My CA driver license is soon due for renewal. I’ll have to pass a written test. I could likely pass the multiple-choice test with no prep, but I’m cramming because I can’t risk a failure. The person (committee) that created the test ought to be locked away.

Some are laughably obvious. E.g., a yellow diamond-shaped sign with this black text:
“watch for ICE on bridge”
a) Narrow bridge ahead
b) The road curves one way and then the other way
c) Displayed during winter as a warning of hazardous conditions on the bridge

Some questions require memorization of numerical values. E.g., distance from oncoming traffic requiring headlight dimming (500’). Even though few people can estimate that distance with good accuracy.

And some questions have answer sets with multiple correct choices, but you had better mark the one that California wants or you take a hit.

What causes you to have to be re-tested?

I don't think Texas does that except at some point when you are really old, and even then retesting is discretionary.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:

when you are really old

I am really old. Florida renewal is routine paperwork and $, but once you are really old, a vision test is required periodically.

i'm 77, renewal in arizona requires eye check!!

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:


Some are laughably obvious. E.g., a yellow diamond-shaped sign with this black text:
“watch for ICE on bridge”
a) Narrow bridge ahead
b) The road curves one way and then the other way
c) Displayed during winter as a warning of hazardous conditions on the bridge

Given it’s California, you’ll likely miss the question above since the answer is d) None of the above. It’s a notice to illegals to turn around and find an alternate route to avoid incarceration!

quote:

Originally posted by tsmccull:

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:


Some are laughably obvious. E.g., a yellow diamond-shaped sign with this black text:
“watch for ICE on bridge”
a) Narrow bridge ahead
b) The road curves one way and then the other way
c) Displayed during winter as a warning of hazardous conditions on the bridge

Given it’s California, you’ll likely miss the question above since the answer is d) None of the above. It’s a notice to illegals to turn around and find an alternate route to avoid incarceration!

Politics in a non-political thread? It seems I have heard something about that here.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
What causes you to have to be re-tested?

I don't think Texas does that except at some point when you are really old, and even then retesting is discretionary.

Probably age. I have to:
Pay a fee ($41)
Pass a vision test
Pass a written test

Not long ago I saw info that people my age also have to pass a driving test. The DMV notice I received didn’t list that requirement, but the bastards might require it despite lack of notice.

You made me curious - Texas appears to be like Florida in that we are required to retake the vision test after a certain age, and can be required to re-test the driving and written tests at the discretion of the department of public safety. I don't know what would prompt them to do that - but a car wreck or wrecks or some bad driving observed by the police would be my guess. I don't think that happens all that often, though.

We were trying to get my mom to quit driving for over a year, but the vision test in Florida was the final nail and a blessing at that.

In Louisiana , every time I have renewed they made me look in the machine and read a line of letters .
No written test since my first one 50 yrs ago .

quote:

Originally posted by airbubba:
i'm 77, renewal in arizona requires eye check!!

Yep, vision test every 5 years once reaching age 65 in AZ.

In Indiana I've had to take a vision test every time I renew, and I'm only 38. But I also wear glasses and have a glasses/contacts restriction on my license. The only time you have to actually retake the written or driving test is if someone submits an affidavit for a review of driving ability to the BMV. Typically that's done by a police officer, but I think family members or others can submit it as well. The BMV reviews the case and determines if further investigation or testing is necessary.

The only time I've submitted one was for a 96 year-old guy who rolled two stop signs right in front of me (one at an active school crossing) then failed to pull over for half a mile...all the while just cruising along at a steady 15mph in a 30 zone. Said he was on his way to an eye appointment and didn't see the stop signs, or see/hear the police car with siren and flashing lights behind him. Nice guy, but probably had reached the point where he needed to hang up the keys.

The test in Illinois is laughably simple. Questions like 'You see an 8-sided red sign with the word "STOP". What should you do?'

Back in the 90s, I got transferred to California by my employer. When I went to get my license there, they told me I had to take their test. No problem I said, I'll do it now. The DMV guy says you may want to study the test booklet first. Not necessary, I assured him. OK, he says, and gives me the test. I sit down and there's questions like 'You're driving 60 miles an hour and see a stop sign ahead. How many feet do you need to come to a safe stop?'

If I recall, you failed the test if you got 5 questions wrong. I got 5 out of the first 6 questions wrong.

I reviewed the booklet to find the answers to the questions I got wrong, then told the DMV guy I wanted to take the test again. He again encouraged me to go home and study the test booklet. No, I'm good I told him. He gives me the test. I sit down and it's a version with different questions! I finish the test, bring it back to the DMV guy, and now he's laughing out loud. I failed that one miserably too.

Luckily, the DMV guy turned out to be pretty solid. Once he got done laughing, he gave me the test and the test booklet together and told me to try again. I took the test the third time and *amazingly* scored 100%.

Being honest, we should probably retest more often than we do. My grandmother was finally stopped when a deputy pulled her license after a traffic incident. My grandfather was smart enough to recognize when he was no longer capable of driving safely and stopped on his own accord. She always was more hard headed of the two.
I took it at 16 and haven't had to do more than an eye exam since. I believe it is required of everyone that renews their license, but I've had glasses since I was 8 so I can't say for sure.

Silly boy. ICE doesn't incarcerate any more, they hand out maps, meals and temporary housing.

We have open book tests here. No, really.

quote:

Originally posted by wolfe 21:

we should probably retest more often than we do.

All pilots, from those who fly for recreation or family travel, right up through the most senior airline captains, are required to meet the requirements of a Flight Review, at least once every two years. Minimum requirements for this are two hours with a Flight Instructor (or Examiner) -- minimum one hour ground school plus one hour flight.

Driving would probably be a heck of a lot safer if requirements for driving moved a little in that direction. I can hear the screams of protest now.

They should have testing to assess common sense and anger management for a drivers license. I frequently watch Air Disasters and have determined that many of the airline crashes are due to human error.

This was more than 7 years ago but every time I went to DMV in CA, there was the testing area were people would stand and write the answers on tables. The tables were blocked off by a foot high plywood above the desk surface. But standing on the other side of the plywood were people who were helping their amigos who were taking the tests. There were also Chinese or Vietnamese pairs.

I learned to drive in NYC & it's suburbs & got a learner's permit in 1984. I didn't get my license until the next year when I moved to Ohio for college [Getting a NY DL would cause my parents insurance rate to triple, even though I had no car (!), also got me in state tuition]. 1985 was the last time I took a written test. Ohio requires an eye test at every renewal [4 years]. Having worn glasses since age 6 [astigmatism]. I always go in sans glasses, don't want a restricted license. Thankfully, OH now let's you renew for 8 years. Less eye tests to pass [my vision has stabilized].


I will add: Ohio's current written test must be marking an "X" on the paper, along with the ability to fog a mirror, judging by how Ohioans drive. My NYC driving skills come in handy.