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I have driven a car now

S

Shadow Conception

Golden Member
Firstly, I'm 15 years, 6 months (the age required for a permit).

I got the permit yesterday. My parents haven't let me a chance to drive a car yet. Drivers Ed will also be a part of my PE curriculum, complete with a "Road and Range" (practical) aspect.

Yet, he wants to sign me up for a driving school (formal DMV name is driving improvement clinic I think; well, not much to improve seeing as I haven't even started).

I'm half-ranting, half-asking. Is there a point in sending me to a driving improvement clinic before I have even driven for the first time? Remember, this is usually the place people are sent after they have failed their drivers license road tests multiple times. Anybody with experience at a driving school wanna answer?

Edit like 8921734 years later:
Well, I just drove for the first time two Sundays ago. My mom started me off in the range at my high school's parking lot. She taught me all the basics that day, pretty much; staying in lanes, parking, controlling speed, using signals, properly using mirrors, etc. Drove about an hour. It was awesome, I loved it. My mom's opinion of my driving was pretty good, but she said it'd be a long time 'til she'd let me drive on a regular road.

So then, just last Sunday, my dad asked me to drive him to Giant, which is a 2-3 mile drive from here using small roads. But before that, he made me drive around our townhouse parking lot and stuff. And then, he basically had me drive around the entire area a bit, obeying stop signs, traffic lights, etc. At one point, I misheard his instructions and went onto a major road (where majority of traffic goes 45mph). Needless to say, I was scared shitless, but I was able to safely steer the car the hell out of there with my dad's instruction. I drove him to Giant, and then back home, using small roads.

After I came home, my dad seems to think that I'm really good, and that after a month or so, I should be competent enough to drive independently (which is a HUGE departure from his old stance).

After hearing this news, my goal right now is to get a job so I can buy a vehicle and pay gas money on my own, as well as help with insurance payments. I wonder if this'll fit in well with my schoolwork, though. If it conflicts greatly with school, then I say: screw driving.

My parents' change of heart happened after back-to-school night, where they were informed that if the first time I use a vehicle is during "Road and Range", they will most likely fail me automatically. The way R&R works here is that it's not designed to teach you how to drive; it's designed to help you pass the road test. And indeed, the same people who instruct us on R&R are the same people who give us our road tests. Basically, we don't have to go to the DMV for our license; after all qualifications have been met, we can take our road test here at the HS.

I hope I become a good driver.
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Um, in my state, if you were under 18, it was required to go to a Driving School. But then again, in my state, or at least at my high school, we didn't have a Driver's Ed program. It may have been taken out of the schools and made separate entities.
Before we could even apply for my license at the Bureau, we had to have passed the Driving School. Or wait... may have had to pass the school before getting the learner's permit. Crap, can't remember. That was about 5 years ago.
 
The driving school completion likely qualifies you (or your parents the policy holders) for an insurance discount.
It also allows you to get practice in a real car, on real streets, without your parents teaching you.
The driving school you may be going to is likely geared towards first time drivers, and not traffic law breakers.
 
Are you retarded son? You just got your permit and you don't think your driving needs any improvement? 😕
 
Originally posted by: mugs
Are you retarded son? You just got your permit and you don't think your driving needs any improvement? 😕
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I was wondering how best to say this. Well done.
 
Originally posted by: CasioTech
you don't need that, just take your test. It's a piece of cake, they'll give anyone a DL.
Click to expand...

Have you forgotten that you share the road with these kids?

OP... take the class. The life you save may be your own.
 
Originally posted by: SampSon
The driving school completion likely qualifies you (or your parents the policy holders) for an insurance discount.
It also allows you to get practice in a real car, on real streets, without your parents teaching you.
The driving school you may be going to is likely geared towards first time drivers, and not traffic law breakers.
Click to expand...

This.

Driving school is invaluable if you've never driven before. I had to go through it for my licencse, made me a better driver. In any case, it's probably only a couple of hours once or twice a week. Stop whining.

If you think drivings easy the first time out, wait until you almost hit your first large heavy object. It will happen.
 
Don't try to weasel your way out of it. Driving a car properly and obeying traffic laws are not things to take lightly. You don't just get a bad grade if you do something wrong. People can die.

 
Yes, but nobody else (around here) does undergoes that much practice, and most turn out fine (or maybe I just make the wrong friends). Of course, most accidents are related to us teenagers. But those accidents are usually fueled by their daring (i.e. speeding, not being careful).

Friend of mine just got his permit yesterday. His mom took him out and allowed him to drive a very short distance over to his friend's house, albeit while watching over him, being crazily cautious, etc.

I mean, I'm not the type of guy to make (overly) stupid decisions. I'm too afraid of consequences.
 
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
You can get a permit BEFORE you take the Driver's Ed class? That's scary if true.
Click to expand...

Of course, how else do they expect you to practice driving to take the test at the DMV? There are restrictions on the permit, usually need a parent or someone over age 25 to accompany you when you are driving.

Drivers ed is incredibly boring/useless but you get a huge insurance break so definitely take the class.
 
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Yes, but nobody else (around here) does undergoes that much practice, and most turn out fine (or maybe I just make the wrong friends). Of course, most accidents are related to us teenagers. But those accidents are usually fueled by their daring (i.e. speeding, not being careful).

Friend of mine just got his permit yesterday. His mom took him out and allowed him to drive a very short distance over to his friend's house, albeit while watching over him, being crazily cautious, etc.

I mean, I'm not the type of guy to make (overly) stupid decisions. I'm too afraid of consequences.
Click to expand...
Younger, inexperienced drivers are more costly to insure for a reason.
 
Originally posted by: Shadow Conception
Yes, but nobody else (around here) does undergoes that much practice, and most turn out fine (or maybe I just make the wrong friends). Of course, most accidents are related to us teenagers. But those accidents are usually fueled by their daring (i.e. speeding, not being careful).

Friend of mine just got his permit yesterday. His mom took him out and allowed him to drive a very short distance over to his friend's house, albeit while watching over him, being crazily cautious, etc.

I mean, I'm not the type of guy to make (overly) stupid decisions. I'm too afraid of consequences.
Click to expand...

Link SampSon said, it will probably get you a discount on insurance. And it'll likely be more worthwhile than Driver's Ed; when I went to driving school it was 6 hours of driving time. I doubt every student gets 6 hours of driving time in Driver's Ed.
 
Just do it. All the experience you can get will help to make you a better driver. If you really don't want to, it's your responsibility to find someone to let you practice. It's doubtful that you'll do enough behind-the-wheel driving in drivers ed to actually learn how to drive.
 
Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy
Originally posted by: CasioTech
you don't need that, just take your test. It's a piece of cake, they'll give anyone a DL.
Click to expand...

Have you forgotten that you share the road with these kids?

OP... take the class. The life you save may be your own.
Click to expand...


Please take any Drivers Education, Improvement classes you can,
Not only might this save your or My life, IF You pay attention;
but, it will save you on car insurance costs till at least age 25.


I take a refresher course every few years, that saves on my insurance
costs, and reminds me of several things to pay attention to as a driver.

 
Driving School was fun. On the first day, he had me going between cones as fast as I could... backwards! It was pretty fun. He also had no problem grabbing the steering wheel if he thought you were doing something wrong. I would definitely make my kids learn from him.
 
I never went to driving school (nor did anyone I know), me and my dad just drove around in a big parking lot at first and then small streets and so on. Sound likes this whole "driving school" crap is just another excuse for parents trying to duck their parental responsibilities.
 
I guess it'd be better to go. Makes me feel a bit better about it, then. I thought I'd be wasting my time being scolded by an instructor in a classroom while drooling at my friends driving everywhere. Thanks. 🙂
 
I never did driving school. Got my permit at 16 and my dad made me drive a lot with him. Started in a parking lot for basic maneuvering, then onto the neighborhood streets, and eventually onto busier streets, etc. Took DriversEd the spring I turned 17 and passed my road test with no points off.

I'm going to have to agree with BrownTown's post - driving school sounds like a way for your parents to not take you around driving.
 
Originally posted by: BrownTown
I never went to driving school (nor did anyone I know), me and my dad just drove around in a big parking lot at first and then small streets and so on. Sound likes this whole "driving school" crap is just another excuse for parents trying to duck their parental responsibilities.
Click to expand...

Or perhaps it is because parents feel responsible for providing their kids with the best possible driving instruction, by someone who is more qualified to give that instruction than the parent is.
 
Originally posted by: BrownTown
I never went to driving school (nor did anyone I know), me and my dad just drove around in a big parking lot at first and then small streets and so on. Sound likes this whole "driving school" crap is just another excuse for parents trying to duck their parental responsibilities.
Click to expand...

Thats what my dad did. There are a lot of empty twisty roads around here as well as stop and go city traffic. My brother did the whole driving school thing - theres not much difference between how we drive.
 
Originally posted by: CrazyLazy
Originally posted by: Pacfanweb
You can get a permit BEFORE you take the Driver's Ed class? That's scary if true.
Click to expand...

Of course, how else do they expect you to practice driving to take the test at the DMV? There are restrictions on the permit, usually need a parent or someone over age 25 to accompany you when you are driving.

Drivers ed is incredibly boring/useless but you get a huge insurance break so definitely take the class.
Click to expand...
Um, how about IN DRIVER'S ED? THAT is where you first get behind the wheel in North Carolina. You take the class, then you drive with the instructor.
THEN you can get your permit and drive with your parents.

THEN when you're 16, you can go take the written test, the driving test, and get your license.

 
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