sixteen: and license-less
December 16, 2008
I guess most people get their licenses at sixteen. I was nineteen when I got mine.
No, I didn’t fail the driving test.
In New York you have to be eighteen to get your full license. And I turned eighteen right before leaving for a month in Africa. Days after I got back, I moved to Texas for a year. So… it didn’t happen until I got back to New York just after my nineteenth birthday.
I got my license and moved to Africa. Which means I’ve driven way more on the wrong left side of the road than on the right.
How about you? When did you get your license? Any stories to share?
@cassgirl says:
I got my license on my 16th birthday. Any stories.
Well, my “new” used car, my 76 Pinto did well against 20 mailboxes on a rural road!!
you drive on the left hand side?? .. nuts
Oh yah, I got a story. Got my license at 16. My mom bought me a pinto which I spent untold hours cleaning and polishing and, since it was stick shift, learning to drive. My mom wouldn’t let me drive alone until I stopped and started, shifting gears and managing clutch, 20 times smoothly. Can we talk about the chore that was!
Mission accomplished and I was on my first trip to a girlfriend’s house to hang out (and show off). :) Low and behold, a corner with a barely notable yield sign and an overgrown tree. Within seconds, the pinto and I were crashed. Pinto was totalled, thankfully no one but pinto was hurt, but the worst part was I crashed into … only the most popular, good-looking, coolest, football playing, studly guy in school’s mom. UGH!
Aaaah the memories! Oh and did I mention that the school I went to was a very tiny small school (my graduating class was 82 people) so everyone knew before I got there on Monday?
I got mine at 16. My dad was militant about making us practice with our learner’s permit. He would make us drive through blizzards and other hazardous events and roadways. One summer we drove from Michigan to Florida and he made me drive through downtown Atlanta (like sixteen lanes wide) during afternoon rush hour. I still wonder how we made it through alive. It does make me feel good to know that my dad had that kind of faith in me.
I got my permit at 15, but drove very little. I lived in a town where I could walk anyplace I needed – to work, to school, to stores. If I couldn’t walk (to the mall) I’d get a ride with somebody.
I married at 18 – but still didn’t have my liscence. Eight months after getting married, I was 19 and 5 months pregnant – I decided I had better get my liscence before the baby arrived and well-baby doctor visits began. So I took the test with a sizeable bump betwen me and the steering wheel.
I loved my first car: a maroon 1985 Buick Park Avenue, with the softest leather bench seats and endless legroom.
Yep. Here’s my story: I was the “smart girl” in school, always with the straight As (except for geometry – see my comment on 14) and spelling bee trophies.
And yet…I failed my first driving test.
I know it’s not at all a big deal now. But in my small-town high school, it was hilarious to so many people and devastating to me.
Oh I just love it when God teaches me a lesson on pride.
P.S. Speaking of pride, you should know that straight As don’t mean nearly as much at 29 as they do at 16. Actually, they pretty much mean nothing. :)
@danielleH says:
I didn’t know that about you.
I didn’t get my license until just before I was 17. I can’t remember why, I just didn’t seem to concerned.
I think it was 98, as we were heading on bus from Vic Falls to Jo-berg somones wooden souvenier box fell out of the overhead compartments and hit me in the eye. I had a huge black eye, and of course, being in Botswana, had totally dirty clothes. You know, the sports sweatshirt with large floral print skirt. So picture me getting off the plane in detroit, black-eyed, dirty and homeless looking. We got back home and my parents gave me my birthday present. A 1998 Jeep Cherokee sport in chili pepper red. That was my first car. I loved it.
All the pictures are of homeless danielle and a beautiful jeep.
(I should just post a blog about this!)
The 1st time I ever drove (driver’s ed) was through white-out conditions in western ny! Got my license on the 3rd try (1st time I wasn’t ready, 2nd time I got the lady that fails everyone!). A month after getting it, I was stopped for speeding with friends in the car after we had been at a park partying—no ticket!!
I have some funny stories being stopped–but never got a ticket. No accidents or anything…until last year. One ticket and only 2 very minor accidents that were my fault in nearly 28 yrs of driving…
19 and the day before my wedding! I had been in africa till then and then i failed the driving test TWICE!
@moweezle says:
I got mine at 16, though I had already been driving for quite some time. My best friend had a Mustang and she taught me how to drive a stick shift on it. We would practice driving all over, even though we weren’t 16 or had any ‘official’ driving lessons.
Good times!!!
oh my skunk, some of these are hilarious!
debra — i’m sure your bruised pride was your worst injury!
sarah — i would have been so scared!
amy E — wow. and i thought i waited too long…
PQ — ugh! i bet your classmates were cruel about it, too.
yeller — you should so do a post. i wanna see some pictures!
rindy — so you got some pointers for talking your way out of a ticket?
faith — twice!?
@atangie says:
learners at 15, drivers at 16… so stories.
still need to get my international or bolivian drivers yet.
I got my license on my 16th birthday. It was great! My mom wanted to take me to my favorite restaurant to celebrate. We picked up a couple of my friends and went to the Crows Nest. My mom proceeded to get drunk at lunch and I got to drive her home. That was the start to her next level of dependency on me. But it was a good time after we took her home.
To me my license meant freedom!! Since I had my license most of my girlfriends didn’t get theirs until they were 18 or so.
i got my license when i was 18 .. after driving for many years
but more importantly
i have been married for years now…. and i hope to pass my license on that soon….
someone should have made a test for that and all men has to pass it before they are allowed to get married…
I’m almost 44 years old…….. and still no driver’s license. Oh, if you only knew how much I wish I could go back in time and have done this differently.
I was in Germany until 11th grade (dad in the Air Force), and completely clueless that the average American teenager is supposed to live for the day she can drive. Loved using public transportation. Got back to the States as a senior. Signed up for honors English class instead of driver’s ed. BIG mistake.
Speed up to sophomore year in college. Future husband encourages me to get my driver’s permit and teaches me how to drive. Everything goes great for a few weeks. One day, I’m driving to work and he very calmly asks……….. “Okay, now Lisa, do you realize you almost hit that car?”
I pull over and have a complete breakdown in front of some kid’s lemonade stand. Haven’t been behind the wheel since.
This is a serious phobia I have. I know that when I get back to the States someday, I’m going to HAVE to conquer this major fear. And with the Lord’s help, I know I will.
I didn’t get mine until I was 18 just because I was lazy and didn’t need to. All of my friends drove, my boyfriends drove…. I just didn’t need to. I finally got it because I started working more and then DID need it. ;-)
theresa — that broke my heart…
anti — i don’t think you realize how much seeing your name on my blog makes me smile.
lisa — wow. WOW. yes. you can so do this!
@danielleH says:
seeing ab here made me happy too. :)
“oh my skunk!”
i’ll have to see if i can track down some of those photos!
I got my license at 17. My Dad taught me to drive. On a manual/stick. I love manuals now. Ummmmm …. sometimes though I think it would have been better for me to learn ‘by the book.’ I think others have thought so too. :]
Right after getting my permit, (right after … as in … in the parking lot) Dad tossed me the keys and said, “Okay, you want to drive home?” My eyes got really big, I’m sure … but drive I did. Dad kept his left hand firmly on the emergency brake the whole time … and used it once. :)
Talking out of tickets…
once I totally confused the cop…when asked where live told him Delaware (was in college), but living in NJ (was doing internship and living there), but really lived in NY (car plates were NY)…then proceeded to get out regis from glove compartment and “feminine products” fell out…that worked! ;)
once I simply told him I DID stop at all 5 of the stop signs/lights he claimed I didn’t because I saw him following directly behind me from where I started!
once I used my son–was being a “pain” in the car and didn’t realize was going over speed limit (he said he had a preteen of his own and understood)
once, or more ;) I used my “get out of jail free” card–my cop friend’s business card–small town’s advantages
I’m a bit more aware now…think I probably shouldn’t push my luck too much more ;)
I got my license lat summer when I was 19. Right after I got home from SA. I took drivers ed when i was 16..but never drove and i was so busy raising money. I had to get it then because I was getting a full time job a week later! I have driven on the wrong side of the road a few times. Just last week i did.. I was SO confused..had no idea i was doing anything wrong! My sister had to correct me! I was so used to the driving in SA!
@coloraturajoy says:
Didn’t get mine till after I graduated high school. My step-mom picked me up, drove me to the DMV, and I took the test. The lady failed me because she thought I turned too fast. So we went back the very next day. Took the test again. Same lady. Passed. I had never driven before, never had my permit. My step-mom handed me the keys, told me to drive her home, and said “Have fun.”
YIKES!
My dad never knew anyone that was so laid back about getting their license like me. I didn’t get mine until I was almost 19. I always got a drive from a friend or my parents to drive me or I skated everywhere.
I did almost fail though…
I crashed the car into a fence before I took the test…on my way to take the test!
By the way…I passed that test that day too…weird.
@tamhodge says:
i got mine at 19 too. in Missouri. that place aint right, people.
it was time for my parallel parking test so the instructor had me pull onto a side, residential street and directed me to the two cones spaced about 15 feet from another on the side of the road. he then instructed me to parallel park. this isnt quite my favorite thing to do, but i must say, i did a great job!
when i was done he told me to turn off the car. (weird) he opened his door, peeked out to the ground, closed the door and started taking notes. naturally i ask how i did. he said i failed that portion of the test!
perplexed. i demanded to know why. he said i was more than 12 inches from the curb.
DOOOOOOD!!! its a dirt road! there is NO CURB!!!
I got my license on my 16th birthday. But, I still have a hard time spelling the word license. Every… single… time.
i got my license at 17.
the first time i tried my dad didn’t bring the right insurance card so they wouldnt let me take it.
the second time, i nearly failed but thank goodness, i didnt. the guy who was testing me said it was good i only had to take it once because if i had done it again i probably would have had a heart attack and they would have had to call an ambulance. good thing i passed!
I was a passenger in seven car accidents before I even got my license. Needless to say, I was 18 before I decided to get my license.
I got my license at 16 with no problem. The ridiculous story is this summer when it was a day away from expiring and I panicked, knowing if I didn’t get it renewed that day I would have to take the test.
But I can’t move well enough to drive. So my friend Susie picked me up and took me to the DMV and I hobbled in on my crutches. The dude looked at me and the fact that I had a registered handicap sticker and asked if my doctors thought it was ok for me to drive. My doctors and I have never discussed it and as he asked me a list of questions about my physical self and pain and physical limitations I LIED THROUGH MY TEETH. I didn’t want to give up my freedom and as I was pulling one over on the DMV guy my heart was sinking into my stomach. It was the first time I had left the house in 4 months and I was in so much pain I thought I was going to lose it… all for the symbol of something I knew I couldn’t safely do anymore anyway.
I got my license for five more years. But that was the day I knew I wouldn’t ever try to drive again. I guess I had to stand there and go through it to realize I had to let it go.
annie — “and used it once” – ha!
rindy — i like the feminine product idea!
alex — i’ve done the wrong side of the road thing before a time or two…
joy renee — i’m sitting here with my mouth hanging open!
andrew — i never heard that before. what fence?!
tam — he just didn’t like you. you should’ve bribed him with some oreos.
gitz — oh man… i felt the weight of that with you…
I was 20! I went everywhere with my boyfriend. The week we broke up, I took the test!
you make me smile big time, just to let you know :)
When I was 14 our babysitter decided to check out the wine cellar and managed to fall backwards down our semi-spiral staircase, at which I put my stellar “driveway driving” expertise to work, and drove her to the hospital. She had slipped a disc, and stayed there while her 80 something mother took over as my parents were in Hawaii. Later the sitter came back and managed to do the same thing again!!!! No, I am not making this up, we repeated the 8 block drive, and needless to say, my little sister and I never had another babysitter!
I got my driving license on my sixteenth birthday, and my first car was a Volkswagon Rabbit that I named “Rodney”. I loved to drive then and now, though Rodney was sold to a friend in California in the 80′s, and I have moved on to a car for the directionally retarded. : )
NO WAY! she did it TWICE!? she should definitely not be trusted to watch anyone’s children!
the name “rodney” made me laugh. and i love your car for the directionally retarded! i’m DR too… i need to get me one of those!
I got mine when I was 16 and the best driving story I have is once on my way to dispute a speeding ticket at the court house I hit a guy in a wheel chair. Yup…that was me. Whoops. Sorry.
you win. hands down, you win!