Driver's License should be an EC

Madmag · 07-13-2008, 04:30 PM

How many hours have we devoted to becoming licensed drivers? The whole process from driver's ed to permit to license caused me grief and anxiety and i think we should be able to proudly check off some box on the app that says "I am licensed, hear me roar!"

pramirez184 · 07-13-2008, 04:33 PM

about 3 weekends tops

Wigwam · 07-13-2008, 04:49 PM

LOL. If you listed your driver's ed classes and your driving lessons on your app as EC's they would be far more worthless to colleges than NHS membership. The vast majority of teenagers (almost everyone I know, anyway) are licensed by the time they apply to college, whether they are excellent students or slackers.

HisGraceFillsMe · 07-13-2008, 04:49 PM

Um...no.

In CA, it takes 1 summer school class, 6 hours of drivers ed and 50 hours of driving (10 of which has to be at night). However, they don't check, and no one ever really does the 50 hours. I did MAYBE 20 or 30.

Wigwam has also nailed it...it takes no skill to drive. Anyone can do it (pretty much).

JBVirtuoso · 07-13-2008, 05:09 PM

I actually did all 50 of my hours, plus many more. But a Driving EC never really crossed my mind. I never got anything out of those stupid expensive classroom sessions, either. Most of the time, I would do my biology and math homework while they played videos. Then I'd work on the class homework, and I'd finish it all by the time the session was over. I don't need to look at pictures of wrecked vehicles to know that I should be careful when I drive.

lil_killer129 · 07-13-2008, 05:12 PM

If it is an EC, then a lot of people will have it on their application. So how would that distinguish you from everybody else? Plus, this "EC" would be so easy to get...anyone can do it.

icooufoo69 · 07-13-2008, 05:22 PM

i didnt take drivers ed, and didnt drive a single hour with my parents... i had a driving instructor for 2 2 hour lessons and then got my license. so i had a total of 4 hours of driving experience. tough stuff

Shrinkrap · 07-13-2008, 05:25 PM

Wow! My son is trying to get through 30 hrs of an online class before he can take his test for a learners permit. Is that not true outside of California?

Kaznack · 07-13-2008, 05:33 PM

For a permit, all we do is study a slightly outdated pamphlet, and take a test, for which one only needs to get 16/20 questions right for the permit. Is the situation really that absurd in California?

Wigwam · 07-13-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

i had a total of 4 hours of driving experience. tough stuff

Driving definitely isn't hard, but I find that a little scary. Four hours was all it took to pass your test? Jesus. How'd you learn to parallel park or even feel comfortable behind the wheel in four hours? I had to practice in order to pass my test. While learning to drive is very simple it isn't something you master immediately.

Maybe you'd had prior experience?

jamesford · 07-13-2008, 05:49 PM

For a permit in CA, the test is ~40 questions and you can get 8 wrong (an 80%, the horrors!).

In no way should driving be an EC. Many, many, many So Cal drivers are absolute jack knobs on the road, so evidently it's not that difficult to get a license.

skp · 07-13-2008, 06:20 PM

Getting a driver's license in SD is much easier. I went to one eight hour safety session (which let out two hours early and had a one hour lunch break), drove 8 practice hours with an instructor. Then, I only had a 28 question quiz (you could get seven wrong) for the permit. After that, I just practice drove with my mom for the license.

Shrinkrap · 07-13-2008, 06:26 PM

In California, if you are under 18, you need about 30 hours "drivers ed" class before you can take the written learners permit test. After you pass the written learners permit test you have to take a total of 3 lessons with a certified instructor. After the first one you can begin your 50 hours with another licensed driver, over 21 years old (a certain number of which must be after dark, but not outside certain hours), then you can finish with the certified instructor, and you can then take the road test. Once you pass the road test you can drive with a limited license (i.e. curfew and no passengers) for 12 months, or until your 18th birthday. Or something like that.

Gryffon5147 · 07-13-2008, 06:26 PM

Automatic rejection from an environmentally friendly school.

AeroEngineer3141 · 07-13-2008, 06:51 PM

^ Rejection rescinded if ownership of a Prius is mentioned.

Getting a license in Jersey is tedious, at the very least. You have to pass the 50 question state exam with an 80 and do 6 mandatory hours of driving with an instructor just to get your permit. Then you need to pass a driving test after turning 17 to get your restricted license.

And that state exam has some stupid questions on it.