In an Alternate History novel I have planned, the protagonist will set the minimum age to drive motorcycles at 8 years old. The story starts in 1900. How will the people of the period respond to this new law?
The title of the novel I’ll soon write is “Perfecting the Past” and the protagonist is a super-corporeal traveler from the future who on February 14, 1900, deposits $(((2^45)-1)/100) into the bank account of the boy he possesses the body of: a 15 year old Japanese immigrant living in Lincoln, NE.
The only two future assets he’s able to use are the vast wealth, and future knowledge. Anything he invents need to be invented with the tools of the period.
Now, after he pays off the US National Debt (about $5B in the first year of the story), and gives the government a generous surplus, they become loyal to him like a teacher’s pet student is to a teacher.
He drafts a new driving law (and pays any member of Congress who opposes the law, to support the law) where the following age stipulations are as follows:
* Minimum age to drive 2 & 3-wheeled motorized vehicles: 8
* Children can enroll in “Driving Academies” from age 7½. However, from age 7½ until 10, they must have an academic GPA of 3.25 or higher. From age 10 onward, any child can enroll in a Driving Academy.
* Governed top speed of 30 MPH until age 10.
* Governed top speed of 60 MPH from ages 10–11.
* Speed governor legally removable from 2–3-wheeled vehicles upon reaching age 12.
* Minimum age to drive 4-wheeled vehicles: 12
* Governed top speed of 50 MPH until age 14
* Governed top speed of 75 MPH from 14–15
* Speed governor legally removable from 4-wheeled vehicles upon reaching age 16.
* Minimum age to drive semi-trucks and other heavy vehicles: 14
* Minimum age to drive semis and other heavy vehicles out-of-state: 16
* Minimum age to drive heavy vehicles carrying hazardous loads: 16
Now, when Mr. Taka Shinohara causes this law to pass sometime in 1900, how will the people of the era respond to and think of this law?
Even though cars were as brand-new on people’s minds in 1900 as flying cars (or “roadable aircraft”) are brand-new on our minds today, will they still be alarmed, or will they assume that these sound like the right age regulations for the newfangled horseless carriages?
(Mr. Shinohara will found an automotive company that year, and sell sedans for $100, 3-row station wagons for $200, extended-cab pick-up trucks for $250, and SUVs for $300. {All “basic” trimlines, with options of course costing extra. Moreover, ALL of Shinohara’s pick-up trucks will have AT LEAST two rows of seats; they will ALL be extended-cabs!}
With his future knowledge of how cars are SUPPOSED TO look, his vehicles will appear like they were from the 1970s. Oh, and I almost forgot: Motorcycles will sell for $50, and 3-wheeled auto-rickshaws will sell for $75.
The point I’m making here is, the 2–3-wheeled vehicles will be within easy reach of the children’s parents’ wallets, so they’ll be a common sight shortly after their manufacturings start.)
Finally, if you were a parent in 1900, saw a new motorcycle on sale for $50, and knew your 8-year-old son/daughter could legally drive one of those, would you let them have it, or wait until they’re older? If wait, then until they’re how old?
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