October 03, 2006

Random Commuter Observation

As you might imagine, there are a goodish number of cars in my neck of Northern Virginia sporting diplomatic plates - all those embassy people and so forth.

The plates are issued by the State Department and - sometimes famously - provide a certain amount of diplomatic immunity to their drivers.

What I want to know is whether these people are required to carry U.S. driver's licenses or to otherwise demonstrate their proficiency behind the wheel before being allowed out on the roads.

My guess, based on empirical observation, is that the answer is "probably not".

Posted by Robert at October 3, 2006 10:09 AM | TrackBack
Comments

This is one of my biggest complaints around here - too many people who somehow do drive when they clearly are not qualified to drive.

This is why I dread driving in the snow around here as well - not because of my own skillz, but because there are way too many people from places that never get snow.

Posted by: jen at October 3, 2006 10:49 AM

I'm fairly convinced that they have a special Diplomatic K-Mart that issues licenses to said folk. (Has to be K-mart cause Wal-Mart would probably require a little bit of skill.) Then again, we have an equal number of really bad drivers without diplomatic plates who seem to also have immunity - more than likely because 1/3 of them are off duty cops. In their cop cars.

Posted by: beth at October 3, 2006 11:54 AM

Yes, among diplomatic corp staffers, don't-give-a-damn cops and the dreaded Maryland drivers, it's a right jungle out there.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at October 3, 2006 12:03 PM

I was just about to say, er write, er type, that I believe the diplomants are required to attend a Maryland driving school. They simply need to be able to drive like Maryland drivers.

Posted by: rbj at October 3, 2006 12:30 PM