15 year old not interested in driving?

[Cindy B]

17 is to get your license, what about your permit? 15 is for the permit, not the license. In our state you can get a permit at 15 but can't get a license until 16 and that is a restricted license until 18.






It's 17 for permit -- at least what I was told. 17 6months license - restricted, 18 full license. At least that is what my kids told me. It changed since I learned to drive. Back in the dark ages it was 16 1/2 for permit, 17 for license (non restricted). There is legislature to make the driving license age 18. Our state has the highest age for licensure age right now at 17 and will become 18 eventually.

 

[wdwgirl03]

When I was 15, I went to get my learners permit on the first day I was eligible and I got my license on my 16th birthday. DS turned 15 in August. He took drivers ed this past summer, and got his drivers eligibility certificate in early August. WHen I bring up going to get his permit, he says he doesn't want it. He says he is not a good driver and is scared to drive. In our state, you can't get your license until you have a permit for a year, unless you are 18. So today we went down, but the office was packed. I am going to have to take him back next week and MAKE him take the test.

Anyone's else's kid feel this way?

That's kind of how I felt too. I took driver's ed after my sophomore year of high school but it took me a couple years before I finally got my license.

 

[Cindy B]

I can not even think that 15 year olds should drive.. it seems so young. Granted I live in the highest driving age state (soon to be 18), but I think 14 and 8 months and 15 just seem so young for kids to be driving. I can't even fathom my 15 year old out and driving now-- I am very thankful that the driving age is what it is in my state and I appreciate it even being 18.

 

[golfgal]

17 is to get your license, what about your permit? 15 is for the permit, not the license. In our state you can get a permit at 15 but can't get a license until 16 and that is a restricted license until 18.






It's 17 for permit -- at least what I was told. 17 6months license - restricted, 18 full license. At least that is what my kids told me. It changed since I learned to drive. Back in the dark ages it was 16 1/2 for permit, 17 for license (non restricted). There is legislature to make the driving license age 18. Our state has the highest age for licensure age right now at 17 and will become 18 eventually.

You made me curious which state doesn't allow permits until 17 so I looked all states allow a permit by 16 at least, most are 15 and some 14. The few states that don't allow a permit until 16 actually end up having less driving time from permit to license then states that allow permits at 15 or 14. Our kids will be able to have their permit for close to a year before they are eligible to take a license test vs the states that let you get a permit at 16 only require holding that permit for 6 months before the test so many kids could only have 6 months of driving experience before they get their license.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver's_license_in_the_United_States

 

[golfgal]

I can not even think that 15 year olds should drive.. it seems so young. Granted I live in the highest driving age state (soon to be 18), but I think 14 and 8 months and 15 just seem so young for kids to be driving. I can't even fathom my 15 year old out and driving now-- I am very thankful that the driving age is what it is in my state and I appreciate it even being 18.

Kids are driving with a parent at 15, not alone.

 

[Micca]

I was too busy with other interests to get a driver's license when I was old enough to get a permit .I actually got a job before I got my DL. I got my license at 17.

 

[Cindy B]

You made me curious which state doesn't allow permits until 17 so I looked all states allow a permit by 16 at least, most are 15 and some 14. The few states that don't allow a permit until 16 actually end up having less driving time from permit to license then states that allow permits at 15 or 14. Our kids will be able to have their permit for close to a year before they are eligible to take a license test vs the states that let you get a permit at 16 only require holding that permit for 6 months before the test so many kids could only have 6 months of driving experience before they get their license.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Driver's_license_in_the_United_States

I still like the idea of 18 year old unrestricted licenses. I was scanning that wiki article and 14 /15 even for permits seems too young.

 

[golfgal]

I still like the idea of 18 year old unrestricted licenses. I was scanning that wiki article and 14 /15 even for permits seems too young.

It really depends on the kid but with a permit I don't have a problem. Now, in states like South Dakota where they can get a LICENSE at 14, no way, no how. They have STUDENT parking lots at the MIDDLE schools there. . When we lived there our pediatrician asked us if we thought he was being unreasonable not letting his 14 year old get her license--um, NO. He was from MN, like us, and his wife was from SD so she didn't see a problem.

A lot of the states where kids can get permits and licenses early are more rural areas. In MN you can get a farm permit at 14 and a farm license at 15 but you have to actually live on a farm to get one of those and you can only drive on "farm business" and during daylight hours--in reality the farm kids drive on non-farm business all the time.

 

[bananda]

i got my permit when i was 16, only a few months after i could get it. i didn't drive for nearly a year. i didn't see the point when i had peole to drive me around anyway.

 

[kimmar067]

When I was 15, I went to get my learners permit on the first day I was eligible and I got my license on my 16th birthday. DS turned 15 in August. He took drivers ed this past summer, and got his drivers eligibility certificate in early August. WHen I bring up going to get his permit, he says he doesn't want it. He says he is not a good driver and is scared to drive. In our state, you can't get your license until you have a permit for a year, unless you are 18. So today we went down, but the office was packed. I am going to have to take him back next week and MAKE him take the test.

Anyone's else's kid feel this way?

....none of my DS's wanted to get their learner's permits when they became of age - now they are driving fools[ 21 and 23]! My 15-y-o is the same way.....

 

[LOVESHiNE5]

I feel the same way as your son. You'll never see me behind the wheel of a car... EVER!

 

[gymboqueenkaylee]

I was the same way OP's son was. I did not want to drive. My parents said it's a skill I NEED to have. I would not drive even after getting my Driver's License unless I had to and still won't 14 yrs later. I was scared to drive, still scared. I don't drive on freeways, expressways, interstates, etc. I wouldn't push him too much. It might make his anxiety about driving worsen. He probably will come around sooner or later once he sees all his friends driving. Good Luck.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My niece felt that way. She finally got her license at 18 because she got a part time job 10 miles from her house and my sister works full time and couldn't drive her. Her Dad got her a car and she paid for the insurance out of her job money.

Now she says she wishes she had gotten her license sooner because she could have gone out with her friends to the movies and bowling more often.

 

[princess.chell]

I'm 18 and was all for taking Driver's Ed, getting my permit, and my license. I got my license 3 days after I turned 16. Two years later I still drive everywhere: into the city (about 30 minutes away) for concerts, sports games, just to hang out in the city; to school every day; to work; and out with friends. I dunno it was always just "my" thing to drive.
But, my 15 year old brother is exactly the opposite. He has his permit but has barely driven. He just doesn't really want to. My parents are okay with it but they are pissed at him over one aspect. At the end of last school year, he told them he wanted to take driving class out of school with his friends this summer. It's expensive so he had to promise to practice over summer because he has golf in the fall. Guess what he didn't do? Drive over summer. He was forced to start driving so that he could finish driver's ed with the in-cars. I think he's driven like 11 hours. But it's okay because I drive him everywhere and next year his best friend will too. So I guess it's normal, but really depends on the kid's situation. My brother just "doesn't want to" too

 

[KidGoofy]

I was like him. At first I really wanted it right away, but then I got really nervous when the time came. Once I took the course, I got better. But I believe if they are afraid to drive then they will become a better and more cautious driver.

 

[torinsmom]

My mom didn't get her license until she was 36. I didn't get mine until I was almost 18. I did get my permit, but my parents never pushed me to drive. I actually ended up having to renew my permit once before getting my license. You mentioned it was a written test only for the permit. How does your son do in testing situations? Tests tend to stress my son out especially multiple choice tests. He can sometimes over analyze answers. Could it be a combination of a fear of "failing" and the experience he had.

He does fine on multiple choice tests and I have no doubt he will pass the test. I think part of the problem is he doesn't want to wait on line at the DMV. He has other things he'd rather be doing.

A couple people have asked, "Why worry about it? Let them mature a bit, save money on insurance, and so forth."

Here's the issue in my mind: If they put off learning to drive 'til they're 17 or 18, they'll go away to college with very little driving experience -- perhaps less than a year's experience. Chances are good that my girls'll choose colleges that're 2-4 hours away. I don't think they'll have cars as freshmen, but eventually they will drive to college; I know that my oldest will need a car by the time she's a junior so she can do student nursing. If they don't learn NOW while they're living in my house with me, when will they learn? I don't mean learning the basic-basics of how to turn the car on, which foot petal is the brake, etc. I mean, if they don't learn now, when will they have the opportunity for lots of practice time with a parent? I don't want one of their college friends supervising them in learning to drive. And I don't want a brand-new driver going back and forth on the interstate, driving in a new city (after dark), and so forth. I don't think the extra year of maturity will "make up for" the lack of experience and practice behind the wheel.

My oldest was VERY EXCITED to learn to drive, and I have no doubt that my youngest will follow her sister's lead. If they didn't feel this way, I'd push them. I want them to have LOTS of time to practice driving around town with me.

One unexpected benefit of being a teacher: My oldest is getting more driver's practice than her friends. She drives me to school every morning, drives me home every afternoon, drives us around for any afternoon errands. I didn't see this perk coming, but it is really helping my daughter. Her driving skills are progressing well -- better than most of her friends.

If he doesn't learn to drive, he will depend on me or friends to get him around. We don't have public transportation and our town is not small enough for him to walk everywhere(2 major interstates meet here). I don't mind driving him, but I work two jobs and am not available all the time. I would rather he not ride with friends all the time, because I have no idea what kind of drivers they are. I believe there are also restrictions on young drivers, so him getting a ride with friend may not even be an option.

Some people keep telling me not to force him to drive. I never said I was going to force him to drive. I just want him to take the written test, so he has his permit. That way, he has the option of getting his license next January or not. He also has the option to start practicing driving legally, whereas without his permit, it is NOT legal for him to practice.

DS is probably going to the local community college for his first few years, so he won't be driving in a big city for that.

Marsha

 

[Stitchfans]

Yep, 15 yr old DD has no interest in learning how to drive. She says people are crazy out there and yep I agree.

 

[blanq]

My 16 Y.O. DS has no interest in getting his license either. He took driver's training, but still has not taken his 3 behind the wheel classes. DH and I are not putting pressure on him, and know he will get his DL before he graduates. In the meantime, it is one less thing for us to worry about, as far as I am concerned.

 

[The Orchid]

Driving is one of the biggest responsibilities there is. You should feel very proud that your child can recognize that he isn't ready yet.

 

[MM27]

I waited until my 17th birthday to drive. Never had any interest in getting a permit earlier. I was one of the youngest in my grade (late August birthday) so all my friends were driving already and I really didn't need to drive myself anywhere, I just bummed rides from them