It sounds like the name of a horrible 80s comedy: "Driving School- starring Robert Carradine, Anthony Edwards, Timothy Busfield, and Ted McGinley." But no- tomorrow the government of Norway has seen fit that yours truly, who has driving for the past 23 years must take class(es?) to the tune of almost $100/hour. Cash only. This outfit sounds more like an impound lot than a school of driving.
On one hand, I really don't care. In another life, I started driving in Iowa, where I received my original license at 16 without taking a state-run "practical test." In fact, behind the wheel tests were run like the Vietnam draft. If your birthday fell on either of two dates selected, you took the test. Those were the days. I later had a job that required me to take a behind the wheel test for a commerical driver's license, and I passed with no problem.
The trouble is, these days, I cannot imagine driving with my hands at ten and two. I seriously don't know how I will manage. I can handle all the mechanics of driving, but to drive "properly?" You have got to be kidding! We will see what happens. My actual test is Friday. I wonder if they tear up my paper license if I fail? Wish me luck.
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6 comments:
I think you're not supposed to drive with your hands at 10 and 2 anymore, because of airbags. Supposedly people have severely injured their faces by punching themselves when the airbag goes off, kind of negating the purpose of it...
I can't remember where I heard that, and I haven't had a license in years, so I could be way off base...
That works for me. Years ago I was nicked a few points for backing up with one hand on the wheel as I looked over my shoulder- like how everyone backs up. I was supposed keep both hands on the wheel in case I had a blowout backing up at 3mph. I probably will take my right hand off the wheel for too long when I shift... and in Norway, if you take your test with an automatic, you end up with a special license where you can only drive an automatic.
WOW, DRIVING SCHOOL AND A TV TAX... what the hell? Why is it again that you moved there? I thought the Nazi's were driven out of Europe..., but in fact they just moved north... and started selling BMWs... (kidding)
Driving school, TV tax ... it's just the beginning.
It is often conceived, by americans especially, that being allowed to operate a vehicle is a fundamental right, but it is a privilege and as such should be earned and can be lost. Unfortunately suburbia has put a strangle on most people in the states such that they can't even walk half a mile to the grocery store because there are no sidewalks and they need to cross three highways in the process. The convenience of the automobile has put us in a situation where we move further away from from the traditional city centers in order to have the American prefab dream house and subsequently become dependent on the automobile for the 30+ min. commute.
Sorry for ranting.
You are preaching to the choir here: in the US- where people can have 15 DWIs and still be on the road- where licenses are handed out in cereal boxes- where eyesight seems to be the biggest determining factor of driving skill- where driving treated like a right, rather than a priviledge. At least it is treated like a serious responsibility here.
Of couse, when we are talking about me, I expect the world to cater to my needs ;) -something like the statistic that 83% of all drivers consider themselves to be above average.
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