Organization: Penn State University
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 23:44:47 EST
From: Sonja Kueppers <SEK@psuvm.psu.edu>
Newsgroups: alt.peeves
Subject: Re: BDIVOs in general

In article <1992Nov22.010355.15641@infonode.ingr.com>,
greg@cherokee.NoSubdomain.NoDomain (Greg Moritz) says:
>
>After having read some flames to the effect that you should get off
>the freeways until you have to proper experience, I noticed that you
>seem to be confusing the fast lane with the slow lane (the merging lane).
>Only the most poorly designed freeways seem to have exit ramps on the
>left (in the US).  Are you confusing the two?  Are you being flamed
>for nothing?  (... because of that, I mean ...)

No, I was referring to a four-lane road which happens to run straight
through the middle of my town, and happens to be the only way to get
to any of the supermarkets in town.  It in no way resembles a freeway,
but it does have four lanes.
Therefore, if I wish to go to the supermarket, I must do the following:

1) Turn left onto this street
3) Change into the left lane
4) Turn left into the supermarket parking lot
On my way back:
1) Turn right onto this street
2) Change into the left lane at some point
3) Turn left off of this road

The supermarket is about 3 miles from my house.  The speed limit
is 35 m.p.h.

>                                                                Change
>some lanes, work your turn signals, stuff like that.  Once you know
>the mechanics, *then* and *only*then* will you be truly ready to face
>the real BDIVOs in general.  It's just like anything else.

Unfortunately, I've already done this.  I'm quite comfortable
changing lanes when there are few other cars around.  Only when
there are many other cars there am I afraid.

I'm not sure that there's a solution to my problem other than
practice.  I do welcome suggestions, though (and thanks to those
who have given constructive suggestions, including Greg!)
(I have no particular thanks for those who simply told me to
 get off the road, which wouldn't help me to become a better
 driver.  There would be very few drivers indeed, if everyone
 followed this advice!)

(Incidentally, I'm fully in favor of making it more difficult
 to get a driver's license.  My cousins in Germany describe what
 seems to be a much more sensible system, though it too can be
 abused: because your driving instructor also determines when you
 "graduate," they sometimes appear to unscrupulously hold people
 back.)

ObPeeve: PennDOT, what else?  Under their idiotic system, you
         have to give them your photo ID card when you want to
         get a learner's permit.  (For which you also have to
         pass a written test containing all kinds of stupid
         questions[*] about the number of feet away from object
         X you're allowed to park.)  Then, you get a learner's
         permit, which is good for 4 months.  If this is not
         enough time (since I only had access to a car for
         2 days every 3 weeks, it was enough time to learn the
         rudiments of driving, but not enough time to actually
         take the exam), you have to send in a form for an
         extension.  Then they send you a new learner's permit.
         (A process taking 2 weeks if you use the services of
         your state representative to take the form to Harrisburg,
         longer if you use mail.)  Once you take the test, they
         stamp your learner's permit saying you've passed, and
         you're allowed to drive alone.  A couple of weeks later,
         you receive a photo card which you take to the photo
         license center to have your official license made.  I
         just received this card in the mail.  Of course, the
         photo license center is conveniently only open Tuesday,
         Wednesday, and Thursday from 10am to 6pm, except when
         the person staffing it takes a 15-minute coffee break,
         which seems to be the case every time anyone I know has
         ever been there.  (And was true when I went there to have
         my photo ID taken several years ago.)
         At least the photo center is in town.  To take the
         written test, I had to walk 45 minutes from the closest
         bus stop.  In the rain.  Along a busy road with no sidewalk.

         [*] It is the questions which are stupid, not the concept
             of having to take a written test.
-Sonja
Newsgroups: alt.peeves