Driving: Entitlement or a Privilege?
As most of you know, I live in a little place called Los Angeles. Once upon a time, this semi-desert town was just a lonely garrison, complete with church, situated between two missions: San Fernando and San Gabriel. It was settled by mestizos, and slowly grew, attracting a wide mix of peoples over the decades. For some time, it was considered a lawless town, and only grew by the leaps and bounds in the wake of the California Gold Rush. Even then, San Pedro and San Diego were the two towns in the southern half of the state that mattered more: for one thing, both cities had excellent ports.
But then it changed. Where the 19th century had been all about San Francisco and the ascendancy of Northern California, the 20th century was the rise of Southern California and the expansion of a sleepy Spanish/Mexican village into a Pacific metropolis. Along the way, the Age of Oil transformed the city into the capitol of the automobile.
Nowadays, any mention of Los Angeles, and people think the following: Hollywood, beaches, warm weather, smog, cars, movie stars, freeways, cars, O.J. Simpson, Britney Spears, Baywatch… and oh, did I mention, cars? This is the Land of the Automobile, folks, and I don’t know about you, but I’m reminded of it every day I step out my door.
I used to think I was fairly anal about all the lousy drivers out there (an assessment I think a certain permanent roommate would share), until I spotted a new blog while doing some online research. After reading “Every Day Death-Defying,” my envisionment of road rage has changed a little, and I’m gratified to see there’s someone else out there who’s even more outraged about bad driving than I am. It’s an interesting (and terrifying!) look at what the roads are like here on the Westside.
I do have to wonder though: for someone who claims she’s blogging because she wants to hold up a mirror to other drivers, isn’t Drivin’ Mamma a bit distracted from her own driving/walking each time she whips out her Treo? Nevertheless, I do know I spent some time anxiously scanning her photos to make sure I didn’t do anything foolish!
Still, it does generate an interesting question: is driving an entitlement, or a privilege?
I wouldn’t worry about it too much; peak oil will definitely hobble an auto-friendly city like SoCal.
Driving is a privilege. Period.
We are entitled to take the driving test in order to obtain a driver’s license. However, it is not our right to drive on public roads (city streets, highways, etc, anything that is paid for by the taxpayers). It is a privilege.
If you ask me, I think a large number of people should be forced to re-take the driving test. There are so many awful drivers out there.
Oh, it’s a privilege, no question. The fact that one has to take a driving test, that one’s driving has conditions, including an insurance requirement, and that one’s license can be revoked makes it clear that it’s a privilege. Just wish more drivers acted like they knew that. I’m driving less and less, partly because of gas costs and concern about the environment, but also partly because people out there are cee-razy… and not just in LA!!
Vinny, that’s what I’m worried about. Our politicians and policy-makers are still stuck in the 20th century, and not preparing well for 21st-century planning.
Banjo, agreed! I think there needs to be more scrutiny during driving tests, and as much as I enjoy getting my license renewed in the mail, it probably would be better if we all had to re-take a road test each time our licenses came up for renewal. I wonder what the policy is like for licensing in other countries…?
Jenny, yep– people *are* crazy, and Drivin’ Mamma’s pix prove that. Some of those drivers out there aggravate and terrify me. Unfortunately, I often don’t have a choice but to drive…