Where to kids learn to drive

[JB4310]

My kids have driven tractors, motorcycles, go carts even our cars and suvs in the yard from an early age. Not saying they wont hit a parked car in a parking lot, but they definitely have a little experience driving.

Just today my 13 year old asked if he could drive the van back to the house from the shop out back. I let him and he did fine. I was thinking though, I hope this doesn't give him any ideas of going on a joy ride when we're not home. Building confidence is good, but......

JB

 

[JimRB]

Most kids dont get to learn to drive, they re parents let them take drivers ed. Which in our school in the 90s was let them drive to town with the teacher in the back a few times after they watched videos and did home work. They dont get to drive in parking lots, on gravel or narrow roads or in traffic.

If I had kids I would not want my wife teaching a child to drive.

One of my co-worker's child has been doing the student driving with him for months in all kinds of Atlanta conditions. That takes a bit of nerve. She also took a course lead by former Georgia State Patrol instructors. They teach the kids how to handle a car when two wheels go off the pavement. Other stuff I am sure but too many kids screw up when their car drifts off road. Of course you don't want the car to drift but it could happen.

 

[Combustix]

Had you not been looking at a new tractor your old tractor would not have had to possess the young drivers car to convince you not to replace it.:laughing:

 

[johnrex62]

Short story is they are not allowed to learn anymore.

I learned a little at a time from the time I was 9, first starting the truck to warm it up in the morning and after a few months, backing it up for my father in the morning. Then, when I got to about 11-12 I was allowed to drive it a few yards on a vacant lot to reposition it for dad when we were working on things. I was not on the road until I had several years of "backyard driving" and precision maneuvering under my belt.

My kids did not think much of this approach and did not appreciate my offers of letting them move the cars in the driveway. They had to wait until they were in an approved driver's ed program to get their learners permits (laws in Texas are stacked against young learners nowadays and I would not let them on the road until they were legal). They had to suffer their mother's shrieks and panicky instruction until they could pass their tests mainly because I was not available during daylight hours and refused to allow them to learn at night.

They have both become decent drivers and are accident free after 11 years of driving, but my daughter got more of my moderating influence and is naturally a better driver. :laughing:

 

[D7E]

Blame the safety police of this forum that don't think "kids" should do anything until they are 18, or older.

agreed ...+1

 

[dmccarty]

I started driving when my dad and I would go camping. He had a Jeep Wagoner when they were full size. It had a column shifter. Once we got near our destination, which would be in the middle of no where on a Forest Service road, my dad would let me drive. I would have been no older than 9.

We have let our oldest drive the cars and tractor on our road while sitting in our lap. She has grown to fit the tractor so she will be operating it soon. To start, just driving and handling the tractor. At some point I will let her mow.

She has had the Tractor Safety and Operation Lecture three or four times so far and will get it again.

I have already started talking to the kids about driving. Things to do and not do. Figure talking to them about how to drive years before they start driving is a good idea.

In our area, many of the fatal accidents are from dropping the tires off the side of the road, over correcting, and then crashing. There was a HS girl killed in the last year or two just this way. She was driving at the speed limit or less and in a Volvo. One of her teachers was behind the kids car and saw the accident.

Later,
Dan

 

[chucko]

With my daughter I took her out to some clay roads long before the state said she could drive. She knows how to handle a car in a slide and such very well now. I will do the same with my 12 year old boy soon. Nothing like clay wet clay is better to teach the what a car will do if you do the wrong thing. With the clay you can keep it a low speed and show how a car will want to drift and spin and such

 

[buck12]

I learned to drive on 69 Ford with three on the tree, no power anything, and hand choke.

 

[k0ua]

I learned to drive on tractors, go carts, dirt bikes and dune buggies...I learned respect for the vehicle quickly.

I only had my permit for about 2 hours before I got my license (you could do that in the 80's)...But my dad still took me to an empty mall parking lot, in the snow, with a '76 GMC 4x4 P/U and had me do donuts and slides to see how helpless that actually is, or can be...I learned more in 1/2 hour than any other time in my life...Respect for the vehicle..You could also get away with that kind of training in the '80's too.

As a younger driver I spent some time in a snowy empty parking lot, having fun, but at the same time it was a very good learning experience. You learn how to overcome your fear and at the same time gain skills in regaining control of the vehicle and not "giving up" and just letting disaster happen. I would recommend some time in a snowy parking lot for anyone that want's to learn to be a better driver.

James K0UA

 

[FDuce]

The color of the Explorer wouldn't be white by any chance would it? I had a white one a while back and it seemed like everyone was aiming for it...broadsided once, rear ended twice, and the final blow was a drunk driver smashing into it when it was parked. All occurring in abut a 18 month span. The last one finally totaled it. Was glad to get rid of it. Funny thing was it was parked on the street because it was for sale...insurance ended up giving me about $1500 more than what I was asking.