1 in 5 Drivers Would Flunk Test: Survey

For starters, a Netflix model on ownership

(NEWSER) - Google's big idea to put self-driving cars on the road someday could be a game-changer. Three quick opinions:

• Netflix for autos? "Cars that don't need drivers also may not need private owners—since they could be summoned remotely and returned once their journey is complete," writes Doron Levin at Fortune . "Why take on a lease if you can purchase a subscription to a car instead? ... Car owners who never want to spend a Saturday under the hood or in the waiting room of a mechanic's shop again might quickly adapt to a car subscription model."

Oh, and he's been unlicensed since 1977. And couldn't keep right

(NEWSER) - So your blood-alcohol content is 3.5 times the limit and you haven't had a driver's license in 33 years—let's go for a drive! And so a tire falls off—let's keep going 11 miles without it! Western New Yorker Duane Bush is charged with doing just that, along with a bunch of pesky felonies, after another driver called cops after the rear right tire fell off his van and he continued on his merry way, reports the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. The responding cops said Bush also had a hard time staying in the right lane. More»

Now all South Korean has to do is pass the physical test

(NEWSER) - A 68-year-old South Korean woman has finally been granted the chance to take her actual, physical driving test after completing the written exam—on her 950th try. Cha Sa-soon took the test and failed almost daily since April 2005 before recently squeaking through with the minimum score of 60%. At four and a half bucks a pop, Cha has spent $4,400 in application fees in pursuit of a license…thus far. More»

Environmentally-conscious motorists also drive more, study says

(NEWSER) - Owners of hybrid vehicles tend to drive more, have higher repair bills, and get more tickets than their gas-guzzling counterparts, the Car Connection reports. A study of the behavior of 360,000 motorists found insurers pay 17% more for comprehensive coverage of hybrid owners compared to owners of conventional models. Toyota Prius owners specifically committed 0.38 violations per 100,000 miles driven, compared to an average of 0.23. More»

(NEWSER) - If you think that pricey speeding ticket is unfair, just look at Finland, where fines are based on income. Mental Floss takes a look at five doozies:

• In 2002, a Nokia exec on a Harley got hit with a whopping $103,600 fine for cruising at 47mph in a 31mph zone.
• A young dot-com entrepreneur, Jaako Rytsola, had to shell out $71,400 for driving his Beamer 18mph over the limit.