Proposal: Let drivers know who's new on the road
By Yvonne Wenger
COLUMBIA — One Summerville woman presented a simple idea to a local legislator to try to make Charleston-area roads a little safer.
Bette Century Thomas contacted Rep. Joe Daning, R-Goose Creek, this week with an idea for potential legislation that could offer new drivers incentives for labeling their vehicles to let other drivers know they're inexperienced.
Century Thomas said she came up with the idea after 15-year-old driver Cushire Akabidavis and her mother, Christina, were killed in May along Interstate 26. Cushire Akabidavis was leaving the state Department of Motor Vehicles office in Ladson after just receiving her learner's permit.
Daning said he likes the idea but there are a lot of details left to work out.
Rusty Hires, president and CEO of Rusty's Driving School, doesn't think labeling new drivers is such a good idea.
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Comments
a_set_love (anonymous) says...
A large red L on the front and back of the car.
June 18, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
letstakeawalk (anonymous) says...
I agree with a_set_love's suggestion. The "Learner" designation is used in the United Kingdom. New drivers (and everyone else) would also benefit greatly from an expanded skills test for new drivers. Currently, the hardest part seems to be making the 3-point turn. If the test were more rigorous, and dealt with real-life emergency situations like emergency stops around pylons or recovering from spins, new drivers would be vastly better prepared to drive safely. The Germans also have an excellent driver-training system.
June 18, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
I'm with you allwoman.What are we supposed to do?Oh crap theres an inexperienced driver!Pull off of the road..look ouuuuuttt!All this would do is get the new driver flipped off and laughed at more.It'd be like a dunce cap for a car.
June 18, 2008 at 5:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
keepinitreal (anonymous) says...
Every driver in America needs a label once in a while: even experienced drivers. Speeders, traffic weavers, no turn/lane change signals......the list of labels could go from A-Z.
June 18, 2008 at 5:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
letstakeawalk (anonymous) says...
@ coolfreaknbeans
Your comment only adds to the perception of automobile drivers as arrogant and only concerned with their own well being. A Learner tag would simply notify other drivers that the new driver might not do what they are expected to do - meaning that more experienced drivers could better comprehend why the learning driver is taking so much time pulling into traffic or other (generally frustrating) behaviors that timid drivers exhibit. The tag should ease road rage, rather than provoke it.
June 18, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
My point was that generally the inexperienced drivers are the ones screwing up.I again agree with allwoman-this in no way wouldve helped Cushire Akabidavis and her mother.A car label doesnt prevent you from making bad judgement calls.It would simply warn others that youre libel to f up at any given moment.And if "the new driver might not do what they are expected to do.." they have no damn business driving!!
June 18, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pluffmuddy (anonymous) says...
Hey, I have a novel idea! Why not keep your inexperienced butt out of rush-hour traffic until you're capable of handling it??? What's more, why not get that phone out of your ear and concentrate on driving defensively instead of being a moving target and a hazard to everyone else???
June 18, 2008 at 10:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
letstakeawalk (anonymous) says...
@thomas1776
You seem really offended by the idea that it might be helpful to know which drivers are at the beginning of the learning curve - that's fine. But what makes it a Constitutional or civil rights matter?
Rereading the article - I do have a serious problem with "incentives" given for displaying such an identifying mark. However, I still think that a "Learner" marking is a reasonable idea for all new drivers.
June 18, 2008 at 10:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CaptPete (anonymous) says...
What a dumb idea. Go ahead and target a parent's auto for a auto insurance scam artist staging a wreck. The new driver would be set up by running into this person who is looking for a payout.
June 18, 2008 at 10:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goosecreek_guy (anonymous) says...
Interesting suggestion... I would have a problem with offering incentives for doing this. I don't think that a label is the most appropriate measure to make driving on our roadways safer, but I do agree that driver training and testing be more stringent. We cannot call on nor demand that our government be babysitters. I completely agree that new drivers with little to no experience should not drive anywhere near rush hour/ heavy traffic.
June 18, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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