1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Driving?

Discussion in 'Chit Chat' started by Mitchell, Aug 6, 2015.

  1. Mitchell

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2009
    Messages:
    538
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New Hampshire, USA
    I am 23 and am finally pursuing driving.

    Has anyone else had struggles learning to drive at an earlier age?
     
  2. Wallace N

    Wallace N Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Good for you :slight_smile:

    Unfortunately, I'm 20 and still don't have my license. :frowning2:

    I started learning how to drive around 16 like all my peers. I thought I would just go through the motions and get my license like everyone else. But one day, during a paid lesson, I almost crashed. I don't remember exactly what I did, but it was enough that the instructor was shaken. I remember crying and refusing to continue. The instructor had to drive me home at that point. I was traumatized and I haven't sat in the driver's seat of a car since. :frowning2:

    I hope some day I can gather up the courage to try again. I live in a place where you can hardly get by without driving.
     
  3. NervousAsHeck

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2015
    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Wallasey
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Well I started when I was 18 ran out of money and didn't get the chance again till I had finished all my college courses which would have made me 26. In my experience it's more about getting the right instructor for you.
     
  4. Mitchell

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 1, 2009
    Messages:
    538
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    New Hampshire, USA
    Yes. I too live in an area with poor public transportation.... So I need to learn.


    I'm getting all the info and looking around as far as where to go.
     
  5. Xochipilli

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2013
    Messages:
    729
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Illinois
    Yay! Driving isn't so bad. :slight_smile:

    As a teen the thought of it alone was enough to terrify me. I avoided signing up for after school lessons as part of driver's ed. I figured I'd wait until I got a job.
    As a result, I didn't get my license until I was 19. And I failed the driving portion the first time. My testing lady even smirked when she saw how upset I was that I didn't pass.
    But I went back to the DMV a week later and succeeded. And that same lady was there to witness it. Ha!
     
  6. timo

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    Messages:
    2,904
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    berlin
    Driving is cool :slight_smile:

    I got my license at 18 (the earliest age at which I could (I'm a huge car geek)), but some people around me are getting there licenses only now. A friend of mine is 28, she just started taking lessions, and is doing quite well. So I guess you'll do great too :slight_smile:
     
  7. NervousAsHeck

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2015
    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Wallasey
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    You have to be 18 to learn over here, so that wasn't an option lol. On the other hand we mostly use a proper transmission system sic :wink: so there is more to think about

    Eta: seriously though driving is a lot of fun, and being older it'll be cheaper for you.
     
    #7 NervousAsHeck, Aug 6, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2015
  8. imnotreallysure

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2013
    Messages:
    2,937
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Leeds, UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    No struggles, I choose not to. Very expensive to learn and even more expensive to actually drive. One of my friends learnt to drive recently and he's 22.

    The driving age in the UK is 17 btw.
     
    #8 imnotreallysure, Aug 6, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2015
  9. NervousAsHeck

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2015
    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Wallasey
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    Very true, but not always a viable option not too.
     
  10. Wallace N

    Wallace N Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    I imagine it depends on where you live though. I'm assuming that since the UK is more densely populated and smaller, that public transportation is better and driving is maybe not as expected as it is, say, in California, which is one state out of 50 and alone is 70,000 square miles bigger than the entire UK. Commuting an hour (sometimes more) to work is not uncommon here. Somehow I imagine that is less common in the UK.
     
  11. imnotreallysure

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2013
    Messages:
    2,937
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Leeds, UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    Not really uncommon. Traffic is horrendous so it might take an hour to commute 4 miles, possibly longer. One more reason why I don't want to drive.
     
  12. Wallace N

    Wallace N Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Heh. True, didn't factor in traffic. I meant an hour without traffic, though. With traffic, it can be a couple hours at best. People I know live in Fairfield and commute to San Francisco--that's an hour away without traffic.
     
  13. imnotreallysure

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2013
    Messages:
    2,937
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Leeds, UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    My sister used to commute 100 miles to work, but she got the train. Driving would take way too long.
     
  14. YuriBunny

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2014
    Messages:
    44
    Likes Received:
    7
    Location:
    I'm an introvert; I live in my head.
    Gender:
    Female
    Gender Pronoun:
    She
    Sexual Orientation:
    Lesbian
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    I recently ran the side of the car into a sign.
     
  15. Wallace N

    Wallace N Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    See, that's what we don't have here. Good trains. The trains around here that are any bit quick and efficient only go short distances. The minute you want to head out of the Bay Area by train, you're on the slowest train in the world and it may not even go where you want to go. But given California's other problems, I don't think we're going to be improving the trains any time soon.
     
    #15 Wallace N, Aug 6, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2015
  16. Andrew99

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 13, 2013
    Messages:
    3,402
    Likes Received:
    8
    Location:
    Milwaukee
    Gender:
    Male
    Gender Pronoun:
    He
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Some people
    I learned how to drive when I was 12.
     
  17. SocceRoo

    Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2015
    Messages:
    118
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    South Australia (limestone coast)
    I got my full license at the start of this year :grin:. I got my L-plates (learner) at 16, L-plates just mean i had to drive with someone who has a full license for 1 year (which sucks). I got my P-plates (provisional) at 17.

    for me I didn't have a choice of choosing to get a license, because I live 15km from town, so if i wanted to go somewhere mum would have to drive me and that was not going to happen lol.

    Tbh I still get nervous driving through the city, it's 100x more hectic than driving around country towns.
     
  18. NervousAsHeck

    Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2015
    Messages:
    230
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Wallasey
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Bisexual
    Out Status:
    Some people
    You'd think so wouldn't you. But most employers prefer people who can drive. Then you have the school runs etc. Then you have your shopping which yes you can do online in part, but not completely. Plus public transport is good for some things but not others. Realistically those who don't drive tend to be at a disadvantage
     
  19. imnotreallysure

    Joined:
    Dec 27, 2013
    Messages:
    2,937
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Leeds, UK
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    Out Status:
    Out to everyone
    ^^

    Most households in London are car-free. Whether a car is useful or not depends entirely on where you live, and how far away you live from your place of work.

    I would say that driving is still relatively important in more suburban areas but in major cities the number of car-free households is increasing. It's just more hassle than its worth.
     
    #19 imnotreallysure, Aug 6, 2015
    Last edited: Aug 6, 2015
  20. Wallace N

    Wallace N Guest

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2015
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Silicon Valley
    Gender:
    Male
    Sexual Orientation:
    Gay
    ^That is true for a lot of people who live in San Francisco as well. Given that SF is fairly condensed and has a wide and elaborate system of public transportation, and given that sometimes it can cost over $100 a month to have a parking space there and that traffic is inevitable everywhere you go in the city, it's natural that some don't see the need to have a car. A few friends I know who recently moved to SF left their cars in the suburbs.