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Comment by SoftTalker | Hacker News Reader

EU has much higher training and licensing requirements in general.

In the US a 15 year old can get a learner's permit and start driving (with an adult) the same day. They can be licensed to drive on their own at 16 by passing a fairly cursory written exam and a short road test. No formal/classroom instruction is required.

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Raising requirements in the US is prohibitive due to the lack of options individuals have when they cannot drive. A 16 year old often needs, or wants to work for an income. Owning a car is often a job requirement due to the distances involved in american cities. Getting a job within walking distance is often a non-option due to availability of employers, and biking is of limited safety profile depending on the area. If the only way to get to your job is through a state highway - driving may be the only safe method.

> Raising requirements in the US is prohibitive due to the lack of options individuals have when they cannot drive

We'll suddenly have a lot more voters clamoring for alternative transportation systems if we actually bother taking away people's driving privileges when they shouldn't be on the road

Pretty sure those new voters just reinstate their ability to drive again.

Roughly the same in Canada. I wish we had more stringent testing, including periodic re-testing (especially over 60).

For Germany there is even a subreddit about old people crashing into things: https://www.reddit.com/r/RentnerfahreninDinge/

Sadly it will be next to impossible to implement re-testing at a certain age as old people are the majority of the voters.

Lisence requirements vary by state. Here in Maryland, you need 30 classroom hours and 60 hours behind the wheel before before getting a provisional license.

We have no classroom requirement, the new driver just needs to pass the written test, which covers basic traffic rules and signs, and a short (maybe 20 minutes) driving test with an examiner. This basically amounts to a few blocks out and back near the DMV office. As long as you stay in the correct lanes, don't speed, stop at stop signs, and use turn signals, you will almost certainly pass.

There is a requirement for some number of supervised hours behind the wheel but it's entirely self-reported on the honor system.

The cost of getting a drivers license has increased a lot in Germany. 2500-3500€ isn't uncommon today.

Here in the NL I'd say it's at least €3600 if you have zero experience. This is my estimation for both theory & practical parts based on my own experience, current rates, and what little statistics I could find. Often much more if you fail and have to take more lessons.

Like everything in the US, those rules vary by state, and this is incorrect for at least those that I'm familiar with.

Yeah, but if I get a license in a state with weak licensing requirements and move to your state that actually puts some small restrictions I continue being a licensed driver.

This is true. I moved from a weaker state to a stronger one and had to retake the full written test; no new classroom or behind-the-wheel training of course.

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