Originally Posted By guerillagorilla This happens to be a topic I'm really passionate about, so I can't resist adding my two cents into the pot... I love driving. Got my license a couple days after I turned 16, having already seen substantial "driving with training wheels" time, and having learned the stick shift. Since then, I've had access to one car or another in addition to my own. Even now, near 8 years and somewhere over 90,000 miles later, I'm still weening myself off of pleasure cruising around town. Darn bills take precedence over gas money. I've learned a lot over this time, having driven in nearly every conceivable situation or atmosphere. Been in only one wreck, where the other driver was cited for following too close, though I've been ticketed--mostly for speeding--several times. I hesitate to say I'm one of the better drivers out there, but I'm definitely a lot better off than many. If I could afford it, I'd definitely take some stunt driving courses. The way I remember, neither of my parents drove with me all that much. My mom was quite jumpy, having previously taught my brother and sister the crafts of driving, to various degrees of success. My dad just seemed to be indifferent and taught me just the basics of parking and regular traffic driving. Though I can't say I blame my brother for not taking interest in furthering my driving education at the time. In learning to drive a stick shift, I mistook the brake for the clutch, causing his car to drift perilously close to a canal. Finally, I got it and steered my course away from it. Then, there was the first time I backed a car out of a garage. I was all lined up to get the thing in motion, so I shifted to reverse, eased my way backward, steered to get good position out of the garage...then watched as the door's support pole smashed the passenger side mirror. My dad, unsurprisingly, was non-plussed about that. I took driver's ed at my high school, so I didn't have to take a specialized course elsewhere. Very nearly got kicked out of that because, of all reasons, the instructor didn't like that I had turned off the training car's radio that was receiving his instructions to me and others on a driving course. I remember just being so excited to drive that I was likely one of the most confident drivers in my class. I passed both my written and driving exams the first time and squealed with delight all the way home, knowing my license wasn't far off. I can't say with any degree of certainty that I'll be more than happy to teach my kids the art of driving--since it's quite a way out--but I don't think I'll be all too paranoid about it. I've always loved driving and have always been very confident behind the wheel, so I just hope I can pass that off to my kids because I definitely believe confidence is key to being a good driver. I believe it's important to teach kids all the major basics to driving at once instead of over time. I learned to drive stick shift months before I got my license, and pretty much had it down months after obtaining it. There's probably the factor of sense of accomplishment, which I feel helped boost my driving confidence. Learning to drive during nighttime, in incliment weather, in ugly traffic and other less-than-ideal situations came naturally to me after that. I wholeheartedly disagree that the driving age should be increased. 16 seems to be the ideal age to learn to drive because the mind is still a sponge to new concepts and ideas. Not only that, but driving instincts won't come any more naturally 2, 6, 10 or 20 years after the age of 16, so one must learn the basics sooner or later. And that means that until those concepts are fully grasped, one won't be a great driver starting out. I do, however, agree that a certain amount of driving hours needs to have been obtained before anybody can get their license. And instead of a set amount of driving hours or miles, I'd think a checklist of specific driving conditions would be ideal, to expose everyone to the many sides of driving with a responsible adult still in the passenger seat. The basic traffic driving, as well as inclement weather, nighttime, freeway and country driving ought to instill some skills and confidence in the driver before they can "remove the training wheels". I also believe that (slightly off topic, to boot), to be allowed to stay on the roads, elderly drivers should be tested at least twice a year to confirm they can still drive safely. I've seen many stories (and had personal experience) about such drivers that, for one reason or another, did not have the capacity to navigate the roads safely, be it decreased depth perception, dexterity, or what not. I'll be all for this when I'm old and near decrepit because when I get to the point where I'm not fit to drive, I need to be retired from the road. Through my trials on the road, I still maintain a spotless driving record, having never been cited for a wreck and having a few moving violations cleared. As I've said, I believe confidence is the best aspect of a good driver. I've taught quite a few people the basics of driving, while teaching stick shifts, and usually I can get them able to shift somewhat smoothly in about 5 minutes after they've learned said driving basics. In being a confident driver, I'm also a confident teacher. I've long been to the point where driving a stick shift is a lot easier than an automatic, and likely I'll never own an automatic for that reason. To pass this art on to kids (and, really, new drivers at any age) has to require some guts, I gotta say. And it completely depends on the person, because if they view driving as a right and not a priviledge, and can't comprehend all the responsibility that comes with it, that has to make it so much harder on the parent. Though, if they are responsible and see driving as such, they'll likely pick up all that knowledge a lot easier. *exhale* (See? Told ya I'm passionate about the topic)
Originally Posted By peeaanuut beamerdog: is tarnation a town or more like an area in your state?.......lol
Originally Posted By LuLu You guys are full of fabulous info and suggestions! Thanks so much to everyone who's posted here! guerillagorilla, you make good points about driving age and experience. I also agree that something should be done to test older drivers. Fortunately, I've had good luck convincing older drivers in our family when it was time to give it up.
Originally Posted By iceknyght When I was 15, my dad decided to teach me how to drive, so we hopped in the car and went down to the local college parking lot and we switched places... He gave me a few quick pointers, I started the car and before I could kick it into gear, a police officer came up to driver's window, looked in at me and my dad and said, I don't think so... Then, a few years later, I was visiting a friend at work and he asked me to move his truck for him... He had to park it accross the street and wanted me to move it into the parking lot... So, I go out into his truck and quickly firgure out it's a 5-speed... I had never driven a stick up to this point, nor did I know how to start one... So, after several failed attempts, I finally figured out the clutch had to be in to start it... I couldn't get the knack of it, so I finally started the truck, punched it and squealed accross the street, into the parking lot and into the closest parking space... All of this took me about a half an hour and I finally got back into drop off the keys to my friend and took off... A few days later, we were talking and I asked him if he ever wondered why it took me so long to move his car into the parking lot. He said, yeah, why did it take you so long? I told him, I don't know how to drive stick! He thought my Mustang at the time was a stick! We had a big laugh and he never let me drive his truck again... The car I have now is a 5-speed and I love it! It's the first 5-speed I have owned and the more I drive it, the more fun I have... Sometimes it gets annoying, like in traffic, but having the control over the car is well worth it... I too am a firm believer that everyone needs to learn how to drive a stick and it should be part of the driver's test... You don't need to know how to drive one well, but at least have the basics down... It took me a few months to finally get comfortable with my new car, but like I said, it's well worth it...
Originally Posted By poohbear14 >>>Another side note, it's required to have 10 hours behind the wheel before getting your license (which isn't nearly enough, is it?). DD has maybe 5 months to go yet, and already about 3 hours experience. (And I'm still alive! :-D)<<< You need 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 or older. Not 10. At least of the 10 must be a night. According to the CA DMV site: Before being eligible to take your driving test you must: Be 16 years old AND Have held your permit for a minimum of six months AND Have completed driver education AND Have completed 6 hours of professional driver training AND Have completed 50 hours of practice with an adult 25 years or older. The adult must have a valid California driver license and certify to the 50 hours of practice. At least 10 of the 50 hours must have been done at night. ~~~*~~~ I remember those days with my DS. I was lucky in that he didn't get his permit until he after turned 17. He used to be good at those amusement park racecar tracks (like at Boomers - formerly known as Family Fun Center). He said it helped him get used to the gas and brake pedals. There are plusses and minuses for getting your license early. If they get it early, but seldom drive they are still accumulating driving time in the insurance company’s eyes. They tend to charge higher rates for the first 3 years upon obtaining the license. I knew some parents that had their kids get their license as soon as possible but not let them drive so that they could get a “good†driving record. By the time the 3 years are up your son or daughter will most likely be driving more and the rates will drop if they don’t have any accidents or moving violations. But getting them not to drive after they get their license might be hard. My DS started driver training so late I was afraid he wouldn't have his license and car by the time he needed to go to college. Because it was just my DS and me, he knew that he would have to pay for his own gas and part of the insurance if he wanted to drive. And because he didn’t have any peer pressure to drive that may have helped his decision to delay getting his license. When he was little we would always try different ways to get places so that he would always have an idea where he was. I'd ask him where we were and how do we get back home. I'd let him navigate me with the Thomas Guide. I will say that the lanes seem a lot narrower when you're a passenger and not the one behind the wheel. :-D I'd always tell him I thought he was too close to the right side of the lane. It made me nervous when I thought we were too close to a car on the right but I kept quiet after a little while. I didn't criticize him while he was driving but we would talk about things that I thought he could do better when we were stopped at a signal. We did a lot of driving at night when traffic was lighter. I don't know if this ever goes away but to this day whenever he calls me from his cell phone I always hold my breath a moment until I know that he's not calling me because he's been in an accident. :-}
Originally Posted By poohbear14 Just curious. Is it harder to drive a stick shift if you're left handed?
Originally Posted By beamerdog I don't think so. My brother was a leftie and drove a VW bug with a stick shift for many years. It must be something like a rightie playing piano to drive a stick left handed.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut my sister never had trouble driving a stick and she is left handed. But I will tell you, driving a right hand drive car with a stick is a bit tricky but eventually you get the hang of it. Also to add to other comments, I think that for any driver to get a license they need to at least pass the written side of the motorcycle exam and possibly even the large truck exam (which isnt that difficult). Not necessarily how to drive the vehicles but at least know what you will be driving on the road with. I see so many people that dont look for motorcycles (or even know where their car has blind spots) and that cut of large trucks in traffic. Remember, the larger vehicle needs more room to stop.
Originally Posted By LuLu LOL Ice! OK, I'll encourage her to try the stick (if dad allows). She was concerned that it was too many things to think about. Other than that, she has a incredible confidence in her driving skills. Which, according to Suzie's link, is the cause of many teen accidents! (overconfidence) Thanks poohbear, I should have looked that up myself. DD told me 10, she must have gotten it confused with 10 at night. And I think you answered BT's question about licensed teens who don't drive! Side note, I've read that more kids than ever wait to get their permit. Something like 25% of 16 & 17 year olds don't have a license. Seems weird when it appears that parents are so indulgent of kids desires/expenses. DD knows she has to pony up for her costs but doesn't care, she just wants to drive!!
Originally Posted By peeaanuut the waiting might be due to them having younger siblings. I know my sisters waited because they thought they would have to cart me everywhere. Which is what my parents told them. They failed to realize that my parents never took me anywhere cause I always just took the bus.
Originally Posted By guerillagorilla >>Just curious. Is it harder to drive a stick shift if you're left handed?<< Not at all. I picked up shifting pretty quick and never noticed any troubles due to not being right handed. And not only that, since I'm left handed, I think it makes my steering skills more precise and quicker than most right handers. Since I drive with just my left hand at the 12 o'clock position, it's always at the ready to crank the wheel. That's quite interesting, LuLu, that those stats say many kids are waiting to get their licenses. In my neck of the woods in Utah, I think that's a lesser percentage, as there are many young drivers around. I know from my days of driver's ed that the overwhelming majority of us wanted our licenses *right quick*. But then, it's still comforting since those that are waiting are doing so to become more confident...if not just due to their parent's indifference to their plight. And I completely agree with iceknyght that you ought to give your daughter a go at the stick. From what you say, she sounds to be pretty confident to try it out.
Originally Posted By beamerdog >>Lefties make better pianists?<< lol! All the lefties in our families (DH and mine) are tone deaf and play no instruments. All the righties are good musicians. No, I just was saying that you have to use both hands equally.
Originally Posted By smedley I'm left handed, and had to drive stick, that being what most of the cars over here are, and my DH is a leftie too, I can't say I've noticed any obvious problems with it.
Originally Posted By poohbear14 Thanks beamerdog! I was curious about the left handers and stick shift. My son is left handed and didn't want to learn how to drive my stick shift car. Before he learned to drive he did learn how to shift with his left hand from the passenger's sides. I think shifting and doing the clutch made him nervous. Another question for those with right hand driver cars. What position are the clutch, brake and gas pedals? Just wondered if they were in the opposite order of left hand driver cars. Sorry for the dumb question. But this had me wondering.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut In the Isuzu Gemini and the Nissan Skyline that I drove the peddles were in the same position as a left hand drive car.
Originally Posted By redlegtwo My son got his permit last month. My husband was told by DMV that our son couldn't get behind the wheel until he had at least one driver's training class, so he couldn't drive home the day he got his permit. That didn't sound right to me. Has anyone else been told this? We live in California. BTW he has his first driving lesson today.
Originally Posted By peeaanuut I have never heard of that, but the laws have changed since I last took a driving test.
