The American Spectator

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(Page 5 of 10)

/p> p> JOY DRIVING br> Re: Eric Peters's Lousy Drivers in a GPS Age : /p>

OK, here's an idea. Since ANY distraction is "bad," let's totally encase the driver in a sound-proof, light-proof, heck ANYTHING-proof enclosure. Ensure absolutely NO contact with anyone in the vehicle that might disrupt their concentration. Then we can fit him/her with a helmet with a video display that shows the driver what they would actually see as they turn their heads. You can feed in directional sound, as well. No music, no cell phones, no conversations, no distractions. Then see what happens over an 8 hour drive…

Facetious, sure, but damn, this nanny-state interest in absolute control over "interruptions" to the driver is getting a bit crazy. I don't know what they'll do about sneezing.

p>Regarding motorcycles in blind spots, I want to point that from a motorcycle rider's perspective, I'm ALWAYS in the blind spot. Even after eye contact, drivers still don't seem able to see me. And I'm on a pretty big bike. I think it has something to do with drivers prejudiced to seeing only four or more wheeled vehicles. They "see" me, but since I'm only on two wheels, they don't actually consciously recognize what they're seeing. I hate being in heavy traffic where I'm constantly in some vehicle's natural blind spot. You get feeling like conditionally living road-kill real quick. br> -- Karl F. Auerbach br> Eden, Utah /p>

Your point that to have a driver's license is a "right" that cannot be questioned is accurate. Case in point. Several years ago a driver killed a pedestrian in a cross walk. It was discovered that the driver (a senior citizen) was "legally blind" but still received a license renewal . This discovery caused a minor uproar with politicians around the issue. Yearly testing of anyone over 75 years of age was being called for and more frequent road tests. The AAPR and advocates for seniors made sure that there were no additional tests of any kind to be mandatory for seniors.

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