Loren Pechtel

Exactly. You can't devote enough attention to something like that to figure out how far away the guy is. You have to go on other things in deciding to dim.

godfry n. glad

Yeah... I actually agree that specific numbers aren't particularly helpful. I also think that a written test is inappropriate. Written tests tend to be the usual approach for testing immigrants who already hold a driver's license from another state or province. What's really needed is a _driving_ test to see if bad habits have set in. Habits like using a cell phone while driving, pushing stale yellow lights, tossing burning materials out the window, failure to use turn signals, facile use of incendiary hand-signals and the like.
Written tests indicate nothing....

As a side-note here, I think that DMV types should take cellphone numbers on the application and, when the testee is out with the driving inspector, another DMV employee should place a call to the cellphone. That way, the inspector would see if the driver picked up the phone or not and how the driver dealt with the issue. If the driver takes the call without pulling over to a full stop, they fail. This won't stop the problem, but it will certainly assure that the motorist _knows_ the behavior is inappropriate, so if they're seen using a phone while driving, the citation is no surprise...it should slow down the stupid actions.

Just my two cents.

godfry

Detached9

I'd imagine most people wouldn't want to give out their cellphone numbers for sake of privacy. Also, the driver would also need to have his or her cell phone on and with him or her for the test. Although the driver not bringing her cell phone (or not turning it on) to the test is a good indication the driver has some understanding of how to drive responsibly.

godfry n. glad

Agreed.

godfry

(Although...I think that not giving out cellphone numbers for privacy is hideously ironic, given the number and nature of cellphone conversations I overhear each and every day.)

Detached9

Good point. Now that I think about it, conversations over the cell phone are typically far more public than conversations over a home phone.