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Post by hop2 on Sept 7, 2014 20:11:20 GMT
Oh and my kids didn't and won't be getting cars from us we don't have the money. They can do that when they are able to work for it themselves. It is NOT the norm in most communities in my neck of the woods. Only the well off people can do that. Or sometimes a kid gets an old car from an elderly relative, but even then the insurance is a struggle. But having a car is not the normal thing here. I suppose a bit east of me, or maybe north east ( like alpine or saddle river ) it might be the norm, I'm not sure.
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Post by scrapsotime on Sept 7, 2014 20:48:01 GMT
None of my children took drivers ed, but they knew how to drive before they could even get a permit. They weren't in a hurry to get their licenses because they knew they weren't going to have a vehicle to drive around in. We had trouble keeping cars on the road for me and dh to drive way back then.
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Post by ntsf on Sept 7, 2014 21:56:04 GMT
I have three kids and live in the city with great transportation. my 27 yr old got his license at 19, owned a car...sold the car couldn't afford repairs and tickets. he bikes, uses public transport and occasionally borrows my car. I have 25 yr old twins. one got her permit and went out practicing a few times..not interested enough to pursue it. barely bikes at all. the other never got a permit and doesn't want to learn to drive. none of them can afford the costs. so..there it goes.
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Post by twoboyzmom on Sept 7, 2014 22:28:58 GMT
Thanks for all the replies! Good to know he's not the only one. Lol. We are in a semi rural area too. Nothing is close. And I drive them to and from school each day.
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Post by gavinsmom on Sept 7, 2014 22:33:27 GMT
My son was champing at the bit and got his license on his 16th birthday a couple of weeks ago. He has his own car so that's a big deal to hom
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Post by polz on Sept 7, 2014 23:18:13 GMT
Everyone I know gets their license asap. I got my learners permit on my 15th birthday and got my restricted license 6 months later. This was the rules at the time in New Zealand. Now, it's 16. DD is going on her 16th birthday. To me it's like learning to swim and brushing your teeth. It's normal.
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Post by stampinbetsy on Sept 8, 2014 0:15:28 GMT
My dd got her license a month before she turned 18. Ds is 15 and we are planning to do drivers ed in the spring, right after he turns 16. He's not in a big hurry, though.
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Post by monklady123 on Sept 8, 2014 0:25:15 GMT
I look at it a lot like swimming lessons when they're little. It is an essential life skill, like math or reading. You must learn. It's not optional. I haven't read the thread yet. But, I assume you mean it's "not optional" for your kids? Not for everyone, right? I didn't get my license until I was 20-something (late 20s). Growing up we only had one car and my dad took that to work. No one I knew had a car either. We took the bus or we walked. My sister lives in downtown DC and doesn't drive. (and I mean she doesn't have a license, not just that she doesn't own a car.) She walks to work, and takes the buses and subway to get where she needs to go. If she absolutely has to come home late from somewhere she just takes a cab. Neither of my kids has a license yet. Both have permits but just don't seem to care that much to get a license. There's a bus that stops right at the bottom of our street that goes directly to the subway, or connects to a bus hub. I did drive dd to her summer job a lot but that's because I had the time. If she had to she could take the bus there also. I didn't mind driving her because I enjoy the time spent in the car with her, talking and listening to music. With the horrible traffic we have around here (DC area) I'm happy that neither of them is driving around in it.
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Sept 8, 2014 0:31:10 GMT
I grew up in a place with no public transportation. I took a school bus to school (it's okay to ride the bus as a senior). I worked close to home. If I needed to run errands, I went with a parent--it's not like I had beaucoup money to spend anyway. My sister did the same. Our lives weren't in any way diminished and weren't any harder than those who could drive. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death in teenagers. Why push a skill they're clearly not all ready for? We don't have school buses here either. Where do you live? For some reason I thought you were in Washington and I didn't know there were any areas of WA that didn't have school buses.
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,411
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Sept 8, 2014 1:27:18 GMT
I believe it's an essential life skill too.
In event of emergency and phones are out we are told to drive to nearest firehall.
If we are out in a rural area and one person is too tired to continue driving the other can take over.
Being dependent on others for simple transportation often keeps people in abusive situations.
To escape a bad situation if a vehicle was sitting there, you had the keys, but didn't know how to drive away. (Forensic Files true story).
There are so many situations where knowing how to drive is essential.
A 14 yo in a vehicle with a parent for two entire years I think is way better than a 15 yo with only 6 months experience being turned loose.
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Post by myshelly on Sept 8, 2014 1:32:54 GMT
We don't have school buses here either. Where do you live? For some reason I thought you were in Washington and I didn't know there were any areas of WA that didn't have school buses. No, I don't live in WA.
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Post by anonrefugee on Sept 8, 2014 2:18:00 GMT
This is so common. The high school's student parking lot is laughable this year. There are half the number of cars from the previous 3 years I've been picking up the boy from school. I forced him to get his learner's permit shortly after he turned 16. He could have had the permit at 15. But, he had no interest. He's 17 and has driven under 10 times total. When this all started, I started comparing notes with other mom's. They have had the same experience. Some have forced their kids into getting their license, because they weren't driving them to college. Others are driving their kid to college classes. One mom was still driving her son when he was a college junior. Not sure if he is driving yet. I would think it would be awkward to still be picked up & driven around by mom. But, the boy doesn't care. I even end up with extras. LOL! I've learned to look at the positives of the situation. No increased insurance premiums. I know where he is, because he stays home most of the time. No worrying over getting that dreaded phone call that he's been in an accident. We've come to the conclusion that the kids don't need to have their driver's license. They are able to socialize through on-line games & Skype. They have their own phones, so no having anyone nagging at them to get off the phone. Plus, gas is so expensive. I know my son will play on-line games with his friends & have them on Skype through his Kindle. So they can play the game & talk at the same time. Huge change from when I was of an age to get a learner's permit/driver's license. We (my friends & I) were at the DMV the first day possible. Heaven forbid your 16th birthday fall on a Sunday & you had to wait for Monday. It was so huge, our parents let us skip school that day to take the road test for the license. LOL! I have noticed this as well... fewer cars each year in the student lot. I could have written this! Last Saturday night our son was home, alone. But not alone, his four best friends were on the other side of his headphones. As far as he was concerned he was at a party!
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Post by cindyupnorth on Sept 8, 2014 2:33:57 GMT
I think a lot of kids these days don't find a need to get a license. Like others said social media has made communication and socialization much easier. I do NOT agree that getting a license should be forced or pushed on them. I think the child needs to be ready for it. I wouldn't want a 15-16 yr old out there driving around that didn't feel ready to drive or wanted to. They often know their limitations. Sometimes they do need to be given the confidence to do it though, by taking them out and driving with them, etc.
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Post by jojam on Sept 8, 2014 2:34:17 GMT
And bike is a GREAT way to get around. I just left a city where most people biked or took the limited public transportation to work, despite having the means to drive what typically were their fancy cars. It amazed me at how young they started their kids on bikes and teaching them bike safety. Many kids biked to school, despite being bus eligible. Better for the environment, better for the body In the next town over, four people on bikes were hit and killed this summer. All of the bikers were doing what they should be doing, and the drivers weren't being 'reckless.' Just didn't see the bike. A bike isn't always the 'better' option.
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Dani-Mani
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,706
Jun 28, 2014 17:36:35 GMT
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Post by Dani-Mani on Sept 8, 2014 2:38:42 GMT
I didn't say it was a 'better option', I said it was a great way to get around that is better for the environment and better for the body. Both of which are very true statements.
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iowgirl
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,134
Jun 25, 2014 22:52:46 GMT
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Post by iowgirl on Sept 8, 2014 13:24:20 GMT
I think learning to drive at a younger age is an essential skill if they ever plan on driving. If they don't - then stay off the road. If they want to start driving at 19 or 22 - get some major driving experience before hitting the road.
I do thing a 19 year old has better judgement than a 14 year old (most of the time) but they still need experience behind the wheel. I don't know that it would be required of them when they are older? Can they walk in, pass a test, and hit the road?
I spent a lot of time at the DMV in the last decade getting all my kids licensed. I was in there at least once a year getting one of them their new license (Iowa has a graduated system, every year or two you bump up a level and get more driving privileges). The problem I saw was OLD people. There was always at least one there that should not be driving. And to the DMV's credit - they did not give a few of them their license. Heartbreaking to see though. I am 100% sure that one old dude went out and got in his car and drove off though.
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