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by amohn9 450 days ago
While Australia does take things too far, I’m actually on their side here. Driving has been too normalized. You’re operating a 2 ton chunk of metal at 60+ mph inches away from other people. Australia has far fewer pedestrian deaths per capita than the US does, and enforcing a higher skill bar for more difficult situations must be part of that.
1 comments
gambiting 450 days ago
Saying you can't drive with 2 passangers at night has nothing to do with skill - if it did, you could pass a test to demonstrate that you can do this safely. Instead it's just another "you're not mature enough to do this" restriction which is bonkers. Again, you can drive this 2 ton chunk of metal, but at night? With passangers?? Phwoar, we can't have that.
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potato3732842 450 days ago
Most of the time with obviously nonsensical stuff like that they're doing it to appease certain demographics or stakeholders.

They needed Karen's support to get the whole thing passed so they added a "and we won't let them drive after dark" clause to get it.

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dagw 449 days ago
"you're not mature enough to do this"

Isn't it rather saying that you're not experienced enough to do this. Speaking only for myself, I passed my driving test no problem and after a couple of month of driving I thought I was a great driver. Yet looking back now with the benefit of experience I know for a fact I did some really stupid things that first year of driving and it was only luck rather skill that led to me not getting into an accident.

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gambiting 449 days ago
Again, that would make sense if it applied equally for all new drivers - but if you're over 25 then there is no such restriction, even if you got your licence a day before. You have zero experience behind the wheel but you're fine to drive in a car full of people, but someone who has been driving for 7 years but is one day short of 25 can't do it - who is the more experienced driver there?

So yeah, it's all about "not being mature enough".

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timewizard 449 days ago
The majority of pedestrian deaths take place at night.
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gambiting 448 days ago
Do people under 25 carrying 2 or more passangers on average kill more pedestrians when driving at night?
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