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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]kids don't care about getting licences these days.

just get an uber account and live in a city.

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Ridiculous.  All five of our kids had permits at 15 and got their licenses literally the day they turned 16.  DC is the only place we have ever lived where kids aren't counting the days till they get their license. And we have lived in huge cities all over the world. It has nothing to do with living in a city and everything to do with weirdly overprotective parents who simply do not know how to let kids grow up.  Just look around at the number of 5 year olds in strollers.

OP, she will become a better driver when she has no choice.  It's hard to let go and trust they they will get better, but they do.  Experience driving without anyone else in the car builds confidence.  My oldest is 27 and my youngest is 17.  In all those years we have only had one accident and it was very minor.  The kid I worried about the most turned out to be the best city driver.  She lives in Old Town and drives all over DC and NoVA.

Diving encourages independence.  There are so many places in the world without public transportation.  She'll get it!  She just needs the confidence that only comes with experience. [/quote]

When did your teens get their licenses?  I got my license at 19 in 1986-87 and I had no desire to learn earlier.  We lived in Philly with expensive car insurance and only had one car.  Philly has an excellent bus/train system so I was independent despite not knowing how to drive.

I still think 15-16 is too young for  a driver's license especially now with the distracted driver and the angry people out there.  A good friend of mine is over 50 and never learned or wanted to drive.  She has a job and is quite independent so your theory about overprotective parents is not true for everyone.

Yes, I have teens but they aren't going to learn until at least 19 or older.  Also have no desire to learn either![/quote]

[b]When did they get their license?  Like I said -  The day they turned 16.  Like literally on their 16th birthday. The had held their permits for a full year and were ready to drive independently when they turned 16.   [/quote][/b]

You misunderstood the question.  When I said when did they get their license I meant what YEAR did they get their licence?  1987?  1998?  2002?  Do you have Quints?  Otherwise they did not get their licence on the same day and the same year.

You may not believe this but, teens are no longer "looking forward" to driving at 16 especially if they live in a city like NY or DC.    I'm not saying "all" but a good majority of teens don't see this as any expression of independence.  They have uber, bikes, metro, buses, their feet, scooters etc.  Soon they will have cars that drive you!
[/quote]

NP. She said they range in age from 17-27 so that gives you an idea.

My son just turned 16 and he and all of his friends are very eager to get their licenses. We're in the suburbs so there's no metro. That definitely makes a big difference. And I am eager for him to drive, as well. It's very difficult getting three kids to all their activities on weeknights in all directions. Having him drive himself would ease that situation. [/quote]

Thanks, pp!  I totally missed the age thing.  My bad!  Granted I think her youngest wants to drive because he saw the others getting their licenses at 16.  Mine is 18 and really doesn't care if she ever drives.  So, when her oldest got the licence I would agree with the pp but, if her youngest was her oldest than she would understand and not put people down who choose differently ( hence the "helicopter comment"[/quote]

Yeah, I don't know if that's necessarily true. I suppose it depends on the child and even more on the family. My son whom I said just turned 16 is my firstborn and he is very eager to drive. Many of his friends are also firstborns and they, too, are ready. They all got their permits within the month they were eligible. There is just one in his group of friends who is eligible but has not, and he is the outlier. It's very likely that the peer group has a big influence.[/quote]

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