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Ha, amazingly dad gave me that car. The frame eventually rusted out. It surely would've been a keeper!

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Hey Matt, great story! I feel like whatever indignation we receive in the drivers ed and test, if you come out with that license--it's a win!

My dad was quiet, but was known for outbursts and was a bit high strung with his babies, his autos! He had me out with his 68, Chevy Impala, matador red coupe which he kept in primo condition. It was a standard transmission, with a 3 speed on the column. We were in the parking lot of a large, thankfully empty horse racing track. All you had to avoid was the lightposts. After a few rounds with the clutch, I was feeling cocky and ready leave the parking lot for more adventuresome terrain. Dad's body language told me I had stepped past his comfort zone! I pulled up to a stop sign on a grade, facing up. Out of nowhere a vehicle foolishly pulled up behind us. My dad's fears were realized! No worries I thought. I pushed the accelerator about halfway to the floor and dropped the clutch. Gravel flying and tires probably squealing, we spun around to a hard left turn, without drifting back into that following car. The lesson pretty much ended shortly after! So drivers ed; what's not to love!

I'll see you out there, Matt!

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In high school I took the class but was too scared to try driving. They accepted that and let me be. When I was 21 a coworker of mine convinced me that I should start driving and then showed me how. I passed and didn't have to parallel park either.

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Matt, this was such an interesting post, especially for someone like me, not from the US. Our system is very different. Well done on passing your test - twice! Excellent work!

Over here when I was learning, a 17-year-old with a provisional driving licence would engage a driving instructor, and every week - or perhaps twice a week - they would go out one-to-one for a driving lesson. Driving practice would happen alongside, if the student were fortunate enough to have access to a family member who would insure their car for a learner to practise in with that family member alongside. When the driving instructor felt the student was ready, a test would be booked. These days there's a theory test, a hazard-perception test and a practical test. In my day it was just a practical test, with a few questions about the Highway Code with the examiner just as part of the practical. I was fortunate enough to pass first time. I am grateful that I was learning to drive in the last quarter of the year, with bad weather and very short days, meaning that a lot of my driving was in less-than-perfect conditions.

My brother got his driving practice in by driving us both to school. My parents had bought a yellow Mini for him (and eventually me) to learn in, and Mum would be in the front passenger seat, I would be in the back seat - behind her, not him, because he was so tall that there was no room for my (also very tall) legs to fit behind him. He used to take great pleasure in driving over the level crossing* at a speed at which my head would touch the ceiling.

*railroad crossing

When I lived in Germany I was told that I needed to convert my driving licence to a European one within three months, otherwise I'd have to register at a 'Fahrschule' (driving school) and go out in threes and fours with teenagers learning to drive... If you miss your chance you have to start from scratch with their whole process. Glad I avoided that!

I really enjoyed this post, Matt. Thank you so much for the opportunity to think about my own learning-to-drive experiences.

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