<p>My D (17) has no interest in driving at all, at least for now. (One less thing for me to worry about for the moment.) Her older sister didn’t get around to getting her license till age 26 (!!) and did just fine, then took to the road like a duck to water. Being in urban environments and used to/comfortable with public transportation makes that an option others might not have. Still, I think it would be a good idea for her to learn to drive before college. Never can tell when she might NEED to drive. Another life skill that I’d like to send her off with.</p>
<p>We live in Chicago and there are good things about learning in a city. My d, like me, can drive anywhere and not be intimidated. She is almost 18 now and got her license at 16. I put her in private drivers ed the day after her 15th birthday. She had her permit for a year and I let her drive us everywhere. She got experience in the rain, snow, sleet, traffic etc., all with an experienced driver in the car. It was the best thing I ever did. So far, no tickets or accidents. She is an excellent driver. All of that being said if she were a different kid I would not have started her so young. By nature she is a cautious, responsible person. I do not understand the parents who have immature kids who they know drink but still allow them to get their license. If I did not think she were ready it would not have happened. The ability to drive and go out on one’s own is a privelege and a great bargaining tool.</p>
<p>My son still complains about me. </p>
<p>“Slow down, speed up, you’re too close the center line, watch the taillights of the car in front of you, etc.” </p>
<p>Now I do remember saying all those things, but in a nice calm voice. </p>
<p>My son incorrectly remembers my screeching yells, my foot slamming invisible the brake, me bracing the dashboard for impending crashes, etc. :D</p>
<p>We live in a small town, so the process was no that intense. Parallel parking was annoying, and so was the ridiculous backing around the corner on the street( not out of the driveway, which was just fine) . S is a pretty dependable driver, no accidents so far( been 3 years) . This said, he decided he doesn’t need the car in the city, and now has some fun exploring public transportation. :)</p>
<p>Well, lets just say that as I type, the contractor is finally replacing our side deck after the “car meets deck” incident of almost 2 years ago. D got her permit right after her 16th birthday, and I started letting her drive the mile or so home from school every day (we live in a city, but in a very residential area, so not too bad for traffic). She “forgot” to stop - and as I saw half of the stairs and the railing flying over the hood of the car - I couldn’t stop laughing! I knew neither of us were hurt - the car was old and not badly damaged - and the deck was falling down and needed to go anyway - LOL! She was highly insulted that I was laughing. So, she kept driving all that summer, did driver’s ed, took the mandatory 6 road lessons and I paid for 5 more, and went for her license last January. But, she was really bad - and had no confidence. Needless to say - she didn’t even make it out of the parking lot before the officer failed her. That was it - she “never was going to get her license, was going to school in either Boston or NYC and would never need to have to drive”. So, now more than a year has gone by, most of her friends are now driving, and we are still “chaffeuring” her to school, work, rehearsals, and dance. Just about 3 weeks ago, I got a “can I start driving again?” - “I really want to get my license before I graduate”. Got to admit, she is doing much better this time around (she turns 18 in 3 weeks) and hopefully, she will at least get the license this time. I think she was just one of those kids who wasn’t ready at 16, and as a high school teacher who sees some REALLY bad driving every day - I am glad she didn’t get it the first time. Some of my students are paying $3000 for car insurance - have multiple accidents and surcharges like you wouldn’t believe. I think it just depends on the individual child. Now, if I could just convince her to go practice with Dad once and a while instead of just me!</p>
<p>My daughter just called on the phone, “Mom, don’t forget the confirmation page for my driver’s test … the SS card … PROOF OF INSURANCE!” She’s staying after school for a beta club meeting, and she takes her driver’s test <gulp> at 3:30pm this afternoon. I will never sleep again, now that I’ll have two of them on the road. My husband swears he’ll never sleep again because of the extra hours he’ll be putting in to cover all the insurance. <g> Why is it that I’m up all night worrying about them driving? He’s so oblivious … and me, I’ve run so many scenarios from the initial phone call to the hospital ICU that I put myself in a panic. </g></gulp></p>
<p>Zebes</p>
<p>I also opted for professionals to teach D to drive. The program, Master Drive, was developed by a former race car driver whose own D was killed in a car accident that he believes could have been avoided had she been taught the latest defensive driving techniques. </p>
<p>To make the program even more attractive – and effective – Master Drive seems to hire REALLY CUTE YOUNG GUYS as instructors. I mean, CUTE. The guy students respond well to these instructors because the instructors are so totally cool. The girls respond because… well, because. </p>
<p>Bottom line - D, now nearly 19, hasn’t had one accident - and her driving includes up 12,000 feet in a blizzard. And all because Mom & Dad said 'no way am I teaching you to drive…"</p>
<p>katliamom – I would LOVE to find a program like that. It seems like The Land of A Zillion Drivers here. We have the two extremes of heavy traffic and high speed – sandwiched between giant trucks on the Long Island Expressway, flying along at about 70 mph (or more)…</p>
<p>I’ve called around and can’t find any such schools in this area. If someone opened one up it would definitely be a success (any takers?).</p>
<p>Good luck to your daughter, zebes. You are not alone in your worries! S. takes his test day after tomorrow. I have mixed feelings about the whole process. Hopefully, they’ll all make it through their driving adventures and gain the experience they need.</p>
<p>How about when they do that thing where they stop really LATE. ARRGGHH</p>
<p>Well, for my D, she doesn’t quite have the concept down of BUSES ARE BIG AND CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT WHENEVER THEY WANT even if the driver in the car was there first, etc. Or that buses turn WIDE and to give them space</p>
<p>The other thing is if I say slow down, she sloooooowwwwwwsssss down. </p>
<p>We have done the private lessons (you have to in California) and the lady had her drive through Chinatown and down Lombard Street, while I take her to empty parking lots and boring neighborhoods.</p>
<p>Somehow H is always busy lately…hmmmmmmmmm</p>
<p>My oldest hasn’t been pushed to get her license, she turns 18 about same time she graduates, so we are just going to do it then, less restrictions. She won’t be driving much, but it kind of a just-in-case license.</p>
<p>Well, off to pick up D, sit in car while she spends 5 minutes readjusting mirrors for the 6 minute drive.</p>
<p>I have just told her you have to assume other drivers are idiots, and will roll the stop sign, or the old lady who has been standing at the corner for 20 minutes will decide to cross the street as soon as you start move.</p>
<p>Gulp! She passed …</p>
<p>Zebes, who just watched her drive out of the driveway to show off her new license to a friend.</p>
<p>zebes, you got her on your insurance that fast?</p>
<p>With both of my kids, they had to wait a couple of days after getting their licenses before they could drive because we had to get them added to our insurance policy.</p>
<p>Congrats, Zebes (I think…) Keep breathing, keep breathing…</p>
<p>I totally had to pay instructors to teach mine how to drive - I just did not have the nerve, and in fact was so nervous when I tried, I feared causing an accident…</p>
<p>I am so nervous, I avoid being a passenger in cars my daughter is driving - I’m really terrified she’ll make a mistake because I will make her nervous or something. This, even though she has been driving for six years now…</p>
<p>Part of it too was that I failed the road test three times when I was 19 - absolutely could not pass parallel parking no matter how hard I tried. I managed to get through it on the 4th try (and final try before the mandatory 6-month waiting period, if you fail x 4) because the test taker or whatever you call them, he felt sorry for me, and well, he cheated.</p>
<p>I thought it was fun. In our 3rd month of driving instruction, #1 son drove us 5.5 hours across the state to visit colleges. I logged our hours - 80 - and felt confident when he got his license. One year until S #2 begins driving and then a 5 year hiatus until D begins.</p>
<p>Marian, I called the insurance company this morning and told them about her test. They took all the info they needed, except her license number. I asked specifically if she’d be covered, even without that license number, as I knew she’d want to drive tonight if she passed. They told me, no problem. So, off she went to the grocery store … kitty litter, mountain dew and bread. Before she was out of the driveway she flooded her dad’s truck, trying to start it, and somehow ended up with it at the end of the driveway in the cul-de-sac. After her dad and the neighbor pushed the truck back into the driveway, she took the (egads) mini-van. She freaked me out, calling from the frozen food section asking what kind of ice cream bars. </p>
<p>Zebes … oh so hating this …:)</p>
<p>We actually have two on-the-road Drivers Training instructors at our public High School. It’s optional and the kids have to sign up, no charge. I think they do 4-6 lessons but before they meet up with the instructors they have to have gotten their permit (16 years old and pass the written test) and have to have driven about 10 hours. All kids have to take class room drivers ed as a graduation requirement.</p>
<p>Congrats, zebes daughter! Good luck, zebes!
If S. passes his road test (doubtful, judging by recent parallel parks) I told him I still expect him to drive with one of us for a while. On a recent practice trip I told him to pretend I wasn’t there, and to drive home home (we were on a side street in a familiar town nearby). His driving wasn’t too bad, but if I hadn’t been there he definitely would have ended up lost. It was too much for him to concentrate on at once. Can just picture it: inexperienced driver + confused + lost = ??? Am dreading it!</p>
<p>k- some helpful hints I have learned</p>
<p>have new driver tell YOU what they are doing instead of you telling them</p>
<p>for instance, my d will say, straightening out car, moving to the right, looking, it stops me from prattling on and assuming she doesn’t know what she is doing</p>
<p>I was saying “thank you” when she would do what I asked, so now I save my words</p>
<p>I compliment her when she does a good job, like stopping with foot on the gas and brake at top of hill at stop sign, and pulling out smoothly and not sliding backwards, something REALLY important in my neighborhood</p>
<p>Have a destination when we are practicing instead of me calling out random lefts and rights</p>
<p>Plan the route ahead of time taking into account schools, buses, time of day</p>