Malibu Jen

Yep. Most people say that you only learn to drive after you pass your test. I guess i've just been driving my way for far too long!

scrubbedexpat099

Driving Instructors seem rarer than hens teeth.

Nutek

Lots of em back in 1979. Mostly having kids reversing into parking spaces next to my fathers Datsun Sunny

N1cky

I only passed my driving test in the UK because I did an emergency stop when a kid outside a school stepped off the curb. I beat the examiner to the break (dual break instructors car). I was a nervous wreck going round and swear thats the only reason he passed me. His exact words when we got back to the centre were 'congratulations you have passed, now go home and practice'

Sarah

Once my examiner realized I was from England, he got all excited and asked me lots of questions about the BBC, especially his all time fave show Are You Being Served. I drove around a parking lot then out to a set of traffic lights and back, by the time Mrs Slowcombe's pussy had come up in conversation we were done and I had passed.

Nutek

Mrs Slocombe's pussy could be quite distracting.

Michael

Highly unlikely unless you took drivers ed as a teenager. When I was a teenager many years ago, myself and all my friends failed the first time since we didn't take drivers ed and just took the old mans car out without a licensed driver but the rich kids all took drivers ed and usually passed the first time. The person scoring the test is extremely strict with teenagers.

Sally Redux

Under-18s have to take 6 hours of driver training behind the wheel here. Then they get straight in the Hummer and go

Bob

There's quite a few down my way, but that's mostly so kids can drive on the motorway as folks don't seem to want to take that risk

Scariest one I saw and the insurance must be through the roof was the car being either a Magnum or a 300. Either way, tad large for a 15 yr old pizza face to be learning to drive in

Michael

But 50 years ago, that wasn't the case. Driver's ed was optional then and anyone in Minnesota could get a license at 15. I lived in a country village of about 400 people as a kid so all the kids learned by driving their dad's car for a few months (probably at 13 or 14) before they took the test.

I had a friend who owned a car (Keith) but he didn't have a license. I was in his car when the police (my uncle) was in the area (highly unusual) and he pulled us over. He said "Keith" I know you don't have a license but I'm just going to give you a warning this time but next time you won't be so fortunate. However this time the driver was "Harry", his older brother who had a license.

Sally Redux

Oh I'm sure. My neighbour was telling me she's angry at the 'government interference'. She lets her kids drive at 14 because that was they did.

Malibu Jen

I was such a wuss when i started driving that i probably would have taken Driver's Ed if i grew up here. I might be wrong but i don't think there is anything like Driver's Ed in the UK. It took me ages to learn in the UK when i first started driving and i basically just studied the HIghway Code and took a million practice tests for the theory and 'Hazard Perception' tests. Other than that it was HOURS of lessons and practice with my parents.

What i meant really was that if i'd grown up over here and learned on these roads with an instructor over here, i'd probably have no problem passing it and i can see why people think the test is so easy. Compared with the UK test it is very basic, and i passed that one first time.

Do you think they are stricter with teenagers? If so then i think it's pretty unfair. The same rules and scoring system should apply to all applicants really.

Sally Redux

I had lessons from a driving school and I think it's quite common to do so.

Michael

When I was a kid, all adults over 30 always passed (unless they hit someone) even if they only had one tooth left in their mouth, was hard of hearing, and could barely see.

But seriously, it seems that the person scoring the test is more vigilant for very small mistakes to mark down when the driver is a teenager. I believe that is just human nature. It would probably be the same if you were a passenger when a 15 year old is driving where you may not feel comfortable.

Malibu Jen

I thought Driver's Ed was like a course you can take where you're taught in a classroom and practice in parking lots etc. (Of course i ashamed to say i'm basing that knowledge on really old school American high school shows that i watched when i was a kid like 'Saved by the Bell) Then if you want to learn with an instructor afterwards i thought that was your choice...

I took lessons with a independent instructor... probably about 30 before i put in for my test.