Don’t know about that, but my licence acquirement story: I wasn’t interested in driving, my licensed teacher (Dad) had little more of a clue than I did, but my first job required it. Twice failed the driving test miserably, so enlisted professional help. Third time passed, I don’t recall being any more skilled - it was obvious to me the tester was quite reluctant to pass me, but did anyway.
Got my motorcycle license (100cc or less, engine) at 16. Requirements (Texas, in 1976) were to pass a written exam (the same one as for cars) and a driving exam, which consisted of the trooper followed along behind in another vehicle, you had to watch for cues to turn in the rear view mirror.
Other than not following the ‘prescribed course’ (of which there wasn’t, you didn’t know where you were going until you got the signal to turn :() and/or violating any traffic laws, the only other thing that would cause you to fail would be ‘crashing’.
I failed the first driving test because I turned the wrong way. (Forgot that things are ‘reversed’ when looking in a mirror.:smack::mad:)
When I turned 18, all I had to do was take the same written exam, again, (no driving test) in order to get a regular license for a car. 
I suspect all of that has changed since then.
Here in OH, you can get a learner’s permit at 15 1/2 years of age. You have to pass a written & vision test to get it. To get a probationary license, they have to complete a Driver’s Education class, including 8 hours of in-car instruction. Also, a parent or other adult driver has to spend 50 hours (10 at night) over a 6 month period in the car with the student driver.
It was the longest 50 hours of my life.
BTW, my nephew got pulled over when he had his learner’s permit because he ran a stop sign. The police officer let him off with a warning.
I learned to drive on a relative’s farm. I was driving cars, trucks, multiple tractors, even a bulldozer. I went to take my driving test and I whizzed around like an experienced driver…which of course meant I failed. I forgot that all the minutia was being observed, and looking back I think I was driving with one hand, radio on, probably did not come to fully complete stops…the examiner actually seemed insulted. I took it a week later and passed with flying colors.
Motorcycle test was three figure eights around some cones in the parking lot and done.
I love this clip from Bob’s Burgers.
Unless you live in a rural area and need to be able to drive in order to get a part-time job or even participate in extracurricular activity or to and don’t have a parent who’s schedule let’s them play chauffer.
My nephew lives in the country and has a “farmer’s licence” and he’s only 15. The quotation marks are their because PA doesn’t actually have farmer’s licences and it’s hand written by my brother who also allows him to drive unsupervised. :smack: I’ll be highly surprised if that doesn’t bite both of them in the ass one of these days.
How to say, I know it is not allowed but my father also taught me how to drive, as long as you are not in big traffic and don’t harm anyone I don’t thing it is the worse crime out there, everything depends where you live.
In New York State, you only need to pass a written test to get a learner’s permit. I taught my oldest son the basics of driving in an empty field upstate, and let him do a little driving on straight rural roads in the same upstate area before his taking a formal Driver’s Ed course in school. I wouldn’t have dreamed of letting a raw permit kid drive in a parking lot where he could have hit other cars.
Here in South Dakota (and it’s not a recent thing, it’s been this way since I started driving over 25 years ago):
Graduated Licensing System
As a guardian, your consent is required for all driver license applicants under 18 years old.
To cancel the license or permit of a minor, the Department of Public Safety must receive a written request from the guardian who signed the minor’s original application.
Instruction Permit - To obtain an Instruction Permit, you must be at least 14 years of age and pass the vision and knowledge test. The permit is valid for one year. Minors at least 14 years of age, but less than 18 years of age, must hold the valid permit continuously for 180 days (90 days if successful completion of an approved Department of Education driver education course) prior to upgrade of permit to a Restricted Minor’s permit or Operator’s License. If under 18 years of age and the Instruction Permit expires, a minor would be required to obtain another Instruction Permit for either the 90 or 180 day requirement.
An Instruction Permit holder is entitled to drive during the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. if the motor vehicle is operated under the direction of a licensed driver 18 years of age or older with at least one year’s driving experience. They must be present in the seat next to the person holding the Instruction Permit. During the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the permit holder must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is occupying a seat beside the driver.
Traffic Violations - If the Department receives record of a conviction for a traffic violation or a violation of the restricted permit for a minor under 16 years of age, the driving privileges shall be suspended for a period of thirty days or as otherwise required by law. A second conviction shall result in suspension of the driving privilege until the permit holder’s sixteenth birthday, or for 90 days, whichever is longer. Receipt of a conviction for a Class 1 Misdemeanor of Felony will result in a suspension of the license until their 16th birthday or as required by law. If the department receives a conviction for a violation of the restrictions of the license for a minor 16 or 17 years of age, the driving privileges shall be suspended for 30 days for each convictions.
Restricted Minor’s Permit - To obtain a Restricted Minor’s Permit, you must be at least 14 years of age and pass the vision, knowledge, and driving test, complete the requirements of the Instruction Permit, and have not been convicted of a traffic violation during the past six months prior to obtaining the Restricted Minor’s Permit. You must show all documents that were required for the Instruction Permit. An individual up to age 18 years of age may hold a Restricted Minor’s Permit. The permit is valid for 5 years.
Restrictions: A Restricted Minor’s Permit is issued to a minor 14 to 17 years old allowing them to operate a motor vehicle with parental permission during the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and during the hours of 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. if the minor’s parent or legal guardian is occupying a seat beside the driver. Upon attaining age 18, permit converts to Operator’s License.
Operator’s License - To obtain an Operator’s License, you must be at least 16 years of age and pass the vision, knowledge, and driving test If a minor is at least 16 years of age, but under 18 years of age, they must complete the requirements of the Instruction Permit and have not been convicted of a traffic violation during the past six months prior to obtaining the Operator’s License. The license is valid for 5 years. To renew an Operator’s License, you must pass the vision test.
If I’d said anything like that to either of my parents at best they would have laughed. More likely, I’d not have been allowed to ride in the car for several months, much less drive it.
We had drivers ed through school, so I learned there & practiced with my parents in an open parking lot, after hours, in the middle of nowhere. And both only happened after I’d gotten my learners permit.
It’s funny how our memories change events. Reading this thread made me realize that I’d totally forgotten taking the written test first for my learners permit. Then the driving test a few months later for my license. I’m not sure why my memory merged those events together.
I had actually learned to drive three years earlier on my Uncle’s farm. Driving his old pickup and tractor. But I wasn’t allowed on the back country roads until I was almost 15 and my uncle was with me in the truck. Getting a license let me start driving to high school my junior year. No more school bus.
bolding mine
I’ve been driving for over 20 years, and the only time I’ve EVER had to parallel park EEEEEEEEEEEEVER was during driver’s training. Unless you spend a lot of time in a big downtown type of area, it’s just not something you need to do.
Actually, I missed this on the previous nitpick, but you can actually get a provisional licence in the UK at 16, if you have certain disabilities affecting mobility. You can get a moped or small motorbike licence at 16 too.
For example, if you’re a Scottish quadriplegic girl?