How old were you when you learned to drive?

My dad was an irresponsible hot rod guy, he taught me to drive when I was 12. He would get drunk and let me drive him around. Or he'd go buy a project car and I'd drive his truck home.

As a direct result of my long deceased father's incessant ordering-I took a combination classroom/on the roads driver's education course-in my sophomore year of high school in Urbandale, Iowa-from age 16 years and 5 months-in August of 1981 until I was 16 years/10 months-in January of 1982-when-after having passed both the written AND "on the road" driver's tests-and a small paid fee-I received my Iowa driver's license.

Ironically-after all of that incessant ordering from my perpetually angry, psychologically anal retentive father-he REFUSED to let me drive EITHER of the two family cars during my remaining time living with a several member emotionally dysfunctional family.

After I moved BACK to Houston, Texas in June of 1982-at the age of 17-via surrendering my never used IOWA driver's license-and taking a written list-I received a TEXAS driver's license. I drove frequently from September of 1982 until November of 1983.

This story is getting a little LONG-isn't it?

Anyway-when my mother and I moved from Houston, Texas to Pleasanton, California (about 30 miles east of San Francisco)-I legally acquired a CALIFORNIA driver's license.

I didn't drive much though-only to "run" errands such as grocery shopping and taking our two dogs-one male/one female-to and from the veterinarian's medical office/facility.

As I had done frequently in Houston, Texas from Monday morning, January 7'th, 1985 until Friday evening, March 24'th, 1989-from ages 20 to 24-I rode the buses to various places.

I did the same in the San Francisco Bay Area from April, 1989 until July, 1996-from ages 24 to 31.

Additionally-I rode the BART-Bay Area Regional Transit-commuter trains-on an infrequent basis.

More IOWA bus riding stories to come.

I was 30. I worked 10 minutes walk from my house so I didn't need a car. It was only when the need to visit other offices came about that I learned to drive.

My situation was very similar to yours, I was over forty with two kids and living in a smaller city when I finally learned. I remain the only driver in my immediate family!

I was 30, I needed to learn to drive as I was moving nearer to the city, I lived in a small town in the countryside before and I’d cycle a lot.

I was 13. I would pull the trailer back from the boat ramp after launching the boat. I was also the dedicated go getter at the fish camp. The store even let me buy beer and smokes for my folks…

I taught myself how to drive when I was 16. In fact I didn't get my license until I was 20. I had to for my job.

19 I wasn’t excited about it but had to do it together to work and around.

At 29 I passed the test but I wouldn't say I can drive now. I didn't drive since then.

I started driving when I was 16 or so. But I didn't get my license until my early 20s, I think. I've never lived in a place with public transport.

17. I had my first driving lesson the day after my birthday; I passed my driving test 3.5 months later.

6. We lived on an acreage, I couldn't reach the clutch pedal. Hauling water across the field at an idle

I was 17 🙂

Got my permit at 16, license at 18

I think I was 12 when Dad let me drive on farm roads

I was 19

A motorcycle and a car - both at 16.

Still in my dad's nutsack

17-20

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