Wondering how people got their driver's license... (Cincinnati, Kent: high school, drivers license)

[Kerby W-R]

We are saturated by drivers making 18 wheeler turns in our area. (Mahoning County)
Left hand turns into the far lane. Sometimes even right hand turns into the far lane.
Red light runners are rampant here. People turning right on No Right on Red and the
people who don't turn right on red when they're supposed to. Hope your area is better.

[woxyroxme]

I think the driving test involves holding a mirror in front of a person’s face and if the mirror fogs up they get a license. Every time I have to drive in the greater Cincinnati area I never fail to witness a feat of incredible stupidity. I had to take a client to Kentucky last night and someone in a pick up truck decided to go from the far left lane to the exit ramp cutting across two other traffic lanes. I also saw a guy in an Audi (a-hole usually driving it) weaving in and out of traffic doing 80-90 MPH. Driving and thinking at the same time is hard for a lot of people.

[IonRedline08]

Originally Posted by Kerby W-R

We are saturated by drivers making 18 wheeler turns in our area. (Mahoning County)
Left hand turns into the far lane. Sometimes even right hand turns into the far lane.
Red light runners are rampant here. People turning right on No Right on Red and the
people who don't turn right on red when they're supposed to. Hope your area is better.

Too true.. I was almost hit on Bailey rd the other day by someone turning right off of 80 into the left lane I was traveling down.. When I say almost, I had to slam on my brakes and swerve to avoid it. And driving down Mahoning every afternoon is a deathrace

[ram2]

Where are all the Ohio cops? I thought Ohio was known for having a cop at every street corner?

[SilkHammer]

When I got my driver's license (1980) my high school had an entire semester program devoted to Driver's Ed. Over the course of that 5 months we practiced driving in simulators, practiced driving in car in the parking lot of our stadium which was set up with stop signs, turn arrows and marked lanes etc, practiced driving in car on the local roads and of course lots of book time studying all the traffic laws, do's and don'ts. In addition my teacher was a retired Ohio State Highway Patrolman and his insights and anecdotes were invaluable to me. A few of the things he taught have absolutely saved me from a few accidents over the years.

I don't believe Driver's education is anywhere near as in depth these days. Kids take quickie classes and drive with Mom and Dad for a short while and then they are on their own.

[woxyroxme]

I got my drivers license in 1979, two months of Saturday morning classes before turning 16 with the basketball coach and then a week in the drivers ed car with the football coach after you got your temps. Lebanon was a small hick town back then, the driving test was just a short trip less than a mile.

I don’t think the difference is a lack of instruction as much as a shift in attitudes. Back then people acted like mature responsible adults as opposed to now where too many people have a self absorbed sense of entitlement, we did not have a word for “road rage” 40 years ago.