“For what it’s worth, having a license as a form of ID can save a lot of hassles.”
A lot of states (all?) allow residents to get an ID which is the same as a driver’s license for identification purposes, but doesn’t allow driving. Clearly valuable for anyone over 18 who does not have a driver’s license.
“And having yours may come in handy in the event that dad is ill or has to travel for work.”
Certainly true.
I agree with everyone that there’s nothing embarrassing about getting rides from your dad.
I agree with the people who say it’s time to get your license. Unless you live in NYC or have some disability that actually prevents you from driving, it’s a basic adult life skill. If you’re putting it off because the idea of driving makes you anxious or nervous, time will likely make it worse not better.
What’s your plan for your adult working life?
I’m a little mystified by the people who assume you don’t need a license because you don’t own a car. I got my license while I was in high school. I would borrow a car from my parents when I could to run errands, go out with friends or go to work. I didn’t have a car in college, but I drove my parents’ cars when I was home on vacation. Once or twice a friend who had a car at college but lived pretty far away flew home for vacations and lent me her car for the vacation. Yay! A ride AND a car of my own to use during vacation. After college, I lived in NYC, so I certainly didn’t buy a car, but I rented one from time to time to leave the city for a vacation or in a place I flew to for vacation. Finally, when I was 35, my husband (NYC native, never owned a car) and I moved to the suburbs and bought our first car. But I drove plenty in the nearly 20 years between getting my license and owning a car. Uber etc are great, but there are times when it just makes more sense to rent a car.
I used to work at a university. We needed to share cars in our family; and for a time I was dropped off every day by my son who was in high school at the time. It made perfect sense - our school district did not provide transportation, and I had access to cafeterias and nearby restaurants if I needed food (I usually brought my lunch). If I needed to wait for a ride home, I could work late or take a walk or spend time in the library.
I never felt embarrassed that I was being dropped off by my son. If there were days I needed the car (like for a doctor’s appointment) I dropped him off.
Saw lots of students being dropped off as well. No one cares.
I know several young people who are successful students who don’t have licenses because of medical conditions making it unsafe for them to drive. Also, getting a license can mean a rise in nsurance premiums for a family. There are lots of reasons why a person might not have a license. Don’t all states provide official IDs for non-drivers?
Nobody will even notice. If you do feel it bothers you then have your dad drop you off in the student parking lot. then you will just be seen walking out of the lot and nobody will be the wiser.
re post #37. I grew up in the suburbs, close to a lake. Not in the countryside/small town. No private land either. Could not afford even a canoe so chances for doing what you describe nonexistent. My parents sometimes only had the company car back in the 1960’s which my dad used to travel- sometimes overnight. Our 10 and then older car had a stick shift and I had trouble. Harder to deal with the hills for a novice as well. Finally learned on an automatic.
There are some basic skills I believe every child should acquire even if they do not use them later because it is easier/more convenient to do so. Learning how to drive a car, swim and ride a bicycle are the big three. Once you learn it is easy to refresh unused skills but finding the time as an adult is hard.
OP- make it your goal to learn to drive and get that license. Even with difficult to learn from parents. Perhaps you could even be the one dropping your dad off so you could use his car during the day sometimes…
if it bothers you have him drop you off a few blocks away. Actually he’ll probably appreciate not having to drive onto campus.