@LMHS7 I’m sorry that I didn’t remember that and just assumed that you lived in or near a city. Overcoming fear is a huge accomplishment. Congratulations to your D for gutting it out. Being able to drive is IMO so important for independence, even if you live in a city, so kudos to her.
@LMHS73 Congrats on D getting excited about driving and passing the driving test! My S had no real interest (don’t know that it wasn’t a bit of fear) about driving. He finally got his permit last fall, and we signed him up for 2 lessons with a driving school. We paid $90 per 2-hour lesson, so I feel your pain! But the driving instructor helped with “inside” tips for the road test, and helped get him more comfortable behind the wheel. He drove with us both day and night for about two months, before he felt comfortable enough for the road test. Our law requires at least 50 hours, I’m sure he did more hours than that. He drove himself to school for the first time yesterday. Grandma was on the fence about it, but then gave him an errand to pick up something from the supermarket on the way home. Now she sees the advantages of another driver in the house. =))
My D has been driving for nearly 2 years now. And around here once you fulfill the necessary hours and take the required driving class (either through the school system or a private firm – costs are the same) you get your temporary license right away. No need to take a road test although I suppose the driving class is one long extended road test.
@hafamama; congrats to your son! I’m glad we got them on the road!
Don’t talk to me about driving tests!!! Son has failed two and has next one booked in next Friday costing me £62 per time! Insurance here in the UK for drivers under 25 is extortionate so we have only had him on our insurance for 8 weeks. He can drive! Just can’t pass the test - drove through a ‘Stop’ sign and then asked which way to turn when there was only one way to turn as the other was a no entry. IDIOT!!
I’ve said if he doesn’t pass next week I’m not paying for any more. (Luckily grandma is paying for the lessons.) But we so wanted him driving before he gets to the US but maybe it would be easier for him to get his test there. But fingers crossed he won’t be needing to do that.
(As an aside though once he has passed he will not be driving here as we can’t afford to put him on our insurance as a fully-fledged driver.)
Keep in mind: once he arrives here, he’ll be switching to the right side of the street!
@bjkmom don’t think that will be a problem as think that’s the side he seems to always be on here!!! :))
Son is stuck bt two schools. I’m so glad we are not the only ones, and I thank you al for the helpful advice given in the last week on this thread.
Here’s hoping for decisions for many of our kids today!
Coming from Germany we had mandatory driving school which ended up costing a lot of money, which I earned myself.
My parents helped pay for insurance though.
I noticed a few differences in the US:
You can turn right on red, if there is no traffic, unless it says not to.
Four way stop signs don’t exist in Germany, we are fans of circle traffic there.
A lot of Americans don’t seem to be fans of wide left turns, they will often let you out in order to take a tight turn.
It took my S a while to get his license, which was a good thing. He was very busy after school and worked on weekends, making it hard to find time to practice. He didn’t like driving our minivan (automatic), but had trouble learning to drive the manual transmission car at first.
I didn’t know how to explain it to him. Finally I told my H to go driving with him and he was fine after that.
The tester was so impressed that he drove a manual that he passed with no problem the second time.
The funny thing is that I was trying to teach him parallel parking, but while I was explaining, he pulled right into the spot. I am convinced that males are born with this ability.
@LMHS73 yay! Congratulations, I offered driving school, she was not interested. We know DD taking a car to school in the fall is not an option this year so we’ve let the subject go for now. DD will spend all of June and July at residents GirlScout camp and then we leave for UAH 8/7. We will review at Christmas break for next summer.
D has been slow about wanting to learn to drive until recently. Now that a few of her friends have their licenses she suddenly is more interested.
Our issue is that both parents don’t love going out driving with her. I feel bad for her actually. I am trying to do my best but feel my anxiety creeps into her (probation not just with driving
That should be probably. No probation yet
I’m the worst passenger, even with experienced drivers! I can’t remember the last time I was a passenger with either of my seniors?
Driving is a necessity where we are and most kids get their temps around here on the first possible day they can. I have trouble relating to the idea of not wanting to drive. driving = freedom.
Son and I went suit shopping today. We decided to put the prom tux rental $$ towards a suit that he can wear for prom, graduation, job interviews, formals at college etc.
That was NOT fun. OMG - so much anxiety all rolled into one shopping trip. I’m exhausted.
I avoid it whenever possible. Even though my 18 and 20 year old are good drivers, I tend to go into teacher mode as their passenger, just out of habit. It never goes well. X_X
Ok good it’s not just me. Didn’t realize how hard it was it to teach someone to drive.
@ShrimpBurrito
hafason: driving
Me: “Slower!”
I have told Grandma she can’t sit in the front seat yet. (She has high blood pressure)
@stemmmm We went the suit route last year and between proms and interviews, it’s been a good money saver and time saver. The pants are a bit shorter now because hafason is still growing, so that’s something to keep in mind.
@hafamama Luckily S has stopped growing!! Went to the doctor’s yesterday to get his medical forms signed. Height, weight, bp and pulse. Height came in just under 6’3"!!! Husband 5’9 and I’m 5’3. Where did it come from?
@Whistlingal The driving test is much much easier here in the US. Pass rate is 80-90%, so completely unlike the 30-40% rate in the UK. You are allowed to make several minor mistakes, though not to do something dangerous. We only know two kids who failed out of several dozen.
Also, almost no one drives a stick shift. That makes it much easier, but it then might be harder to adjust back to driving in the UK. He’d probably need to take the test again in the UK to get a license there even if he passed in the US.
And as far as insurance is concerned, it’s even more ridiculously expensive in the US. We have a very long claim free record, multiple discounts (e.g. for combining home and car insurance) and it’s still $2000 per year to insure the 9 year old car the kids drive. However, and somewhat bizarrely, you don’t start paying until after they have passed the test, as you are the responsible driver while they are learning.