Learning to drive as I am, I can't help but feel I'm annoying other road users with unexpected stalls, wide cornering, etc etc. Now everyone seems nice enough and keep their distance, but it occurs to me that they may want to know how much leeway they need to give me.
An LCD display in the rear window could be linked to some for of computer system in the instructor's car, and when a driver logs on, it displays how long they've been driving for and keeps count as they gain experience.
The total driving time could then be displayed for others to see, and they could base their avoidance of the learner's vehicle on how long they've been going.-- NickTheGreat, Dec 06 2003 HOBBS HOUR METERS http://www.aircraft...g/inpages/hobbs.php [Klaatu, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004] The "Ford Pinto" version http://www.sportys....&Pcount=65&DETAIL=1$54.95 [Klaatu, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004] LCD Hobbs Meter http://www.thomasre...363072/page16.htm#l [Klaatu, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004] L Plates http://www.bsm.co.u...ve/images/ltd_7.jpg"You could always post a "Student Driver" sign in your window. Unfortunately, in either case you're likely to draw some folks who simply want to mess with you." - Driving a car like this is not conspicuous enough then? [NickTheGreat, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004] Pilots log their flight time for various purposes ... I'm sure driving institutions could use something similar surely ...-- Letsbuildafort, Dec 06 2003 You could always post a "Student Driver" sign in your window. Unfortunately, in either case you're likely to draw some folks who simply want to mess with you.-- phoenix, Dec 06 2003 some people take longer to learn than others. you, as a relative youngster, or so I imagine, should learn very quickly. good luck Nick.-- po, Dec 06 2003 Yeah, I think phoe's on the right track. You probably don't want others to know you're new at driving. There are those who will have less patience with you precisely for that reason.
wb Nick O'teen!-- waugsqueke, Dec 06 2003 Nick, a quite good idea. Certainly around here people are more likely to give a car bearing 'L' plates a wide berth rather than harass them.-- KiwiJohn, Dec 06 2003 // I can't help but feel I'm annoying other road users//
Finally another mexican in the HB!! What do you drive? A taxi or a public bus?-- Pericles, Dec 06 2003 Greater driving experience does not necessarily make a safer driver. Witness the recent rash of news reports featuring codgers plowing into bicyclists, markets, buildings, etc.-- Guncrazy, Dec 06 2003 you're not following this to it's logical conclusion, at some point the number is large enough to cause concern again!
Be concerned if display shows less than 2 years or more than 45. There should be a "professional" window to let you know that while the ticker is less than two, the driver is Fernando Alonso, or that despite the fact that the ticker is well into the 50's you can be fairly sure Mario Andretti can still drive.
on second thought, this is a bad idea and it won't work.-- ato_de, Dec 06 2003 A good idea methinks. Possibly could be extended to use one of the hated LE(C)D displays in the back of the car as follows: Length of driving experience of driver.Points on License.Number of insurance claims the driver has made.Number of insurance claims made against the driver. Insurance and MOT status of vehicle. etc. You get the picture. All this info would be on one handy card that is issued for you by the government (at a charge) and details would be sent to the LED by Bluetooth or somesuch(indeed to even operate the car this card must be present). Sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself here. Good luck Nick & good to see you again.-- gnomethang, Dec 06 2003 Buy a hobbs meter and install it in your dash. <link> I'm not sure if there is a way to integrate with an LCD screen.-- Klaatu, Dec 06 2003 random, halfbakery