welshjerichomark 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 I don't understand how it works. Do you have to pass a driving test to drive unaccompanied? how do you have to be to start learning? also are most of your cars manual or automatic? Just wondering. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Alro 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 I'm pretty sure driving laws vary from state to state. In Kentucky, when you are 16 you must pass a written exam to receive your learner's permit. This allows you to drive with a licensed driver over 21 in the vehicle. After you've had your permit for 6 months, you take a driving test and if you make an 80 or better (I think) you can drive by yourself. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 When I got my permit, I was permitted to operate a car/truck, but only if I had a licensed driver over 21 in the car with me. Once I got my license, I was free to drive by myself any time except between midnight and 5A (unless I was coming home from work). I couldn't have anyone in the car with me that wasn't a licensed driver over 21 for six months after I got my license. I started driving school when I was 16, and took three road tests with the driving instructors (which is a complete waste of time. They make you drive around in fucking circles and wouldn't let me use my driving time to drive myself to work) They teach you parallel parking, turn signals, changing lanes, etc.etc., stuff you're supposed to know for your driving test. In order to get a license (at least in Massachusetts, where I got my license) you get into the car with a state trooper riding shotgun. They're supposed to make you drive for about 20 minutes, but I guess my statey had a plane to catch, as I had to take a left turn onto a busy street, turn into a residential area, make a u-turn and head back to the DMV. I thought I had failed, but I passed, and the test took a whopping four minutes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted September 15, 2004 I'm not totally sure as they reworked the whole process after I got my liscense. When I and most of the people here did it you got a temporary liscense after taking a test when you were 16 and then had to complete drives ed. (certain amount of class time and driving time). While having a temp you must have someone in the car over the age of 21. Then when you feel ready enough you take the actual test. You do a written, road and manuevering/parrell parking test. If you pass all those segments you get your liscense. Since you would be under 21 you get a different colored or a possible vertical liscense to show that you are under that age. When you get it renewed at 21 you get a different color. Ohio goes from red to yellow but now has the vertical deal for under 21 too. Then you just have to renew it every so often and take an eye test before. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted September 15, 2004 I took drivers ed and a written test and they stuck me in a car and said "go" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
welshjerichomark 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 Are most of your cars manual or automatic? Stupid question, i know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Salacious Crumb Report post Posted September 15, 2004 You can get whatever you want basically. It's 50/50 as far as I can tell. I drive an automatic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
A Happy Medium 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 Here in Texas...I opted to bypass drivers ed and just have my parents teach me. It's a written exam for the learner's permit, and then you do about 40 hours of driving and different exercises, which my parents and I didn't do. Then you turn everything in and get a provisional license the you renew when you turn 18. I am not the best driver either...maybe I should've taken learning more seriously. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted September 15, 2004 Are most of your cars manual or automatic? Stupid question, i know. My truck is an automatic. People get whichever..most are probably automatic. Does anybody here drive one of those hilarious old british cars like John Cleese drove, and had in the parking lot of Fawlty Towers? In my mind, I see Chave driving one of these. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 Most vehicles are automatic. And I had to take a permit test at age 16 (I think), which made me legal to drive with someone with a license. Six months later I passed the "driving test" and had a Jr. license, which meant I was allowed to drive until midnight. When I turned 18 I was free. I always drove with my old man as a kid, and he taught me how to drive a manual. I think everyone should learn how to drive a vehicle like this becuase there will come a time when you'll have to drive one and you better know how. Do England motorists have to drive on the left-hand side of the road, or is that another hippie country?... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Agent of Oblivion Report post Posted September 15, 2004 everyone should learn how to drive a vehicle like this becuase there will come a time when you'll have to drive one and you better know how Your dad told you that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nighthawk 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 Because of my felony convictions, I was not allowed to drive (legally) until I was 18. At that age, there was no requirement of having a licensed driver in the car with me, or taking any driver's ed courses, which I didn't. Also waived were the perhaps regional and seldom enforced rulings that for the first 6 months you couldn't transport children under 12, and for the first year you couldn't drive between 12 and 5 am, except to and from school, work or religious functions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kkktookmybabyaway 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 everyone should learn how to drive a vehicle like this becuase there will come a time when you'll have to drive one and you better know how Your dad told you that. No he didn't, but god-damn that sure sounds like him. Fuck I'm getting old... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted September 15, 2004 I think everyone should learn to drive a manual, too, but then again, everyone knows I'm old. :-/ When I learned to drive, we had chariots and dirt roads and we liked it, damnit. Well, except for all the horse shit everywhere... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ally mccoist Report post Posted September 15, 2004 Do England motorists have to drive on the left-hand side of the road, or is that another hippie country?... Yup, but to be honest i've always thought it made more sense. I mean, in America you use your right hand on the gearstick, and your left hand stays on the wheel (thats for the cool guys who only drive with one hand). But in the UK you use your stronger hand, the right hand, on the wheel (obviously excluding left handed people). I'd feel awkward trying to drive with my left hand only, but if you're driving on the right side thats what you have to do. I mean, you need a spare hand for smoking a fag, holding out the window, clicking your fingers etc. I wouldn't trust my left hand to control the wheel. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Corey_Lazarus 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Well, considering you can drive automatics with your right hand while smoking a BUTT with your left hand...I think ours have made more sense since automatics became the norm. I got my permit last year in August, took a one-week, 6-hours a day Driver's Ed classroom course, finished my driving hours this February, and got my license in April. I'm lucky, because I only had a month of the ghey-ass 6-month rule affecting me, because it's all waived once you turn 18 in MA. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Winter Of My Discontent Report post Posted September 16, 2004 I'm quite content driving an automatic. If needed, I'll adapt to a 5 speed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest ally mccoist Report post Posted September 16, 2004 I'm surprised so many people drive automatics. As soon as I passed my test at 17, I didn't have the money to buy a brand new car (thus getting an automatic wasn't possible), so I settled for a second hand escort. Must be an American thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Automatic is just easier. I know how to drive stick, just in case I have to drive someone else's car in an emergency or something, but putting it in 'D' and pressing the accelerator means that you can smoke while you're driving, have a drink, eat, whatever. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Smues Report post Posted September 16, 2004 I would have loved to learn to drive a stick, but my DAD, the one you'd think would tell me to learn manual first, made me learn automatic saying that was more important then you can learn manual. Of course that doesn't work at all and I'm now doomed to drive an automatic forever. Not that I don't like automatics, it would just be nice to be able to drive a stick when needed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phoenixrising 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Let's see...in California you can go and get a temporary permit that allows you to drive with someone over the age of 18, or a certified driving instructor. I think you have to be 16 years old to get the permit. Then you go to the DMV and take your written test. Pass that test and you go on to the driving test. Surprisingly there is no freeway on the driving test anymore like there used to be. It's been a while since I took it, so my memory could be fuzzy. Automatic is just easier. I should learn how to drive a manual just to know how, but with an automatic there's less to think about. I can just put it in drive and not have to worry about anything else, while with a manual you have to constantly change the gears for best performance. Considering I have CD's and I usually let my mind wander in the car I don't need something else to worry about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dr. Tom 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 I would have loved to learn to drive a stick, but my DAD, the one you'd think would tell me to learn manual first, made me learn automatic saying that was more important then you can learn manual. Of course that doesn't work at all and I'm now doomed to drive an automatic forever. Not that I don't like automatics, it would just be nice to be able to drive a stick when needed. If you're just learning to drive, you should learn on an automatic first. With a manual, you have a lot more to do; with the automatic, you can throw it in gear, sit back, and drive. And when you're just learning, that's all you should be doing. Once you've gotten good at driving, you can learn a manual pretty easily. I had to learn on a manual since that was the car we had at the time, and I've greatly preferred them ever since. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
the max 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 I always have a 20oz soda in the car with me, and I'll use that to "shift" so as to stay boned up on my shifting skills. It really is easier than most people think. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Nanks Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Do England motorists have to drive on the left-hand side of the road, or is that another hippie country?... We drive on the left too. It really makes very little difference, there's no distinct advantage to driving on either side really, it's just what you get used to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest BDC Report post Posted September 16, 2004 Originally, I did learn on a stick, but then I went over to an automatic, namely because we didn't have a car that didn't break down much with a stick. It's just happened for my family to have mostly automatics and I drive with my right. However, driving a stick is more fun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Sandusky 0 Report post Posted September 16, 2004 I drive a manumatic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
