The argument that we hear over and over again is: bigger is safer. Other than the fact that that argument is very misleading, we got news for you... your bigger just got smaller.
What the hell are we talking about? Check out that behemoth to the right. Yes, you're right, it's a goofy-looking pickup truck. Goofy-looking or not, it's big, and it's gonna be on the roads with all of us pretty damn soon. "Now, now, calm down," you say. "There are lots of big rigs on the road today. What's the difference?"
Well the difference is this: At full capacity this International 7300 CTX will weigh almost 26,000 pounds. The average sedan (while sadly getting bigger) is maybe 3,500 pounds. And herein lies the rub: this truck isn't just bigger, it's a lot bigger... as in it requires much more stopping distance than your typical sedan (or even SUV for that matter). But, get this, you don't need a commercial license to drive it. Hell, we could go buy one and run your ass over while learning how the thing handles...
We think there need to be new license requirements because all of this is getting out of control. More weight, more horsepower, same stupid driving test? Who are they kidding!? This thing can push a commuter bus out of the way. Parallel parking... ha! Seriously, you could go borrow a Mini, get your driver's license based on that and then go buy one of these dealies, and it's all legit. No training, baby!
We aren't saying these vehicles shouldn't be made (eh, they shouldn't but that's not the point here) or that people shouldn't be allowed to buy them. If you want to go out and buy one, you should able to, whether it's a Peterbilt, Western Star, Freightliner, International, Ford, White, Mack or Kenworth. But you should also have to know how to drive it. In order to buy any vehicle that's over 6,000 pounds, you should have to get a different and additional license in order to legally drive it. And you should pay a hell of a lot more in registration on it (Think it's the Volvo cars that are tearing up our roads?).
And for our legislators not to require an additional license for something this big... well, they should remember their kids are on the roads with these beasts, too.
Related: More ranting about driver training
Image courtesy International
This entry has been edited for clarity