How old were you when you got your drivers liscense?
By ersmommy1
@ersmommy1 (12588)
United States
15 responses
@katbalu102 (377)
• Philippines
1 May 08
i got my drivers liscence when i was 20. my dad wouldnt let me learn how to drive i dont know why. my sister knows how to drive at 15 or 16 and our youngest knew how to drive when he was around that age as well. now i have also been interested in learning it but no one would teach me and my dad would say learn how to drive later when your brother is good at it already. im like 'why do i have to wait for that'. lol. so i got fed up and 'secretly' had driving lessons with my highschool classmate. hahaha. and now that i have it i still cant drive. hahaha.. my older sister uses a car and my brother uses one. lol... but i dont really mind, they could drive to their hearts content. i prefer to be the passenger since my feet wouldnt get tired. lol... and they could pick me up when i call them. but at least i got a liscence just in case. hehe
1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
1 May 08
I didn't get my license until I was about 18. I went to an American highschool overseas and they didn't have drivers education. My lessons consisted of one afternoon with my father in a flat parking lot in an automatic. A week later he brought home a payment book, a set of keys and a stickshift. I taught myself to drive it. I remember not knowing how to put it in reverse, so I put it in neutral and pushed it backwards. I couldn't even figure out how to turn the brights off. I eventually learned, but I was self taught.
@Jakesnake1978 (1380)
• United States
1 May 08
I was 22 years old when I got my driver's license finally. Now it has been seven years since then now.
1 person likes this
@positiveminded1977 (7072)
• India
1 May 08
I was around 26 I think. I tried learning car first. Never could understand all those gears. Anyway, I couldn't afford a car; so I learned how to ride a two wheeler next. That was easier coz it only had a break and accelerator; no gears. I think I rode it for two years before selling it. I use public transport now. Somehow, I don't feel like owning a vehicle. I love leading a simple life.
Cheers and thanks for this discussion.
@daveisdavid (878)
• Singapore
2 May 08
It would be me. I just got my license and I'm 30 now. Regretted for getting it so late because the fees are twice the amount in the past.
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
1 May 08
I got mine right away when I was 16. We lived out in the middle of nowhere and if I was going to work I had to drive to do it. I got a car, too, but the job was the only reason- they would not have given me a car had I been able to walk to work.
@nicholejade (2430)
• Canada
15 May 08
Got my learners at 15 in half and a short time later came the full licence. Before I was 16. I loved it. I was a natural born driver. Some are and some aren't drivers mind you. I still don't understand how some people even got a licence.
@DaddyOfTheRose (2934)
• United States
15 May 08
I'm not entirely sure when I got my driver's license. With my father's great skill in teaching the art of driving, I was rather nervous about the prospect. Driving wasn't a fun thing for quite some time. I believe I might have gotten it around my 18th birthday, but perhaps I bit the bullet by when my 16th birthday rolled around. I seem to have some memory of driving while I was in highschool, so certainly that wouldn't make sense if I were 18 when I first got it.
I do think that young drivers are a particular hazard. Especially, drivers without an adult present. It takes practice to hone your driving instincts. Young drivers don't have them but tend to assume everything is safe and fine. It isn't. I was rear-ended once by a driver who just had her license for a week. I believe there are many other people out there with similar stories.
There are things which we learn to do in steps. We mention them to ourselves, saying them in our head. "Turn signal, look right-left-right, go.." or what have you. We can remind ourselves to look at our speed and to check our blindspot. But it is only after much practice driving that such habits become ingrained. When you no longer focus on the controls, moving your hands, moving your feet, but rather think about what you want to do and the car seems to respond. A lot like touch typing. I no longer think of where I'm supposed to put my fingers. I think the word.. I don't even think the letters. My fingers and hands just magically translate my thoughts onto the page.
That's kind of how driving gets to be in an adult. You look, use your turn signal, change your speed, or even stop all without really thinking about it. It is as if the light changes and, without any decision on your part, your foot is on the brake and the car is slowing. These instincts don't come about just because you passed some test.
Young drivers also fall victim to distracted driving. The radio, cell phone, or other friends. (Here, I must digress. Once upon a time one of my male friends got into an accident because his driving was distracted by a young blond woman walking on the side of the street. He was something like 50 at the time, so even adults are subject to the dangers of 'distracted driving.')
When my daughter comes of age to drive, I plan on having her drive everywhere I need to go if at all possible. I want to help her practice, practice, practice, until she has good driving instincts down pat. But I probably won't want her driving by herself for awhile.. just in case.
@drknlvly6781 (6246)
• United States
1 May 08
Yes, I know one, me!!! I will be 27 next month, and I have yet to get my license. I need to hurry up and do it though. A lot more job opportunities would open up to me if I could only get to them.