NationStates Jolt Archive

Since not everyone will read all of the proposals, I thought I would post this here. Any support would be appreciated, in addition to comments or questions. Thanks!

Universal Driver's Licensing
A resolution to improve worldwide human and civil rights.


Category: Human Rights Strength: Mild Proposed by: Caseylvania
Description: When traveling abroad, it is entirely possible that a foreign driver's license will not be accepted as an acceptable proof of driving skill. This can lead to problems with travelers, in addition to the problem of having no universal standard as to driving skills.

To that end, I propose the following:
1.) All nations will have similar driving examinations, to include maneuverability, a written test on laws, and a road examination.
2.) The universal driving age shall be 16 when alone, 18 when carrying passengers.
3.) There shall be a universal driver's license, and it shall be recognized as valid in all countries of the world.
4.) Prior to traveling in a foreign country, the driver must pass the aforementioned written test on the country's laws.

With this law passed, it shall be possible to drive in a foreign country as easily as in your homeland. In addition, the requirement of a written examination prior to travel cuts down on the confusion inherent in experiencing different laws. As an aside to this, there will be a worldwide database of licensed drivers, making it possible to suspend a license in all parts of the world, if needed.

Hi, I'm John Marat, I'm annoying as hell. Thanks for dropping by to the UN. We can't support in anyway your proposal for a number of reasons: the biggest that sticks out is the driving age at 16. Well you see, here at Albion we recognise that teenagers don't always excerise the best judgement behind the wheel. hey, who does, right? *ha ha* But no, if I may be serious, we kinda feel that before someone gets to use a lethal weapon like a car, that they should have a few years under their belt, to mature and get all of that smoking weed and drinking cheap cider in a cemetary out of their systems. We don't allow anyone to take a driving test until they're 21, although they can have driving lessons from 17 onwards.

It's a lovely sentiment, letting the kids have their fun but....well no. But hey, thanks for sharing.

You've been great, I've been John Marat, thanks for listening. ^_^

We do not use vehicles. Our transport system relies mostly upon large prehistoric animals. This proposal would be unworkable for us.

Here in Bahgum we don't have driving tests. We just allow all men over 21 to drive as they obviously have the skill to do so. Of course, women and OAPs are banned from driving. But then we don't have cars, we just drive cart-horses, and women don't like to smell of cart horses (don't know why) and horses don't like the smell of stale p@ss, so the laws work quite well really.

We do not use vehicles. Our transport system relies mostly upon large prehistoric animals. This proposal would be unworkable for us.
How can they be prehistoric if you're writing about them in the present?

Some people are just not meant to drive

Yah, this proposal I can't agree with. It would mean that people in my nation would have to be tested to drive dinosaurs in Collaboration, and that's just not cool.

Different nations have different laws. It's just that simple. If they can be tested to see if they are fit to drive in my country, perhaps I will allow it.

Licensure of citizens for the operation of motor vehicles is a national issue and not something with which the United Nations should be concerned.

We cannot support this proposal.

James Moehlman
Asst. Manager ico U.N. Affairs

Not a bad proposal -- definitely pretty well written compared to the majority of what comes through. That said, this proposal falls into a few major snares, as I see it.

First, it aims to standardize without listing standards. So we'll all have the same requirements and the same tests -- great, what are the requirements and the tests? This is a significant problem because it will force all member nations into an agreement where there is no one knows just what it is that they're agreeing to.

Second, I don't think we need to recognize "The Right to Drive" as a fundamental, international human right. Many nations restrict the activity, and I see no reason why that should not be their prerogative.

Third, few nations will agree with operative clause 2, mandating that all citizens be allowed to drive at age 16 and cannot carry passengers until age 18 -- I'm sure that a good many people will disagree with one or both of those items.

Fourth, I don't believe that the UN should manage domestic issues like this.

Not to walk all over what is obviously an above-par resolution, but I, too, agree with many of the objections raised by other member nations. Regulation on this level would require months of meetings and negotiations on the particulars to ensure that every nation's standards were met and afforded for.

We believe that the issue of recognizing driving priveledges is better left to individual governments that form bi-lateral or multi-lateral agreements with other nations to recognize their licenses on a case by case basis.

You've aimed a little too high, I'm afraid.

Sincerely yours,
Daniel M. Hillaker
Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ladies and gentleman, my name Alex R. Garay III, President of the Federation of Centralamerican States. Although Caseylvania makes some good points in her proposal, I must disagree for the following reasons.

First, I must say that to take a driving test before the entering a country is note fiscally sound. The expense upon undertaking this project would be astronomical. Second, the time for all of the new drivers to be processed is decimating to the tourist section of the economy, which favor expeditious, but secure, immigration standards.

Fellow governors, I propose that we legislate an International Standard Driving Law first, and then we can worry about the licence part.

Thank you.

Alex R. Garay III

Might a middle step be something like establishing all the different modes of transport in the various countries and then deciding that (say) a licence to drive a car in Enodia means that you can drive a car in any other country where cars are driven. Not dinosaurs, not carts, just cars.

Might a middle step be something like establishing all the different modes of transport in the various countries and then deciding that (say) a licence to drive a car in Enodia means that you can drive a car in any other country where cars are driven. Not dinosaurs, not carts, just cars.

I'm glad you brought up this point. However, riding a sand worm is a very difficult task, and we would be irresponsible if we allowed travelers who had worm permits to attempt to summon (with a thumper) let alone ride a sand worm. They are after all two entirely different modes of transportation.

I couldn't agree with you more. Sand worms, dinosaurs, even camels are probably rather specialised things to drive (assuming that "drive" is the right word) and nations are most assuredly within their rights in ensuring that inexperienced people don't drive them. However, a car is a car the world over, as are horses and most forms of carts - so I don't see why a car licence in Nation A can't let you drive a car in Nation B.

I couldn't agree with you more. Sand worms, dinosaurs, even camels are probably rather specialized things to drive (assuming that "drive" is the right word) and nations are most assuredly within their rights in ensuring that inexperienced people don't drive them. However, a car is a car the world over, as are horses and most forms of carts - so I don't see why a car license in Nation A can't let you drive a car in Nation B.

For one, traffic signs may be in a different language in Nation B. For another, you may drive on a different side of the road. You may not be able to make right turns on red lights, as you could in Nation A. Red may not even mean stop. Roads and Traffic Laws are not yet universal throughout the world, and each country poses its own difficulties to drivers. Lubrians are discouraged from driving; we have an excellent public transit system in place, and encourage our citizens to use it. Obtaining a drivers license is an expensive venture in Lubria. Part of the money from fees goes to subsidize public transportation, so that poor people can obtain discount fare or in some cases free transit passes.

We are also unsure of the training practices in all 36,000+ UN Member countries. We are unwilling to put the safety of our people in question solely for the sake of convenience. If foreign nationals or immigrants wish to move about in Lubria, they may use our vast public transit system, or go through the process of obtaining a Lubrian driver's license.

Frankly, Lubria, I do agree with you - or at least, I don't feel strongly enough on the issue to disagree. I'm just doing a devil's advocate.