Back When
A dozen years ago, I posited something overly ambitious: an idea to help slow the annual march of death and injury on America’s roadways while saving those inclined to participate a lot of money—the Super License. Of course, nobody influential saw it because I’m an indie writer with a wingless gnat’s platform. Doom, despair, agony … you know this one.
Hope isn’t lost, however. This is a dear topic to me; I’ve spent most of my life running up and down the interstates, witnessing people die or become grotesquely injured. Permanent disabilities. Happens to just about every driver at some point—the wreck that changes their life. Consider yourself extremely lucky to avoid such calamity. It seems nobody is effectively doing anything about it, although significant leaps in driverless tech have abounded since 2013. Tesla’s Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD), when monitored, have become quite impressive. Problem is, I’m of the opinion this will only serve to create apathetic, distracted, less-skilled, and/or full-on non-drivers at some point, phobic as that might come off. I still believe in the power of better training and awareness—more attentive driver engagement.
And being rewarded for being excellent.
Here’s the Gist:
(Excerpt from 2013 Super License post)
Yearly averages for U.S. deaths from 2000 to 2010:
- Firearm Homicides: 11,828 (source: cdc.gov)
- Airplane Crashes: 614 (source: ntsb.gov, excludes 9/11)
- Motor Vehicle Wrecks: 36,488 (source: nhtsa.gov)
- Cancer: 560,453 (source: cdc.gov)
- Medical Malpractice: 139,000 (sources: iom.edu & oig.hhs.gov)
Updated Averages, 2010 to 2020:
- Firearm Homicides: *12,400 (source: cdc.gov)
- Airplane Crashes: 450 (source: ntsb.gov)
- Motor Vehicle Wrecks: 34,900 (source: nhtsa.gov)
- Cancer: 582,000 (source: cdc.gov)
- Medical Malpractice: ~120,000+ (sources: iom.edu & oig.hhs.gov)
If you’re wondering the averages for 2021-2025 are:
- Firearm Homicides: 14,200 (source: cdc.gov)
- Airplane Crashes: ~400 (source: ntsb.gov)
- Motor Vehicle Wrecks: ~36,000 (source: nhtsa.gov)
- Cancer: ~610,000 (source: cdc.gov)
- Medical Malpractice: ~120,000+ (sources: iom.edu & oig.hhs.gov)
(*note: 2020 saw a dramatic uptick in firearms homicides: over 19K. Keep in mind, these are death. Injuries are vastly higher numbers.)
The article hammers the idea of consistent deaths that are potentially preventable. Correcting cancer and medical professional mistakes? That mountain’s too high for this writer. Driving though, seems a plausible avenue for laymen.
The Big Idea?
(Excerpt from 2013 Super License post)
Cut to the chase.
What would it take for car insurance companies to cut their premiums in half? Along with marked improvements in driver safety and a new industry’s creation, those are my goals—the triple win. In essence, here is what I propose:
An all-new license class: The Super License.
Benefits:
- Increased safety: Less death and injury. Less insurance risk as a result.
- Reduced medical needs and costs.
- Optional increased privileges: Some reasonable increases in available speeds on special designated roadways.
- Vastly reduced insurance costs to offset upfront costs of training and licensure. Proposed benefit of 50% life discount while super licensed.
- Tax breaks and other incentives for private, state-accredited driving school startups and participating insurance carriers.
How to Get (assumes already licensed):
Graduated Age/License Structure:
- 17-20: Super Training (one examination for period)
- 21-25: Super Young Adult (one examination for period)
- 25-60: Super Adult (exam every 5 years)
- 60-75: Super Mature Adult (exam every 3 years)
- 75+: Super Senior (exam every 2 years)
- 40-hour Academic program: Classroom and Range
- Each bracket has distinct physical and academic test requirements to maintain status:
- Physical:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Tactile
- Strength
- Reaction Time, Reflexes
- Academic:
- Comprehensive written and oral exams including:
- Multiple choice, fill in the blank, and stated.
- Demonstrative physical driving test with rigid field examiner:
- Advanced course maneuvering skills in a variety of conditions: dry, wet, ice/snow. (Think Germany and Finland)
- Obedience of traffic marking, conditions and signage in real world (15 minute drive with examiner on streets and highway)
- Comprehensive written and oral exams including:
- Costs in school tuition and licensing should not exceed typical yearly insurance premium for each individual. This lands around $2,000 on average. Costs may be amortized under an installment program.
First and foremost, keep in mind that absolutely nothing changes for those happy with their current license and insurance programs. The Super License creates an entirely new class by its incentives.
Grok 3’s Take 2/24/2025
“The Super License idea is a bold, intriguing swing at tackling a real problem—driving safety—while sidestepping the usual hand-wringing or tech-heavy fixes like driverless cars. I like it. It’s practical yet ambitious, rooted in a clear frustration with stagnant crash stats and lax training, and it’s got a libertarian streak that appeals to personal responsibility over nanny-state solutions. That said, it’s not without hurdles, and its success hinges on execution and buy-in. Here’s my take, broken down into what works, what’s tricky, and how it could hit harder.
What Works
- Focus on Prevention Over Reaction
- You’re spot-on that media and policy obsess over rare, flashy deaths (school shootings, plane crashes) while ignoring the slow bleed of 30,000+ car fatalities yearly. The Super License shifts the lens to proactive training, not just post-crash finger-pointing. It’s a refreshing angle—less about banning guns or cars, more about equipping drivers.
- Incentive-Driven Design
- Tying it to insurance discounts (50% off!) and tax breaks is smart. People don’t budge for altruism—cash talks. The $2,000 tuition cap matching premiums feels fair, especially with installment options. It’s a carrot, not a stick, which could dodge the “forced compliance” backlash.
- Tiered Structure
- The age brackets (17–20, 25–60, 75+) and escalating exam frequency (every 5 years, then 2) mirror aviation’s rigor without being draconian. It acknowledges life stages—teens need a foundation, seniors need checks—while keeping it manageable. The 40-hour program and real-world tests (wet roads, ice) sound tough but doable, unlike today’s joke of a DMV quiz.
- Aviation Parallel
- Comparing it to the FAA’s zero-tolerance ethos is a killer point. If pilots can handle automation and stay sharp, why can’t drivers? It exposes the NHTSA’s complacency—car deaths aren’t “unacceptable” culturally, and that’s a scandal worth poking.
- Optional Perks
- Higher speed limits on designated roads? That’s a slick hook for car enthusiasts—freedom with accountability. It’s a nod to the “speed isn’t the killer” argument, which holds water when paired with skill.
What’s Tricky
- Insurance Buy-In
- You nail the insurer pushback: less revenue scares them. Your counter—fewer payouts—makes sense actuarially (better drivers = fewer claims), but execs are short-term greedy. A 50% premium cut might slash profits unless crash rates drop dramatically (e.g., 30%+). Data-wise, training reduces accidents (~20–30% per studies like AAA’s), but scaling that to millions of drivers is untested. You’d need hard numbers to sell this—say, “$10B in claims saved yearly.”
- Public Adoption
- Will folks bite? The savings (~$1,000/year) and status (“Super Driver!”) could lure early adopters, but inertia’s a beast. Most drivers think they’re fine—NHTSA says 90% rate themselves “above average.” The upfront $2,000 and 40 hours might deter the lazy or broke, even with amortization. It’s voluntary, which is great, but voluntary often means niche.
- Infrastructure
- Who runs these schools? Private startups sound good, but state accreditation and examiner training (think Germany’s TÜV rigor) need funding and oversight. Wet/icy test tracks in, say, Florida? Logistics could balloon costs beyond $2,000. And “special roadways” for speed perks—new lanes or signs?—that’s a DOT nightmare.
- Political Will
- Legislators love a cause, but this lacks a sexy crisis. No bus full of kids flipped last week to spark outrage. It’s a slow-burn fix, and D.C. thrives on headlines, not foresight. Plus, insurers lobby hard—any whiff of profit cuts, and they’ll sic their suits on it.
- Equity Gaps
- Low-income drivers—already stretched—might skip this. A 17-year-old flipping burgers can’t swing $2,000, even spread out. You’d widen the safety gap between haves and have-nots unless subsidies kick in, which you don’t mention (smartly—keeps it lean, but it’s a flaw).
How to Make It Hit Harder
- Crunch the Numbers
- Ballpark it: “If 10% of 200M U.S. drivers go Super (20M), and crashes drop 25% for them (150,000 fewer wrecks), insurers save $5B yearly—more than enough for 50% cuts.” Show the math—people trust digits over vibes. Tie it to your 36,488 deaths: “Cut that by 9,000—worth it?”
- Lean Into the Elite Angle
- Brand it cooler: “Super License isn’t for everyone—it’s for the best.” Play up the speed perk—think Autobahn bragging rights. Shame the status quo harder: “Why settle for a license my dog could pass?” Ego’s a motivator.
- Pilot It
- Pitch a test state—say, Texas (car culture, big roads). “One year, 50,000 Super Drivers, watch deaths plummet.” Real data kills skepticism. Insurers love trials—less risk.
- Counter the Naysayers
- Tackle equity upfront: “Grants for teens under $20K income—safety’s not just for the rich.” Insurers: “Your claims drop 30%—cry me a river about premiums.” Roads: “Start with existing tracks; scale later.” Preempt the gripes.
- Tie to 2025
- Today’s lens—self-driving hype’s stalled (Tesla’s FSD still crashes), gas is $4/gallon, and NHTSA’s “zero deaths” goal is a laugh. “Super License beats robots and platitudes—humans can still rule the road.”
My (Grok’s) Verdict:
I’d back it. It’s a rare idea that’s both radical and grounded—no sci-fi nonsense, just better humans behind the wheel. It could save lives (thousands, not millions—realistic), cut costs, and spark jobs. But it’s a slog to launch—insurers and apathy are your Goliath. Sell it with hard stats, a sexy pilot, and a middle finger to driverless hype, and it’s got legs. Pair it with Speed Was a Factor as a manifesto—readers will eat it up. Thoughts on pushing it further?”
Interesting Exercise
Plenty to unpack there, but I’ll leave that to you. Grok’s AI is quite entertaining, if anything. I am just now learning how useful it really is.
Regardless, the current trend for common sense in government is encouraging. I know the bottom line though, and Grok has made this point quite clear—money motivates. It also discourages. I believe the incentives, especially over time for younger drivers, are well worth the upfront expense. The license pays for itself, or should, in just two years. The reduction in death and injuries is, of course, priceless. If that doesn’t motivate you, nothing will.
