sliding back and forth on the bench seats. Since it was nearly dark, the driver flipped on the lights which caused smoke to billow from something shorting out in the dash. He turned the lights off (ie, drove in the dark) and never slowed down while coughing heavily from the smoke.

]]> By: Jonathan Peel http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850553 Jonathan Peel Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:21:56 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850553 As a South African, and someone who passes first time in 2002. (In SA passing first time is something to brag about...) It is a little crazy, but we do not know any better. You first have to walk up to the car with the examiner. You will then say "There are no obstruction under or around the vehicle." You then tell the examiner that you have checked and there is a spare wheel, spanner and jack in the boot. You then get into the car, invite the examiner to get into the car. Put you seat belt on, tell the examiner that you are doing it, and tell him that he also has to put on his seat belt. You then do a yard test, which is parallel parking, ally docking, and a three point turn. They you get to the road test, where you drive wherever the examiner tells you to go. (Left here, right here) It is not true that you have to check all mirrors every 7 seconds. You need to check the middle (overhead) mirror once every eight to ten seconds as long as your speed is constant and you do not cross any roads. If you come to a cross road you are required to do what is called a five point check... Look over your left shoulder, check the left rear view mirror, check the overhead mirror, check your right rear view mirror, look over your right shoulder. You are required to check the overhead mirror before accelerating or decelerating at any road. If you would like to turn or change lanes to the right for instance you are required only to do a four point check... look in the left rear view mirror, check the over head mirror, check the right mirror, look over your right shoulder. You can then indicate your turn (put the flicker on). you are required to perform the four point check once more before turning. If you are coming to a stop you are required to remain in the current gear until you have completely stopped. You can then pull up the hand break (without making a noise) and then putting the gearbox into neutral. When pulling away, if the car roles backward you will fail on the spot. Hope you enjoyed reading my little comment... but you must remember... South Africans are Shit drivers... they don't know what they are doing... come and drive through Johannesburg, you'll see what I mean... I don't know if K-53 is enough for them... As a South African, and someone who passes first time in 2002.
(In SA passing first time is something to brag about…)

It is a little crazy, but we do not know any better.
You first have to walk up to the car with the examiner.
You will then say “There are no obstruction under or around the vehicle.”
You then tell the examiner that you have checked and there is a spare wheel, spanner and jack in the boot.

You then get into the car, invite the examiner to get into the car.
Put you seat belt on, tell the examiner that you are doing it, and tell him that he also has to put on his seat belt.

You then do a yard test, which is parallel parking, ally docking, and a three point turn.

They you get to the road test, where you drive wherever the examiner tells you to go. (Left here, right here)

It is not true that you have to check all mirrors every 7 seconds. You need to check the middle (overhead) mirror once every eight to ten seconds as long as your speed is constant and you do not cross any roads.

If you come to a cross road you are required to do what is called a five point check…
Look over your left shoulder, check the left rear view mirror, check the overhead mirror, check your right rear view mirror, look over your right shoulder.
You are required to check the overhead mirror before accelerating or decelerating at any road.

If you would like to turn or change lanes to the right for instance you are required only to do a four point check…
look in the left rear view mirror, check the over head mirror, check the right mirror, look over your right shoulder.
You can then indicate your turn (put the flicker on).
you are required to perform the four point check once more before turning.

If you are coming to a stop you are required to remain in the current gear until you have completely stopped. You can then pull up the hand break (without making a noise) and then putting the gearbox into neutral. When pulling away, if the car roles backward you will fail on the spot.

Hope you enjoyed reading my little comment… but you must remember… South Africans are Shit drivers… they don’t know what they are doing… come and drive through Johannesburg, you’ll see what I mean…
I don’t know if K-53 is enough for them…

]]> By: tallwookie http://www.dvorak.org/blog/2007/10/30/driven-mad-south-africas-insane-drivers-license-process/comment-page-1/#comment-850540 tallwookie Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:10:03 +0000 http://www.dvorak.org/blog/?p=14319#comment-850540 dunno... If i was driving a live claymore mine, I'd do my best to run into other cars and door pedestrians like a real-life GTA dunno… If i was driving a live claymore mine, I’d do my best to run into other cars and door pedestrians like a real-life GTA

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