Preramble: The original post was about cargo vans stopping at scales. Somehow it evolved into this, which is probably a good thing. To complicate matters further, I have introduced quotes from two different posters. Please try to follow my train of thought. I wish you luck!
I have no problem with educating the public I draw the line at testing on such things when there is no direct involvement. If I read right your thought is it would make roads safer. That is why I pointed out things like CPR testing it would make life in general better but reqiuring it is anorher thing altogether. Heck public healthcare might saves lifes but that does.not make it the right thing to do.
Xiggi makes a great point, where do you draw the line? Why not CPR or general first aid? The chances of Mr. and/or Mrs. John Q. Public encountering a medical emergency on the road are far greater than them coming across a HAZMAT situation.
And yes I am one who would say for me taking a cdl test accomplished nothing other than putting a few dollars in the states pockets and much more to a private testing facility.
On this one I disagree! I got grandfathered in to this whole CDL stuff and I wasn't even being close to becoming a grandfather at the time. While I didn't have to take a class A road test over, I did take written tests for every endorsement other than School Bus. The prospect of taking these tests prompted me to do some studying, which was a good thing and requiring a written basic knowledge test for all drivers every so often would also be a good thing.
Some won't, some will.
Because while it won't be 100% effective and help 100% of the people who take the test, just the same as it's not 100% effective currently, it will help a lot of people learn something they otherwise would not know. Because having information is by and large generally speaking for the most part better than not having it.
I agree, but as Xiggi pointed out, where do you draw the line? I personally believe anyone granted a driver's license should be able to change a tire and safely jump start a car (at least Minnesota residents). Knowledge is good. More knowledge is even gooder!
The regular operator's license stresses rules of the road, red-green-yellow, what the different straight and squiggly lines mean. The CDL test stresses safety, such as the importance of a pre-trip, the importance of dealing with emergencies, of concentrating on driving while driving. It changes the mindset of the driver who takes the test.
Why not incorporate some basic things like a simple pre-trip? Countless times I have read questions in my local newspaper to the likes of Click and Clack and the local automotive guru: I'm planning a trip to Mount Rushmore this summer, what should I do to prepare my car for this 550 mile voyage? To my way of thinking, the same freaking way you would prepare your car for your boring, every day trip to work! What's the difference? Okay, I'll give you math nerds and anal retentives 25 miles one way, 50 miles round trip. Just to be generous, I'll add 5 miles round trip for lunches.
The HAZMAT test takes that further and stresses the importance of the trucks that are carrying materials which post an unreasonable risk to the public and the environment. I cannot even fathom how being ignorant of that stuff is preferable to being aware of it.
I agree, but again, how often does the average driver encounter a HAZMAT situation where this knowledge would be necessary? Every state's written drivers exam has different. Minnesota might ask how to properly jump start a car. West Virgina might ask how to jump your sibling or cousin. Maybe a national drivers license test, similar to the CDL might be the answer. I can see it now:
ObamaCar.
Epilogue: Wow! This is just like a Quinn/Martin Production. It has a preamble, a main story (which I failed to break into chapters) and an epilogue.
Oops. The epilogue has to close the story and tie all the loose ends together: The OP ran a scale in his
VAN and collided with a truck carrying HAZMAT exiting
the scale. The OP was clueless about the resulting mess and was not knowledgeable about basic first aid to care for his injuries and died as a result of drinking the liquid spilled forth from the clearly placarded truck containing corrosive material. THE END!
