<p>It is really good to read that my kids are not the only ones not interested in getting a DL. I urged DS to get his license when he turned 17 (which he did), but couldn’t convince DD to do the same. I am going to insist that she get her license before going off to college next fall. I think it is important for her to be able to drive in case she ends up in a situation where she is the only sober one in the group. She needs to be able to take control of the car keys and get herself (and her friends) home. She sees the sense in my request, but still won’t practice driving. Think I’m going to have to get tough with her on this - her life may depend on it.</p>
<p>We had a rule that there was no drivers license unless they could qualify for the good student discount. S3 was a bit of a contrarian. Although in gifted programs, he did not like to do the work and so did not have the grades until his senior year. Got his permit and license after he turned 18. It did not concern him. He even had girlfriends that did all of the driving. After he turned 18 he finally decided it was time, on his own schedule.</p>
<p>My twins didn’t get theirs before college, although once 18, could ride with me without a permit. They weren’t the only ones “too busy” or not interested. They knew at least 4 or 5 classmates in their circles that didn’t. Some might this summer if they don’t go abroad, others are in NYC or places where they don’t feel the need for it. Some got their permit but not their licence.
For us, it saved us a lot of money and since we can only afford 2 cars, they wouldn’t have had it very often. They worked at night and weekends while in school. With the new restrictions, it didn’t seem to them feasible to spend 2 evenings 6-8:30 in class with a Saturday class and driving lessons and still do the other things they wanted to do, to only have the car limited times and they couldn’t take anyone with them.
They don’t drink and don’t go to parties where anyone has to drive home.
An ID is a good idea though, they used theirs often for different things.
From articles I’ve read online, it’s a trend to get it later, I wouldn’t worry about it</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.parentdish.com/2010/01/26/teenagers-delay-getting-their-drivers-licenses/[/url]”>http://www.parentdish.com/2010/01/26/teenagers-delay-getting-their-drivers-licenses/</a></p>
<p>I have two SWODLs. S1 is 24, a grad student in Boston (also did undergrad in Boston). We live in a college town where everything is walkable and, like so many, he was always very busy. He took the classroom part of drivers’ ed (required), but has never been behind the wheel. S2, 22, is here in town, can drive (has had at least three learner’s permits), but never bothered to take the test. Both have always had girlfriends to squire them around when necessary.</p>
<p>If it means a thing, my D (now 22) did some driver’s training, and declared “it’s not for me”. So that was that. As it turns out, she ended up in college in NYC, no driver’s license necessary, and continues to live there. She’s talking about moving to London in the future. No driver’s license needed there either. Her friends don’t even comment on her non-driving. It’s a non-issue in the city, or even here (So Cal) for her.</p>
<p>My son (age 18) does want his license and feels that we held him back by not enrolling him in driver’s ed till he was 17. He has his permit now, and he practice-drives with his dad once a week–that’s all the time we can spare right now from intensive pre-college homeschooling. He’s doing fine, and he’s not particularly scared of driving, but he’s not quite ready to take his road test yet. Personally, I feel that age 16 is too young for a DL, even though that’s the normal age around here. Out in the country, where we live, some of the farm kids are driving their dads’ tractors while they’re still in grade school. It’s scary. No wonder there are so many fatal accidents involving teens.</p>
<p>We don’t want to be over-protective, but our son will have his LC by the time he’s 19…so, what’s the problem? </p>
<p>I didn’t start driving till I was in my 30s. (Lived in Boston, where cars are not necessary.) Now I drive every day. Apart from hitting a deer (it was the deer’s fault!) and going off the road on black ice, I’ve never had an accident. I wouldn’t recommend holding off on driving till you’re 30, but 18-19 should not be an issue, IMHO.</p>
<p>I should mention, too, that we live in a very hilly area off of a steep, winding country road. One spot in particular has a hairpin curve with a sheer drop (there’s a farm down below, so there are no trees to break the fall if one were to go off the road there). This curve even scares <em>me,</em> an experienced driver – especially during bad weather. I must confess I get cold chills thinking about my kids driving that curve, especially at night or during bad conditions. </p>
<p>By the time my son gets his license, I hope he’s in college in a relatively flat area. A steep country road is really no place to get your driving “sea legs”!</p>
<p>Thank you all for your valuable comments. </p>
<p>I don’t think S is afraid, just lazy. We just came back from a road trip, how I wish he drove. I had to drive all 335 miles each way all by myself :(. </p>
<p>From what I could gather from most of the colleges we visited, he can easily get around using public transportation. But I still think, like many of you pointed out, it is good to know how to drive and have a DL. Oh well…</p>