Dear Freepers, here's my first Vanity....

My own knowledge | Today | Me

[TangledUpInBlue]

This is most definitely a current event. My son was just picked up today for his first 2 hour driving lesson. I can't believe it's come to this. :)

I'm sitting here at work and I feel a tremendous - I don't know what. This is almost surreal.

[Vaquero]

this is a school...they are not going to teach on a stick

[Vaquero]

Prayers up

[Vaquero]

we own around 6 cars between me, my wife and 3, 20 something boys.....only one car is a stick. a 4 speed, 1972 Grand Torino with (currently) a 350 Cleveland with a converted to EFI 4 barrel equivalent throttle body and ignition tied in to the FI. the Windsor big bore kit was pulled and needs to be rebuilt, but it flys with the Cleveland. everyone knows how to drive a stick...but we rarely do....currently....

am looking to get a NEW Barracuda (coming soon, supposedly) it may or may not have a 6 speed and 392 hemi if available...Chrysler will have to dump all union ownership first.

[NYer]

But he had an accident (fender bender, his fault) on the freeway his first week out! Scary!

Ditto with my daughter but it was on a local road. The driver in front of her slowed down to turn left but never put on his turn signal. She presumed he was turning right and went to pass him (big no because this was a no passing zone). Fortunately, only her pride and my auto insurance were hurt ;-)

Another important point is learning to drive in bad weather. While your son is still in possession of his learner's permit, get him out driving in the rain, the fog, dawn and dusk. Let him know when he should turn on the headlights so other drivers will see him coming. Here in NYS, drivers are required to drive with their headlights in the rain. Not sure where you live but if it is in a colder climate, make sure you get him out in sleet and snow. Knowing when and how to turn the wheel on slippery roadways may one day save his life.

Don't neglect country roads where oftentimes drivers think they can speed. At dusk, deer come out and it is important to slow down in anticipation of an animal crossing the road. Slamming a car into a deer can result in deadly injuries.

Your readers have covered some excellent points. Be like a sponge and absorb them. Bookmark this thread for future reference. Have confidence in your son and show it but always be ready to impart advice, as Yaelle has suggested.

[Bigg Red]

+1

[momtothree]

I hate to disagree with you, Clint, but this is what we were told by our son’s driver instructor and the insurance company. The “student driver” stickers sound like a good idea. They warn other drivers that this driver is inexperienced and to essentially cut him or her some slack. However, we live in a rotten world at times. What this sticker will also tell people is the driver is inexperienced AND this car is insured very well by Mom and Dad. Countless young drivers report that a vehicle will pull in front of them, slam on the brakes, in order for the teen to hit that vehicle. Of course, they will feign injury so the payout is a real, real good one. Rarely is there another “older” driver who will stop or sees the accident; thus, you have an “injured” person and a teen. Who do you think the police and the insurance company will believe. Just a warning from what we were informed.

[JimRed]

Stay out of bad areas. Notice what’s going on in the areas you drive and study maps and roads so the areas you drive are familiar to you.

But that's RAAACISSST! < /sarc >

[ken in texas]

16 tickets and totaled 3 cars?

Ouch. I though my daughter was bad. She damaged the front left, front right, and back left of her car in 3 different accidents and managed to total my vehicle in between.

[Liberty Valance]

Ha! You got off easy - she only totalled one!

[ken in texas]

Only one, but it was a doozy. She got T-Boned and the whole right side was crushed in. We were at a work party at Church that morning and she took the car to get some supplies for the pastor. A friend of hers decided at the last moment to stay and work... had she been a passenger she would probably have been killed.

Thankfully she drives a bit more carefully now when hauling my two grandsons around. :)

[Liberty Valance]

*ouch* - we’re both lucky to have these kids still walking around.

[proud American in Canada]

Oh wow... that is a milestone. I lucky that driver’s ed isn’t taught in “secondary schools” (high schools) in Quebec; not sure about Ontario.

I couldn’t wait to learn how to drive; when I was fifteen, my Dad took me out on empty parking lots.

I did ask my son when he was almost sixteen if he wanted to try driving around our circular parking lot (it’s in a rural area and there’s no one around). He showed little interest, which is fine by me. :)

Good luck to your son! Better yet, good luck to you. :)

[proud American in Canada]

“I hope he drives a stick shift, not an automatic. Sticks are safer because you’re more engaged with your driving.”

_______________________________________________

That is great advice. You can’t text too much while driving a stick shift..

Texting while driving is actually much more dangerous, even, than driving impaired. I had to research some articles on this.

[Rebelbase]

They grow up quick!

I got so used to falling asleep on the couch waiting for them to come home by curfew on weekend nights that it took me a few years to break the habit and start sleeping in a bed again.