My Son turned 16 last month but due to the rules of how long you have to have your permit and the crazy things that went on during the pandemic, he is just now eligible to get his DL this week. I am a nervous wreck!!! I don't know how my parents, you guys that are parents, or any other parents handle their kids driving. He is super cautious, maybe even too much, but I just don't trust the "other" drivers out there. I have tried to teach him that he needs to have his head on a swivel and pay attention to EVERYTHING because so may people are distracted these days that driving is a hazard almost. I have never really thought about this till we started driving together and how so many people are not paying attention. I notice it a lot more when I am riding with him as opposed to when I am driving, I guess because I have been doing it so long. Anyway, I am posting this to say, be cautious out there, because you may be driving alongside someone with little to zero experience. LOL!!!!!!!

The way my boys like to crash their bikes into things, that's a day I'm not looking forward to. Good luck buddy! 

This may sound Crazy, but when was time for my Son to get his DL, I took him to a huge deserted parking lot. I laid out a route for him, with an added bonus, I told when I shouted right or left, he had to imagine evading a car that may have caused an accident. I also told him that by evading, he may cause an accident if he made the wrong move.

What this did was, it heightened his reaction time, and made him aware of just how quick things can go wrong, and also when driving, to expect the unexpected.

Now at 47, he's never had an accident, which I'm pretty proud of. Give your young'un some credit, kids nowadays are pretty dang smart.

1 hour ago, jbsoonerfan said:

My Son turned 16 last month but due to the rules of how long you have to have your permit and the crazy things that went on during the pandemic, he is just now eligible to get his DL this week. I am a nervous wreck!!! I don't know how my parents, you guys that are parents, or any other parents handle their kids driving. He is super cautious, maybe even too much, but I just don't trust the "other" drivers out there. I have tried to teach him that he needs to have his head on a swivel and pay attention to EVERYTHING because so may people are distracted these days that driving is a hazard almost. I have never really thought about this till we started driving together and how so many people are not paying attention. I notice it a lot more when I am riding with him as opposed to when I am driving, I guess because I have been doing it so long. Anyway, I am posting this to say, be cautious out there, because you may be driving alongside someone with little to zero experience. LOL!!!!!!!

Same boat. Son just turned 17. I don’t know if you already did the research on what it will cost to insure him. Make sure you’re sitting down. Yikes!! Thank goodness he has good grades, lol. There is a discount for good grades. 
 

Did you teach him everything? I taught what I could but my state makes these youngsters take drivers ed at parents expense, and a lot of serious constraints. 
 

My son does quite well, but I still get on his you know what when he does stupid things boys his age do, as it doesn’t dawn on them that they are driving a 2 ton object that could seriously injure kill others including them for moment of foolish idiocy. Failing to look over the shoulder when attempting to switch lanes and only using the mirror only and forgetting about the mirror’s blind spot which is why you look. That one sets me off but the other that really gets me is taking freeway exits in heavy traffic. Many times they’re congested and packed. One time in heavy traffic he was getting off on our exit still going 60. I told him to slow down and he told me no, I’m not supposed to slow down until he is truly in the exit lane. I almost yelled, “slow down now! Maybe on a weekend but not during heavy traffic. Many times the exit will be backed up well beyond the exit lane we’ll into the freeway. If you’re still blazing at 60, you might not have enough time to slow down, but even if you do, the people behind you going the same speed as you will have even less time than you and THEY can hit you.”

 

He rolled his eyes and I told him I won’t let him drive with that attitude. Period. 
 

This particular exit gets backed well beyond a mile during rush hour and I see so many near misses everyday on the way home. 
 

 

7 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

My Son turned 16 last month but due to the rules of how long you have to have your permit and the crazy things that went on during the pandemic, he is just now eligible to get his DL this week. I am a nervous wreck!!! I don't know how my parents, you guys that are parents, or any other parents handle their kids driving. He is super cautious, maybe even too much, but I just don't trust the "other" drivers out there. I have tried to teach him that he needs to have his head on a swivel and pay attention to EVERYTHING because so may people are distracted these days that driving is a hazard almost. I have never really thought about this till we started driving together and how so many people are not paying attention. I notice it a lot more when I am riding with him as opposed to when I am driving, I guess because I have been doing it so long. Anyway, I am posting this to say, be cautious out there, because you may be driving alongside someone with little to zero experience. LOL!!!!!!!

I'm in the same boat. It is a little nerve racking. Hang in there.

 

I also bought some "Student Driver" magnetic signs to put on our cars. Most other drivers seem to be a little more patient when they see them.

Many states won't give a DL now before age 18.  

 

Traffic is very different than when I was that age.  I had a car before I had a DL, a '62 Corvair bought from our neighbor, and I had to put brakes on it.  But my folks would let me solo across town on city streets with only my learner's permit.  

 

But there's literally 50 times more cars on expansive crowded roads now.  

Trepidation also keeps many young folks from wanting their DL.  

My older daughter and my buddy's younger daughter didn't want to drive until they were well into their 20s.  

Your insurance rates will sky rocket if they haven't already.  And you thought a boat was expensive.  Teenage males are the highest risk driver demographic from a statistical stand point, which is why the insurance rates are also the highest.

Have him watch the YouTube videos of idiot drivers and dash cam videos. Those will freak you out even more. They made me want to stay home and I’ve had my license for 50 years and have logged well over a million miles. Seeing the consequences of distracted driving, too much speed and the need to be a defensive driver has changed the way I drive.

I got my at learners permit at 14, and can get my DL at 16.  My mom freaks out when I drive, so I hate driving with her.  I've got about 10 hours, but have to get 40 more and ten at night. 

10 hours ago, jbsoonerfan said:

My Son turned 16 last month but due to the rules of how long you have to have your permit and the crazy things that went on during the pandemic, he is just now eligible to get his DL this week. I am a nervous wreck!!! I don't know how my parents, you guys that are parents, or any other parents handle their kids driving. He is super cautious, maybe even too much, but I just don't trust the "other" drivers out there. I have tried to teach him that he needs to have his head on a swivel and pay attention to EVERYTHING because so may people are distracted these days that driving is a hazard almost. I have never really thought about this till we started driving together and how so many people are not paying attention. I notice it a lot more when I am riding with him as opposed to when I am driving, I guess because I have been doing it so long. Anyway, I am posting this to say, be cautious out there, because you may be driving alongside someone with little to zero experience. LOL!!!!!!!

My son wasn’t even out of Driver’s Ed when he got sideswiped by a meter reader. It was a good learning experience, scared the crap out of him. 

2 hours ago, gimruis said:

Your insurance rates will sky rocket if they haven't already.  And you thought a boat was expensive.  Teenage males are the highest risk driver demographic from a statistical stand point, which is why the insurance rates are also the highest.

Indeed. I almost had a heart attack and I thought insuring my daughter at his age was expensive. That’s why I told the op to be seated when he gets the quote, lol. 

2 hours ago, Scott F said:

Have him watch the YouTube videos of idiot drivers and dash cam videos. Those will freak you out even more. They made me want to stay home and I’ve had my license for 50 years and have logged well over a million miles. Seeing the consequences of distracted driving, too much speed and the need to be a defensive driver has changed the way I drive.

Yep. They actually show these in the mandated driver education courses. Yes, they scare you stiff, but boys will be boys. 

Back when I was in high school we had “drivers ed” which had textbook learning and we had simulators in a trailer next to the school.  This was in the 70’s.  ?. Here in Virginia my daughter had to take a sanctioned private company drivers course.  Once completed and before she could get her license, she had to appear in front of a judge with a parent.  Then I took over and taught her how to drive a stick in a 1993 Jeep Wrangler I bought brand new and used as my commuter vehicle.  I knew this would be the end of the jeep but to my surprise at 24 years old, she is still driving it and it currently has 475,000 miles.  As a part time gig she now hauls a 60 ft trailer behind a 1 ton diesel delivering horses across the country.  Since she lives in the country and manages a horse boarding facility, the poor jeep has taken its share of bumps and bruises from multiple deer hits and even a bear.  I taught her not to swerve when encountering wildlife.  My advice is to ride with them and communicate all of the defensive driving techniques we have learned over the years.  I even rode with her when she started hauling horses and was able to take her through a lot of learning tips.  

2 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Back when I was in high school we had “drivers ed” which had textbook learning and we had simulators in a trailer next to the school.

Up here it was different - classroom learning to get your 'learners permit' - then actual behind-the-wheel. School had a couple 1976 Ford LTD's (land yacht) for the second part.

 

My road training was in winter - it's strange to come to a complete stop at a stop sign...then the car starts drifting towards the curb because of the ice on the road. Learned in bad road conditions, so it doesn't even bug me.

10 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

This may sound Crazy, but when was time for my Son to get his DL, I took him to a huge deserted parking lot. I laid out a route for him, with an added bonus, I told when I shouted right or left, he had to imagine evading a car that may have caused an accident. I also told him that by evading, he may cause an accident if he made the wrong move.

What this did was, it heightened his reaction time, and made him aware of just how quick things can go wrong, and also when driving, to expect the unexpected.

Now at 47, he's never had an accident, which I'm pretty proud of. Give your young'un some credit, kids nowadays are pretty dang smart.

This doesn't sound crazy to me. It sounds brilliant!

Just now, MN Fisher said:

Up here it was different - classroom learning to get your 'learners permit' - then actual behind-the-wheel. School had a couple 1976 Ford LTD's (land yacht) for the second part.

 

My road training was in winter - it's strange to come to a complete stop at a stop sign...then the car starts drifting towards the curb because of the ice on the road. Learned in bad road conditions, so it doesn't even bug me.

Oh, we had behind the wheel instruction as well. ?. I don’t remember what the drivers Ed vehicles were but I do remember they had dual controls.?  Growing up in Nebraska, I got my share of winter driving.  I took my daughter to an empty lot during one of our few snowstorms here In Virginia and taught her the fine points of snow navigation and how different a 4wd acts than a fwd or rwd. 

Thanks for all the advice! I haven't even looked at the cost of insurance yet, too afraid of what it might be. LOL

Congratulations @jbsoonerfan on your son’s upcoming completion of the DL process and important life stage. I’ll mean fewer trips to the grocery store for last minute milk and eggs amongst other things. Pops had a washed, waxed and topped off truck come Monday morning if I wanted to use it Saturday night…

 

If Oklahoma has a driving test with with a state driving evaluator like California, I suggest maybe finding out the test route for that DMV office your son will test at and practice it with him. All his friends will know the route and you’ll be able to see potential pitfalls. I did it with my two daughters, and it was surprising how many of their friends failed before or while leaving the DMV parking lot. The hopeful drivers didn’t check their mirrors, didn’t know how to turn on/off the windshield wipers or right rear tire clipped the curb entering the roadway when leaving DMV lot. Not to mention it’ll add to the confidence you already have in his abilities to pass the driving test as every teen driver dreads having “Scary Larry” with his clipboard sitting next to them.

 

And I’m sure you’re looking forward to hearing “my buddy and I want to go hit the lake, so can I hook up the boat“…..

 

 

My grandson just got his and my daughter  is letting him drive her around. She said he’s doing well. I figured he would.He has a very calm personality so it bodes well for him with today’s crazy drivers.

Not so sure about one of his friends though. He bought a new croch rocket motor cycle and ran it into our telephone pole ground cable and took out a few feet of my hedge , and walked away.That was tuesday, I think. Everything is still laying there as it was after he wrecked. Im expecting him to fix it, but wondering if he even knows he should…??‍♂️ . He’s avoiding me for some reason !

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