Kinda wistful, kinda scarey

Avatar for mjaye2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Kinda wistful, kinda scarey
6
Fri, 02-24-2006 - 12:56pm

Ds14 starts driver's ed on Monday.

eek.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-21-2005
Fri, 02-24-2006 - 1:24pm
I do not look forward to that!
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-14-2000
Fri, 02-24-2006 - 1:35pm
OMG - that seems so young!
Pam
Avatar for mjaye2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-24-2006 - 1:45pm
ROFL---my kid or yours???
Avatar for mjaye2002
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 02-24-2006 - 1:51pm
Actually, here you have to be 15 to get your learner's permit also. He is taking it thru the school, and will turn 15 before they start the actual driving part in June, so he's allowed to go thru the written part now. At least he will get a full year of practice driving before he get fully licensed, so that's good. If he drives anything like his older brother, I don't think I'll survive. ;)
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
Fri, 02-24-2006 - 2:29pm

Wow that's young. Here, you have to be 16 to even get your permit! You have to first take a written test (and be 16 to do the test) and then you have a "limited learners permit".

The rules are very strict. You have to have a driver with at least 5 years of experience (after their G) besides you at all times. You are not allowed on the highways. There is a limit to the number of people allowed in the car with you and no late night driving.
If you take an "approved by the government" drivers course (with at least 10 hours of in car instruction with a qualified instruction) and 25 hrs of classroom, it takes 8 MONTHS before you are allowed to take your first road test. If you don't take a course, you have to wait 12 months.

After you pass your first road test (and there is no quarantee that you will), you are given your G1 license. There are restrictions on when you can drive (no late night), where (no highways), with whom (limit the number of un-related teenagers in the car). And,of course, there is zero tolerance for alcohol, speeding, and breaking any of the "road rules". You will lose your license. After 1 YEAR of your G1, if you have a clean diving record, you can take your last road test and get your G license (if you pass). There is also a "time limit" for the validity of your G1.

So, it takes from 20 months to 24 months to become a fully licensed driver from the age of 16. It's a new program,only about 5 years old, and it is already reducing the carnage on the roads.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-17-2005
Fri, 02-24-2006 - 4:46pm

Good luck. We'll be thinking of you!

I'm in KS and there's a bill going to the capitol to raise the driving age. Right now you can get a learner's permit at 14 (only with a licensed driver over 18), a restricted license at 15 (to/from work, to/from school only), and a full license at 16. And there's still a "farm" license you can get at 14 that is unrestricted if you live on a farm or can convince the police officer you're doing "farm" errands. Silly, I think, as there are so few big farms around that would require that.

I'm all behind raising the driving age. I *think* the bill is 15 for a learners, 16 for a restricted and 18 for a full license. Of course DD13 hates the idea but I'm afraid of turning our kids loose behind the wheel of a 2,000 lb weapon--generall with a cell phone, dodging the higher number of cars going at faster speeds than when I was first driving.