Starting to drive at a young age

[Richie]

is it really worth it?

In my opinion its silly, it eats the money most teenagers don't have and there really is no need to drive if you live in the city, plenty of public transport.

Although I'd like to think I'd drive sometime soon just because its something new and i could get around to places faster.

[Meanies]

i left learning at 17 'cus i didnt have the money and had to pay for it all myself, but i learnt at 18 instead and it gives you so much more freedom. if it weren't for that i probably wouldnt bother

[myke]

i learnt as soon as i can, because now i can drive it's broadened my horizons and theres much more on offer such as jobs :)

[Callum.]

driving really doesn't interest me so I'm not doing it 'til after uni. I couldn't get a car til then anyway, so not much point forking out the money when I'd rather spend it on holidays for next year.

[buttons]

yeah apparently it's easier when you're younger, even with all that boy racer ******ry
im glad i learned early anyway idk why

[Metric1]

yes. i love driving.

[Apple]

Driving is great to start at a young age. It gives you the ability to go to any place at any time. Basically just cuts out public transport and makes many things a lot easier for you.

[danzooo]

i'm 17 and i've passed my test; my first lesson was at 9am on the morning of my 17th birthday, thats how determined I was

and don't talk to me about public transport - buses are my absolute pet hate and i detest them, taxis are phenomenally overpriced and i'd only ever get the train if i were going to edinburgh.

plus i can afford to drive with the wage from my job so why not?

couple these with the fact ive been obsessed with cars and wanted to drive since i was a foetus... and youve got my excuse.

[Alexx..]

I'm driving but i'm not buying a car yet cause I don't plan on sticking around here once I finish college, it'll just be a waste of money to get a car now, so i'll buy a car when I have gone to uni and such.

[Recursion]

It's easier to learn when you're younger and let's face it, you'll have loads of debts to pay off after Uni! :P

Public transport is horribleeeee x_x

[tdi]

I used to drive on the farm before I could legally drive on the road, but I picked up loads of bad habits which I got out of for the period of learning to drive, and passing my test.. then I got into them again.

I love driving, it's so much easier than relying on the peasant wagon, and it's opened up my opportunities at work so much more, ie; i can now drive the van instead of being a passenger.

[Starburst..x]

I love driving and had my first lesson on my 17th birthday, I've always wanted to drive ever since I was little and having learnt to drive and being on the road for a few years it gives me a sense of independence. This sounds stupid but it also gives me a sense of responsibility having to pay for the upkeep of it all.

[KyoraStryker]

I started driving when I was 15, which was the absolute earliest I could get a license (learner's permit, of course). After holding my permit for a year, I went down and got my license on my 16th birthday; had it ever since.

Driving wasn't expensive for me when I was younger. I had a job, so I could afford putting gas into the tank. Owning a car, on the other hand, is considerably more expensive: you have to worry about registration, insurance and gas, not to mention routine maintenance.

Also, public transport is always a plus to driving, since you don't have to worry about physically operating the vehicle. The only problem with it is that you have to rely on the schedule for whatever means of public transport is used; with a car, you're in control of when you set out for your destination and how you get there.

[Art]

Just get it out of the way. Once you leave school you'll just keep putting it off.

[Conservative,]

My mum has already promised me driving lessons for my 16th birthday...(Yes 16th, disabled drivers can learn at 16 ;])

Money isn't a problem for me..and no i'm not a spoilt rich kid from a city banker, it's the fact that the only cost I'll ever have to pay on a car is petrol, and the "deposit" on a "motobility" car...but even then that isn't always necessary.

My insurance will be paid for, my car will probably be a cheap one, so I don't have to pay a deposit, but that doesn't matter when you're just using it to go to McDonalds at lunch or w/e...and hopefully I will have a job to pay for the petrol...

So in my opinion, there is nothing that says not to drive, I will be able to get to places easier & quicker (I hate buses so rarely take them) and will look "cool" and just generally, I think it's a good idea.

[Rapidshare]

My mum has already promised me driving lessons for my 16th birthday...(Yes 16th, disabled drivers can learn at 16 ;])

Money isn't a problem for me..and no i'm not a spoilt rich kid from a city banker, it's the fact that the only cost I'll ever have to pay on a car is petrol, and the "deposit" on a "motobility" car...but even then that isn't always necessary.

My insurance will be paid for, my car will probably be a cheap one, so I don't have to pay a deposit, but that doesn't matter when you're just using it to go to McDonalds at lunch or w/e...and hopefully I will have a job to pay for the petrol...

So in my opinion, there is nothing that says not to drive, I will be able to get to places easier & quicker (I hate buses so rarely take them) and will look "cool" and just generally, I think it's a good idea.


No offence but in what terms are you 'disabled'?. I assume you getting DLA for higher rate of mobilty component? If not, you cant get it unless your receiving that.

[Conservative,]

No offence but in what terms are you 'disabled'?. I assume you getting DLA for higher rate of mobilty component? If not, you cant get it unless your receiving that.

Yes I get DLA...and I have a heart & lung condition meaning I get tired walking up the stairs, yet alone walking to/from school/work. xD!

[Rapidshare]

Fair enough, haha.

[danzooo]

why is it that disabled people can learn to drive younger than normal? i don't understand

[Swastika]

Just because you are learning to drive doesn't actually mean you HAVE to get a car, so the expenses that would come with having a car would be invalid.
It's a good idea to learn to drive because it opens up doors to other jobs, that you wouldn't have been able to do without driving, alot of jobs need drivers.
It's always just a good and handy thing to have, you don't really have to have a car, there's more benefits than that anyway.

[Moh]

I'm learning to drive, very close to my test and I don't have a job so can't exactly get a car yet. But once I get my licence, I'v pretty much got that for life.

[Shar]

Yes, because you can drive yourself around instead of waiting on your lazy parents ;)

[Rapidshare]

why is it that disabled people can learn to drive younger than normal? i don't understand


Not all disabled people can drive younger, I am classed a disabled person but I do not have the right to drive at 16. Its the fact that you have to be almost (if not) be a wheelchair user to use this 'service'. It is becasue the person will have to learn to drive in a different way rather using the pedals...All the driving it from upfront on the steering whell.

[Conservative,]

Not all disabled people can drive younger, I am classed a disabled person but I do not have the right to drive at 16. Its the fact that you have to be almost (if not) be a wheelchair user to use this 'service'. It is becasue the person will have to learn to drive in a different way rather using the pedals...All the driving it from upfront on the steering whell.

Well, I AM entitled to this age thing, but it is actually nothing to do with wheelchair or w/e...it's if you get DLA (Disability Living allowance) and have a blue badge (disabled badge). I don't use a wheelchair - although I do have one for precaution. It's mainly because it's harder for the person to get around any other way - eg; for me, walking to the local Tesco would take over an hour, and I'd be so tired by the time I got there, I'd probably pass out. Whereas my friends could jog there and back in 30 minutes.

Basically...it's if you have some sort of trouble with movement - like me, I get tired quickly...yes, MOST people getting it are wheelchair users, but not all. Some are because although they don't use wheelchairs, they have mobility problems. :)

[Rapidshare]

Actually, you need to receive higher rate mobility allowance. The blue badge doesnt even matter.




If you have mobility needs (All Rates)


To get the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, your disability must be severe enough for you to have any of the following walking difficulties, even when wearing or using an aid or equipment you normally use:


because of a physical disability, you are unable or virtually unable to walk without severe discomfort, or at risk of endangering your life or causing deterioration in your health by making the effort to walk
you have no feet or legs
you are assessed to be both 100 per cent disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80 per cent disabled because of deafness and you need someone with you when you are out of doors
you are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualify for the highest rate of care component
you need guidance or supervision most of the time from another person when walking out of doors in unfamiliar places





There are two rates of the mobility component depending on how your disability affects you:


Lower rate
If you need guidance or supervision out of doors.


Higher rate
If you have any of the other, more severe, walking difficulties.



Motoring

Learning to drive

The usual minimum age for driving cars is 17. For anyone who is getting Disability Living Allowance at the higher rate (mobility component), the minimum age for driving is 16.


All from the home office website.

[Conservative,]

Gg, lol. But yeah ok.

[Rapidshare]

Gg, lol. But yeah ok.



I would, but my school gym is rubbish, we have NOTHING except a few exercise bikes, and my mum won't let me join the gym. She says it will put strain on my heart :|

I have an exercise bike in my room which I go on, but I want to be benching & stuff. I can leg press 80kg but I can only bench 25 :L I need to get some upper body strength, my legs are strong from skiing :)

but for some reason I can do like 40-50kg on row machine???

And you recieve DLA? If I knew you in real, i would have reported ya ;)

[SirTezza]

I guess it depends on where you live and also how the public transport is within your area.

When I lived in the UK as a teenager, below 17 I had to use the public transport and it was a mess, I don't miss it at all. I started learning to drive with my dad on private land before I was 17 - because it was private land, your age doesn't matter.

Then once I was 17 I did my lessons and then passed. It gives you so much freedom, which is what you need at a young age.

I have now been driving for 5 years and I wouldn't ever look back!

[tdi]

Robbie, you say you get tired walking up the stairs yet you claim to be skiing? and leg press 80kg? and yet, you recieve higher rate DLA entitling you to a free car which we all have to pay for? now I'm not discriminating, but yeah. I agree with rapidshare.

[benjamin]

love the fact i can drive now, so glad i did it when i was 17!

[Rapidshare]

Robbie, you say you get tired walking up the stairs yet you claim to be skiing? and leg press 80kg? and yet, you recieve higher rate DLA entitling you to a free car which we all have to pay for? now I'm not discriminating, but yeah. I agree with rapidshare.

That what I thought :S.

[GoldenMerc]

Robbies a 11 year old from HabbCrazyForum.net, He says many things arnt true, I know hes disabled for sure but i highly doubt he does anything else, considering hes online nearly 20 hours a day on the weekend.

[Eoin247]

To give my opinion on the threads topic. It's always useful to learn these skills at a young age when you have time and are eager to learn. If you put it off you may end up never doing it and regretting it. I started learning to drive when i was only 10. You never know if your dad or mom has to go to the hospital urgently. The time you save driving to the hospital rather than waiting for an ambulance could save their lives!

[lovethewayyoulie]

i started a while ago and im 17 and its the best thing ive ever done