Driving Rants

[Flyndaran]

They're usually required to get a vehicle specially constructed to work with whichever hand they have, and need frequent retesting. Why should they be subject to that if it's perfectly safe to drive with one arm hanging out your window?

I think we are talking about widly different cultures. You're in England right? Here in the U.S., driving is such an assumed ability that license requirements are quite lax.

[BroomJockey]

You're in England right?

Yes... Alberta, England. Just left of Iceland, and above Australia.

No, I know that people with bad eyesight, and people over certain ages in many of the states in the US are required to undergo retesting.

[Flyndaran]

...
No, I know that people with bad eyesight, and people over certain ages in many of the states in the US are required to undergo retesting.

Nope, as long as the license still says that they require glasses for driving, they are required to get retested no more often than those of perfect vision.
Though I as a non-driver I should probably let an american driver write instead.

[BroomJockey]

Nope, as long as the license still says that they require glasses for driving, they are required to get retested no more often than those of perfect vision.

Seriously? I distinctly remember a story about someone needing to be retested every year because they were nearly legally blind. That might have been a special case, I suppose. And of course, I can't remember if I read it online, or in a paper, or what, so I can't find it. I suck at teh googlez today.

[AdminAssistant]

When I'm on the long, looooong drive between AR and KS, I frequently let one hand rest on the wheel and let the other one make sure the car stays between the little lines. But there's virtually no traffic, and when I hit the winding two lane road that takes me out of the Ozarks, you bet I'm sitting up straight, hands at 10 and 2, completely alert. But never let the arm hang out the window. WTF? Do they want to lose an arm? To me, a car is like a roller coaster ride, all proper restraints in use, and hands and feet inside the car (and if I'm going above 40 mph or so, windows always up).

[blas87]

How about when you're waiting at a red light, and you're in front, with a few vehicles behind you.

The freakin milisecond that the light turns green, the person behind you toots their horn, just as you were letting off the brake to get going.

[crazylegs]

I drive one handed, but only because I am more comfortable doing that.

So when something major happens, and you flinch (and flinch you will) your major muscle groups in your arms (i.e. your biceps) will overpower your triceps, meaning you will actually pull your free hand away from the wheel, just when you need it most.

In case you're wondering why your other hand doesn't come off the wheel? Ever hear of a White Knuckle Ride? When you're scared, or flinch you make a fist (hence why you never rest your finger on the trigger of a weapon, you get scared and you'll ND it) so it'll stay on the wheel.