Hey clones!

Go to:

http://news.yahoo.com/

and follow the technology link to "Car that can park itself put on sale
by Toyota". I'd put the actual link in but it's waay too long for a
single line on a post.

There is no further need to include a parking test in the examination
for Drivers licenses. Now that a car can park itself, why should anyone
have to learn how to do it. Imagine how much more cellphone time and
makeup application time this will give people!

- Mike KB3EIA - out!


President, NPTI

"Dedicated to taking driving into the future"

"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...
Hey clones!

Go to:

http://news.yahoo.com/

and follow the technology link to "Car that can park itself put on sale
by Toyota". I'd put the actual link in but it's waay too long for a
single line on a post.

There is no further need to include a parking test in the examination
for Drivers licenses. Now that a car can park itself, why should anyone
have to learn how to do it. Imagine how much more cellphone time and
makeup application time this will give people!

- Mike KB3EIA - out!


President, NPTI

"Dedicated to taking driving into the future"


Yup you got it. Here in Michigan the driving test is two parts. The first
part, which you MUST pass before you can take the actual driving section, is
parking manuevers. These consist of pulling up within 2 feet of but not
over the line, backing into a parking space like those in shopping centers,
and parallel parking. These three manuevers count for 8 points. The
parallel parking is 5 of those 8. You can only miss 6 points to pass this
section. So if you blow parallel parking and make any mistake at all on the
others, you fail. Most new drivers have to take the test a minimum of
twice. Three times is more typical.

Fail the basically unimportant parking lot maneuvers (these situations can
all be avoided in the real world if you want to) and you don't get your
license.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE
(and parent of a newly licensed driver)

Dee D. Flint wrote:
"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
...

Hey clones!

Go to:

http://news.yahoo.com/

and follow the technology link to "Car that can park itself put on sale
by Toyota". I'd put the actual link in but it's waay too long for a
single line on a post.

There is no further need to include a parking test in the examination
for Drivers licenses. Now that a car can park itself, why should anyone
have to learn how to do it. Imagine how much more cellphone time and
makeup application time this will give people!

- Mike KB3EIA - out!


President, NPTI

"Dedicated to taking driving into the future"



Yup you got it. Here in Michigan the driving test is two parts. The first
part, which you MUST pass before you can take the actual driving section, is
parking manuevers. These consist of pulling up within 2 feet of but not
over the line, backing into a parking space like those in shopping centers,
and parallel parking. These three manuevers count for 8 points. The
parallel parking is 5 of those 8. You can only miss 6 points to pass this
section. So if you blow parallel parking and make any mistake at all on the
others, you fail. Most new drivers have to take the test a minimum of
twice. Three times is more typical.

Fail the basically unimportant parking lot maneuvers (these situations can
all be avoided in the real world if you want to) and you don't get your
license.


Ahh, you see? You see? This is a terrible travesty, and is really just
a hazing ritual.

Mind you, NPTI has no objection to a driver actually parallel parking
(PP) his or her vehicle, but we think it is an outdated and unecessary
thing to have a person actually have to pass a test showing that they
can do PP.

Now there is a question about the amount of space that is used up by
PP. At this time, NPTI respects the right of those that do PP, but if
the People who PP fall significantly, we will have to revisit that
question. Certainly if enough people do not PP, that space would be
better used by other methods of parking.

Why anyone should be forced to PP is beyond me.

- Mike KB3EIA -

President, NPTI

"Dedicated to taking driving into the future"

Yup you got it. Here in Michigan the driving test is two parts. The first
part, which you MUST pass before you can take the actual driving section, is
parking manuevers. These consist of pulling up within 2 feet of but not
over the line, backing into a parking space like those in shopping centers,
and parallel parking.

They don't care specifucally about the ability to park. They just want
you to be
able to demostrate your ability to handle your car to some level of
control. Parking
is a safe way to do that, vs say flying thru a tollgate at highway speed...

"Robert Casey" wrote in message
...






Yup you got it. Here in Michigan the driving test is two parts. The
first
part, which you MUST pass before you can take the actual driving section,
is
parking manuevers. These consist of pulling up within 2 feet of but not
over the line, backing into a parking space like those in shopping
centers,
and parallel parking.

They don't care specifucally about the ability to park. They just want
you to be
able to demostrate your ability to handle your car to some level of
control. Parking
is a safe way to do that, vs say flying thru a tollgate at highway
speed...


Maneuvering at slow speed is an entirely different skill set than that
required for typical driving speeds. Both must be practiced and one's
ability in parking maneuvers will not give any indication of driving ability
on the street and vice versa. This happens to be the first place I've ever
been where flunking the parallel parking basically leaves you no leeway
(it's worth 5 points and you can only miss 6 altogether on the parking lot
maneuvers). I haven't yet formed an opinion on whether this is good or bad.

The backing into a parking space seemed an odd requirement, as some places,
if you back into the space (in the real world), you can be ticketed. Again
haven't decided if this is good or bad.

The pulling up to the line seems eminently reasonable though.

If they wanted to check your ability before risking their necks on the road
with the examinee, it might be better to have them drive around a set of
pylons at a more normal speed than the ultra-slow parking maneuvers.

Also here in Michigan, the driving tests are no longer administered by the
state but by the driving schools. It costs $45 each time you take the test
although if you fail, part of that is refunded. The fee is on top of what
you already paid to take the Segment I and Segment II driving classes. For
those of you not familiar with Michigan, the schools do not have Driver's Ed
classes anymore. They simply coordinate a schedule with a driving school.
I forget the fee for taking the class ($200 though rings a bell).

This is substantially different than it was a few years ago. It's also
quite different than the state I grew up in and the state where my older
daughter got her license.

Anyway, the state made things tougher in an attempt to reduce teen
accidents. It's apparently been to short a time to evaluate its
effectiveness but preliminary info indicates it may be helping.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

And you have my sympathy..... that is a scary proposition now a days,
especially in the Metro area!!!!!!!! Already licensed drivers are insane on
the roadways down there in the "flatlands" of Michigan, and add a kid with
limited experience, wow!


Dee D. Flint, N8UZE
(and parent of a newly licensed driver)

"Larry Roll K3LT" wrote in message
...
Hey, I'll go one further than that. I think they should be tested in the
proper
procedures for changing a tyre on the highway under severe emergency
conditions.


You spent too much time in England. When my tire goes flat on the highway,
I call for help. It's too dangerous to do this on the side of the road,
alone, at night, in the rain (Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my). I
couldn't resist!

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

In article om, "Dee D.
Flint" writes:



"Larry Roll K3LT" wrote in message
...
Hey, I'll go one further than that. I think they should be tested in the
proper
procedures for changing a tyre on the highway under severe emergency
conditions.


You spent too much time in England.

Dee:

Which of my behaviours would cause to say that, then?

When my tire

Is that something tired (i.e. lacking in sleep)?

goes flat on the highway,

That means you probably have a puncture.

I call for help.

With your Vodafone mobile, undoubtedly!

It's too dangerous to do this on the side of the road,
alone, at night, in the rain (Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my). I
couldn't resist!

No problem. All you have to do is make sure you've pulled safely
off the motorway, put out your triangle, then collect the spare,
jack, and lever (pronounced "leever") from the car boot. Hopefully
your wheel nuts won't be corroded. Then, after replacing the flat
tyre with the spare, hopefully you won't be too knackered to
continue with your journey!

73 de Larry, K3LT
Ex: G0LYW
RAF Mildenhall, UK, 1989 - 1991

"Larry Roll K3LT" wrote in message
...
In article om, "Dee D.
Flint" writes:



"Larry Roll K3LT" wrote in message
...
Hey, I'll go one further than that. I think they should be tested in
the
proper
procedures for changing a tyre on the highway under severe emergency
conditions.


You spent too much time in England.

Dee:

Which of my behaviours would cause to say that, then?

When my tire

Is that something tired (i.e. lacking in sleep)?

goes flat on the highway,

That means you probably have a puncture.

I call for help.

With your Vodafone mobile, undoubtedly!

It's too dangerous to do this on the side of the road,
alone, at night, in the rain (Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my). I
couldn't resist!

No problem. All you have to do is make sure you've pulled safely
off the motorway, put out your triangle, then collect the spare,
jack, and lever (pronounced "leever") from the car boot. Hopefully
your wheel nuts won't be corroded. Then, after replacing the flat
tyre with the spare, hopefully you won't be too knackered to
continue with your journey!

73 de Larry, K3LT
Ex: G0LYW
RAF Mildenhall, UK, 1989 - 1991

At one company I worked for we actually kept a cross-reference sheet of
English versus American terms for interpreting some of our customers
requirements. So at least I know to have a spanner handy for emergencies
like this.

Actually today I was pretty "knackered" just coping with the freeway traffic
here.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

"Dee D. Flint" wrote in message igy.com...
"Larry Roll K3LT" wrote in message
...
In article om, "Dee D.
Flint" writes:



"Larry Roll K3LT" wrote in message
...
Hey, I'll go one further than that. I think they should be tested in
the
proper
procedures for changing a tyre on the highway under severe emergency
conditions.


You spent too much time in England.

Dee:

Which of my behaviours would cause to say that, then?

When my tire

Is that something tired (i.e. lacking in sleep)?

goes flat on the highway,

That means you probably have a puncture.

I call for help.

With your Vodafone mobile, undoubtedly!

It's too dangerous to do this on the side of the road,
alone, at night, in the rain (Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my). I
couldn't resist!

No problem. All you have to do is make sure you've pulled safely
off the motorway, put out your triangle, then collect the spare,
jack, and lever (pronounced "leever") from the car boot. Hopefully
your wheel nuts won't be corroded. Then, after replacing the flat
tyre with the spare, hopefully you won't be too knackered to
continue with your journey!

73 de Larry, K3LT
Ex: G0LYW
RAF Mildenhall, UK, 1989 - 1991

At one company I worked for we actually kept a cross-reference sheet of
English versus American terms for interpreting some of our customers
requirements. So at least I know to have a spanner handy for emergencies
like this.

Actually today I was pretty "knackered" just coping with the freeway traffic
here.

Dee D. Flint, N8UZE

Hey Dee, why not just mimeograph the list of Q-codes and and you would
have been perfect copy with whatever nationality you were doing
high-finance with. At least that's what the PCTA tries to pass off as
the truth.

Hi hi!