On 30-3-2009 17:08, Jim Henderson wrote:
> On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:16:17 +0200, andrel wrote:
> 
>> Question to check how your link with reality is: a Dutchman going to the
>> States for a couple of years or an American coming here. One has to do
>> an exam to convert to a valid local license: which one?
> 
> Very likely you have to take the US exam.
> 
> In the US, the MN state driver's license test is (was) one of the most 
> difficult in the country, supposed to be good for everywhere.  Well, not 
> Utah, I had to take the Utah written exam (but not the behind-the-wheel 
> exam).
> 
> Less than 40%, though, doesn't say much until you know the difficulty of 
> the questions, too.  10 questions that show you an octagonal sign with 
> the word "STOP" on it asking you what the sign is for wouldn't really 
> count. :-)

Slightly more difficult. Any sign and any situation can come up, also 
the ones involving military transports, horses and dustroads. In fact 
you have to know almost all traffic rules :(
Typically you get a picture of a situation with a couple of cars, bikes, 
and persons and a question along the line of: you want to go right here, 
is that allowed? and 10 seconds or so to choose. And IIRC 50 question 
like that.

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On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:23:07 +0100, Stephen wrote:

> On 30 Mar 2009 13:42:13 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:
> 
>>>>but technically only one person could be at the 50% mark. :-)
>>>>
>>> Duh? O_O
>>
>><grunt>  (Oh, wait, wrong thread).
>>
> ROTFL

And now you're in the wrong thread. ;-)

>>>>Like I said, I restrict my attention to the things that are important
>>>>and don't overload my mind.  Rather than seeing the stupid billboard
>>>>at the side of the road, I'm having a conversation.
>>>>
>>> I don't want to get all religious about it so I'll say no more other
>>> than "YOU will burn in HELL"  </Joke>
>>
>>LOL, but really, you didn't think I'd detect the joke?  I'm hurt now.
>>;-)
>>
> Lbh znl abg or gur bayl bar yvfgravat.

Nu, ohg ng gur fnzr gvzr V cebonoyl nz ng guvf fgntr. ;-)

>>> Actually that was the way of speaking some of the ministers I had at
>>> school, when I was too young to walk out. Sad really.
>>
>>Yeah, I know what you mean.
>>
> Hell mend them! <Not a joke>

Heh, and I knew that as well.  It's funny how some people are compelled 
to "correct" others' view of the world.

>>> That's what I drive so it is good to know that they are safe.
>>
>>Apparently very.  I still can't find what it's called in the US, though,
>>we don't use that name here as far as I know.
>>
> I had my last one for 10 years and drove from London to Malaga and back
> then from London to Malaga then to Zagreb then back to London. From
> London to Glasgow several times. I was sad to let "Friend of Jesus" go
> (Initials of number plate) I've now got Hey Nonny Hey.

Wild Circus Guys here on ours.

Jim

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On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:57:14 +0200, andrel wrote:

> On 30-3-2009 17:08, Jim Henderson wrote:
>> On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:16:17 +0200, andrel wrote:
>> 
>>> Question to check how your link with reality is: a Dutchman going to
>>> the States for a couple of years or an American coming here. One has
>>> to do an exam to convert to a valid local license: which one?
>> 
>> Very likely you have to take the US exam.
>> 
>> In the US, the MN state driver's license test is (was) one of the most
>> difficult in the country, supposed to be good for everywhere.  Well,
>> not Utah, I had to take the Utah written exam (but not the
>> behind-the-wheel exam).
>> 
>> Less than 40%, though, doesn't say much until you know the difficulty
>> of the questions, too.  10 questions that show you an octagonal sign
>> with the word "STOP" on it asking you what the sign is for wouldn't
>> really count. :-)
> 
> Slightly more difficult. Any sign and any situation can come up, also
> the ones involving military transports, horses and dustroads. In fact
> you have to know almost all traffic rules :( Typically you get a picture
> of a situation with a couple of cars, bikes, and persons and a question
> along the line of: you want to go right here, is that allowed? and 10
> seconds or so to choose. And IIRC 50 question like that.

Ours are nothing like that, and I wish they were.  Though given the 
history here in the US, that probably would just lead to more unlicensed 
drivers on the road. :-(

Jim

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On Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:38:38 +0200, andrel wrote:

> On 30-3-2009 17:17, Jim Henderson wrote:
>> On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:55:05 +0200, andrel wrote:
>> 
>>> To which my predictable response would be that they can not judge
>>> either. But that is so predictable that I won't do it. ;)
>> 
>> Well, if you did, I would probably be inclined to point out that not
>> all of the parties present may have been drinking. :-)
> 
> And if you would, I would have said that that is immaterial because
> whether they would have been drinking or not, they could still not
> really see if your reaction time to something unexpected was 0.5 or 1.0
> or 1.5 seconds. But of course there is no need, as you did not react to
> what I did not say.

Ah, but I would've pointed out then that it is material, because the 
party organizer is being responsible for their partygoers.  It's not a 
reaction time measurement, yes, but there are points where someone's 
falling-down-drunk that it's obvious they shouldn't be driving even if 
they think so.

But of course I'm not saying that, because I have nothing to respond 
to. ;-)

Jim

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andrel wrote:
> Typically you get a picture of a situation with a couple of cars, bikes,
> and persons and a question along the line of: you want to go right here,
> is that allowed? and 10 seconds or so to choose. And IIRC 50 question
> like that.

Finnish picture test is the same. Also there's usually something nasty
hidden in part of the images, like a motorcycle, who's driver's helmet
is visible only for 5mm over a parked car and is allowed to go before
you are.

-Aero

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On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:02:28 +0300, Eero Ahonen wrote:

> andrel wrote:
>> Typically you get a picture of a situation with a couple of cars,
>> bikes, and persons and a question along the line of: you want to go
>> right here, is that allowed? and 10 seconds or so to choose. And IIRC
>> 50 question like that.
> 
> Finnish picture test is the same. Also there's usually something nasty
> hidden in part of the images, like a motorcycle, who's driver's helmet
> is visible only for 5mm over a parked car and is allowed to go before
> you are.

The "written" test here in Utah was also a picture test, but nothing so 
nasty as that.

Picture of a yield sign.  Question:  "What should you do when you see 
this sign?"  Answers:  a) look to see if there's traffic approaching and 
proceed with caution.  b) come to a full stop and look both ways.  c) 
accelerate through the intersection.  d) close your eyes and pray as you 
speed up.

It amazes me that anyone *fails* this exam, yet people do.  And they 
still are granted a license after they pass it, no matter how many times 
they've failed it.

Not in Utah, but there's a 80-ish year old guy in Florida who has taken 
his written drivers' license exam some 70+ times and he could still be 
licensed to drive if he passed it.

Jim

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> It amazes me that anyone *fails* this exam, yet people do.  And they
> still are granted a license after they pass it, no matter how many times
> they've failed it.

Haha reminds me of some of the questions in the UK written test ~10 years 
ago (maybe it's harder now?)

Q: You come up behind a slower vehicle, what should you do:
1: Drive as close as possible behind so you can overtake quickly
2: Press the horn to try and make them speed up
3: Keep a safe distance behind
4: Flash your lights

Although there were ones where you had to remember the colours of all the 
cats-eyes (I didn't even notice there were different coloured ones on the 
motorway until this!), stopping distances from various speeds etc.  For a 
geek like me I just calculated and memorised what acceleration value they 
were assuming for wet/dry roads :-)  You only needed to score 30/35 to pass, 
most of the answers were just plain common sense - or rather, you had to 
think what would some really sensible driver do in this situation :-).

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On 30 Mar 2009 19:03:34 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom> wrote:

>
>And now you're in the wrong thread. ;-)
>

Well so I am.

>
>>>> Actually that was the way of speaking some of the ministers I had at
>>>> school, when I was too young to walk out. Sad really.
>>>
>>>Yeah, I know what you mean.
>>>
>> Hell mend them! <Not a joke>
>
>Heh, and I knew that as well.  It's funny how some people are compelled 
>to "correct" others' view of the world.
>

It is part of their mission statement, I believe.

-- 

Regards
     Stephen

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On Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:47:23 +0200, scott wrote:

>> It amazes me that anyone *fails* this exam, yet people do.  And they
>> still are granted a license after they pass it, no matter how many
>> times they've failed it.
> 
> Haha reminds me of some of the questions in the UK written test ~10
> years ago (maybe it's harder now?)
> 
> Q: You come up behind a slower vehicle, what should you do: 1: Drive as
> close as possible behind so you can overtake quickly 2: Press the horn
> to try and make them speed up 3: Keep a safe distance behind
> 4: Flash your lights
> 
> Although there were ones where you had to remember the colours of all
> the cats-eyes (I didn't even notice there were different coloured ones
> on the motorway until this!), stopping distances from various speeds
> etc.  For a geek like me I just calculated and memorised what
> acceleration value they were assuming for wet/dry roads :-)  You only
> needed to score 30/35 to pass, most of the answers were just plain
> common sense - or rather, you had to think what would some really
> sensible driver do in this situation :-).

LOL

Reminds me of a "quiz" we had to take here recently at work.  Sit through 
a 15 minute online presentation and then answer 4 questions.  The 4 
questions were on the level of:

1.  A duck is:

a) a fish
b) a cat
c) a duck
d) a dog

And if I were being facetious about it, I'd also add:

e) none of the above
f) all of the above

;-)

Jim

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On 3/29/2009 9:04 AM, Eero Ahonen wrote:
> The results show that after 2-3 drinks most of them actually
> were driving better than without. OTOH they drove the same track over
> and over again (they had to to make sure that the results are
> comparable) and learned how the track goes :).

Mythbusters did the same thing, and even one drink significantly lowered 
their driving scores.  Of course, I don't remember if the "accidents" 
were randomized or not (I'm sure learning the course helps).

Whether or not its true, I'd recommend not risking it.  So would my 
uncle, who lost a leg to a drunk driver about a year ago.

-- 
...Chambers
www.pacificwebguy.com

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