Drivers Ed

[maconmagnolia]

What was your drivers ed. experience like? I went to an extremely small high school in a small town, so my track coach taught my driver's ed class. It was really fun.

How old were you when you got your license? Sixteen.

Did you pass on the first try? Yes. In Illinois, you don't have to parallel park (at least where I took it.) If I would have had to parallel park, I probably would have failed!

Any funny mistakes while behind the wheel? I got a speeding ticket exactly a week after I got my license. I was going 63 in a 55. I hate getting in trouble, so I started crying immediately once I was pulled over. However, once the cop saw what a new driver I was, he had very little sympathy. :P

Did you ever freak your parents out? My daddy taught me how to drive, and I think I gave him a few gray hairs. However, besides that one speeding ticket, I've yet to get a ticket and I haven't gotten in a wreck, so I think my parents trust me now! :P

[pshsx1]

Originally Posted by maconmagnolia

In Illinois, you don't have to parallel park (at least where I took it.) If I would have had to parallel park, I probably would have failed!

Same in Texas! I learned how to parallel park the week after I passed my test.

I did fine then, I guess. Now? I wouldn't even bet a dollar on my parallel parking "skills."

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by pshsx1

Same in Texas! I learned how to parallel park the week after I passed my test.

I did fine then, I guess. Now? I wouldn't even bet a dollar on my parallel parking "skills."

I had to parallel park during my driving test, but passed.

We had a driving school across from my HS that almost everyone went to. I started when I was 15, passed all the written tests (which, IIRC, counted as our "official" written tests) and passed the driving tests with no problem (we did about 3 of them -- one on side streets, one was on the highway and on a large hill, and the last was on the highway at night).

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I had to parallel park during my driving test, but passed.

We had a driving school across from my HS that almost everyone went to. I started when I was 15, passed all the written tests (which, IIRC, counted as our "official" written tests) and passed the driving tests with no problem (we did about 3 of them -- one on side streets, one was on the highway and on a large hill, and the last was on the highway at night).

Were these road tests part of your state's requirement for licensing? If so, wow.

I had to do basic traffic maneuvers - left turn, right turn, three-point turn, parallel park, and drive around a bit while obeying signs and signals (e.g. stop signs - as I mentioned upthread, one of my classmates failed her road test because she didn't come to a complete stop at a stop sign). Road tests can be taken only during daylight hours, and cannot be taken during inclement weather.

Road tests are not offered in Manhattan, because you must take your road test in "typical driving conditions" and Manhattan is anything but typical. (To this day, I avoid driving in Manhattan.) Road tests are offered in the other four boroughs, though.

[ASTalumna06]

I didn't have to parallel park during my test, and I was actually kind of mad about that. Between the driving hour I had that JUST covered parallel parking, and practicing A LOT, I was hoping to impress the guy giving me the test. Oh well!

I did have to back into a parking space, though. I had never done it before, but because of the driving hour that covered 3-point turns, I rocked it

The rest of the test was right and left turns, stopping at red lights and stop signs, and banging a u-ey.

[StealthMode]

I didn't have to parallel park during my test but I'm pretty good at it. Ironically, the smaller the space, the better I am. I find it much harder to parallel park (without repeatedly having to adjust because I'm hitting the curb) in a large space than a super tight one.