I fully expect car accidents to spike in my area

"Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre) 07/03/2020 at 15:30 • Filed to: None

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We had to swing by the BMV today, and I got to see the state’s response to continuing to offer driver’s license exams during Covid.

Basically, they’ve blocked off a small corner of parking lot and set up a couple of stop signs, and a yield sign. The examiner walks the test taker around the course to show them the path they should take. Then they stand on the curb and watch them go through it. They never leave the parking lot. They do the whole thing under 15mph because it’s too small to do more. They don’t even do the traditional maneuverability test with this set up.

I’m not sure what a good option would be honestly, but this can’t really give a good indication of ability to the examiner.

Hopefully none of these whipper-snappers drive across my lawn and wreck into my house.

Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 15:47

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In Georgia they've gone back to normal procedures but by appointment only. Someone I know is going to be doing some in person required instructed hours this week.

Aremmes > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 15:52

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Hopefully the test car’s tires are inflated properly. Slightly under-inflated tires are strongly attracted to curbs and median strips.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 15:55

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I assumed this was just because of  the 4th. Traffic has been nuts the last few days here. I won’t be taking the bike anywhere need a major road or highway Untill after the weekend 

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 16:21

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I read that there was a sizable spike in traffic accidents after the quarantine kicked in because with no traffic, people drove more like buttholes than normal.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/03/2020 at 17:14

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My neighbor is a full time paid fire fighter / paramedic.  He said after quarantine started their overall call volume dropped, but the calls they got were mostly traffic accidents, for exactly the reason you describe.  He said they also got a lot of power tool accidents, and drug ODs. 

Taylor Martin > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 17:18

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You go into quarantine and the aggressive bad drivers fill the gaps.

You get out of quarantine and everyone who’s forgotten how to drive is back on the road.

It’s a lose lose.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Snuze: Needs another Swede 07/03/2020 at 17:34

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We are exiled to a planet covered in morons.

ttyymmnn > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 18:51

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I got my license in 1982, and my OTR test was one lap around the ring road at the shopping mall. That was it. 

Kiltedpadre > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 07/03/2020 at 18:53

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What I had bern told was there was a drop in the total numbers of accidents , but the severity of the accidents was worse because people assumed there wouldn’t be many speed traps so they were driving significantly  faster than normal.

Kiltedpadre > Taylor Martin 07/03/2020 at 18:55

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Now imagine releasing a bunch of 16yos that did all their driver’s ed classes online and never drove with anyone but mom and dad. Then the icing on the cake is having the actual exam involve 5min at 10mph in a tiny section of a parking lot.

Kiltedpadre > ttyymmnn 07/03/2020 at 18:58

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At least that includes lane lines so they could be sure you weren’t all over and potentially other vehicles.

Kiltedpadre > Aremmes 07/03/2020 at 18:59

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I wonder how often the evaluator has had to step out of the way or a bad driver.

Kiltedpadre > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 07/03/2020 at 19:06

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Nope, one of my coworkers has a 16yo son that recently got his temps. He was saying he was trying to get his practice driving done  quickly enough to take his test before they go back to normal.

Taylor Martin > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 19:37

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bison78 > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 19:45

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California reports that there are almost double the number of citations for people doing over 100mph since the lockdown began.

Urambo Tauro > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 19:46

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Snuze: Needs another Swede > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 20:50

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This checks with what my neighbor said. He also said they used to have people who were basically fine and were like "Take me to the hospital, I might have sprained something." And now they have people who are legit hurt like "I'll be fine, right? I'll just walk it off." because they are scared to go to the hospital. 

itranthelasttimeiparkedit > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 20:58

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In TX you can have parents sign off on the teaching part and basically walk thru the validation like this for years. My wife did that...her father is the worst driver I know and she is top 10. So not really worried about things getting *worse*...

Aremmes > Kiltedpadre 07/03/2020 at 22:14

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I bet they'd have some crazy stories of bad drivers.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Snuze: Needs another Swede 07/03/2020 at 23:33

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 I am actually finding myself driving more slowly these days without all the traffic on the road. Maybe it's quarantine attitude...