Jalopnik.com editorial on RV Licencing

Bumpyroad wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

I don't like government regulations any more than the next guy, BUT being able to drive a 26,000# vehicle combination on the same license that is needed to drive a Yogo is a bit on the illogical side!

well in MD as well as many states the same license is required for a yugo or for a 26,000 motorhome. and exactly why is it safe for an old codger to drive a 25,000 lb. motorhome, but becomes a danger at 26,001 lbs.? IIRC there have been several instances where old codgers have mowed down folks in their 1963 cadillac but I don't remember of any instances where they have driven their winnebago thru a mess of kids.
more intrusion and control by faceless bureaucrats. so you want them to mess up the transportation system and aren't happy with them only messing up the medical care system?
and as many have pointed out there are special restrictions for driving various classes of vehicles. and it seems the states handled that one on their own without federal interference and red tape.
bumpy

Ditto

Bruce

I do NOT want to pay for one more program that IMO is NOT needed. IMO we're very safe drivers already. The job's already done,.....for free.
I would prefer that the money go towards better accountants who report to "we the people" WHERE all the money goes.

portscanner wrote:
The blogger really isn't interested in safety. Count the number of times he references $850K price tag then count the number of safety or crash studies in his post.

How dare you own something I can't afford!

Exactly the same as I was thinking.

Bruce

rhagfo wrote:

I don't like government regulations any more than the next guy, BUT being able to drive a 26,000# vehicle combination on the same license that is needed to drive a Yogo is a bit on the illogical side!

well in MD as well as many states the same license is required for a yugo or for a 26,000 motorhome. and exactly why is it safe for an old codger to drive a 25,000 lb. motorhome, but becomes a danger at 26,001 lbs.? IIRC there have been several instances where old codgers have mowed down folks in their 1963 cadillac but I don't remember of any instances where they have driven their winnebago thru a mess of kids.
more intrusion and control by faceless bureaucrats. so you want them to mess up the transportation system and aren't happy with them only messing up the medical care system?
and as many have pointed out there are special restrictions for driving various classes of vehicles. and it seems the states handled that one on their own without federal interference and red tape.
bumpy

The blogger really isn't interested in safety. Count the number of times he references $850K price tag then count the number of safety or crash studies in his post.

How dare you own something I can't afford!

Great! Lets invite more government regulation.

The blogger is a dealer for Por-sha, a car that can exceed the legal speed limit in any state. I think legislation prohibiting that would make the roads safer than special licenses for RV drivers.

rhagfo wrote:
By the logic in a couple of these post there isn't a need for Semi drivers to get CDL either!!!

I don't like government regulations any more than the next guy, BUT being able to drive a 26,000# vehicle combination on the same license that is needed to drive a Yogo is a bit on the illogical side!

The Feds require that you have a motorcycle endorsement to ride a motorcycle, it seems illogical that someone operating a vehicle that weighs at most about 1,000#, needs an endorsement, and one that is moving 26,000# doesn't.

My guess that the reason there isn't the push for the RV license is that we just don't cause enough accidents or deaths!!

Exactly! there are far more accidents involving semi`s than RV`s and the semi drivers are regulated by the government. there goes that theory! and most people that are buying a Class A anything have worked there way up from smaller things. you learn as you go. Yes there are some that dive right in with a similar DP as in the article, but that is a small percentage!

One that he has wrong in his dissertation is that tour bus drivers need nothing besides base license. In most states if you drive for hire in anything with 3 or more axles you need a higher level of license. If for hire you transport people that is still a different license. In CA limo drivers need a commercial class B.

Motorcyclists are not required by federal law to have an endorsement that is a state by state requirement and varies greatly between states.

As someone stated above the main reason we are not being pushed to have an upgraded license in all states is we do not comprise enough of the death statistics. Even in the states where you are supposed to have a higher level it isn't enforced, like CA.

BTW before the trailer/5th wheelers get laughing to much in CA if your trailer is over 10K the license requirement starts kicking in.

One big problem is the laundry list of qualifications on whether you need an upgrade and if you do to what!

rhagfo wrote:
By the logic in a couple of these post there isn't a need for Semi drivers to get CDL either!!!

I don't like government regulations any more than the next guy, BUT being able to drive a 26,000# vehicle combination on the same license that is needed to drive a Yogo is a bit on the illogical side!

The Feds require that you have a motorcycle endorsement to ride a motorcycle, it seems illogical that someone operating a vehicle that weighs at most about 1,000#, needs an endorsement, and one that is moving 26,000# doesn't.

My guess that the reason there isn't the push for the RV license is that we just don't cause enough accidents or deaths!!

Well put! I didnt mention it, but I am on the side of better licensing and testing requirements.