Poll: Can You Drive?

[yoyo13rom]

From the somewhat popular thread-maker of "Can you swim?", I bring to you this new piece of crap thread.

At what age did you learn to drive, and at what age is it legal for you to do so in your country?
I ask you this because in Romania you can learn from the age of 18, but I'm learning now after almost 2 years of waiting.
Here everyone's like :"I need to drive a car". But in my little town everything is within walking distance and there's no need for a car. Actually because everyone want's to show off what car they have the streets are overcrowded. Till now I figured that if I learned how to drive, one of 2 things would have happened:
1. I'd learn an not drive at all(because of no need for it) and forget all my training, and lose confidence.
2. I'd drive quite often, but at an average of 15 miles per hour, and just pollute and lose time.

Now that I'm moving to a city, driving skills would come in handy + now I can have a car of my own.

Oh, and because we're on this topic: have are the procedures of getting a driving licence in your country? What type of car do you own? Do you use manual, or automatic(here automatic is considered an unneeded luxury)? An are there any driving stories you wish to tell?

 

[delet]

I techinically can drive as I've got a license, but I've no car nor any insurance.

I got my license when 16 or so, I don't remember; my memory is horrid.

 

[Queen Michael]

I can't drive at all, I'm Swedish and 22, we get to start practicing at 16, we get our licence when we're 18 (hopefully).

 

[Thyunda]

Here in the United Kingdom, you have to be seventeen to acquire a provisional driving licence, with which you can start lessons. My girlfriend and I are eighteen now, and she's spent a year training, but still isn't ready for her test.
I, on the other hand, haven't even gotten a provisional licence. I got to the part where I had to find somebody to confirm my identity, and that's where I've been stuck this past year. The problem is, the only people available are my father's friends, all of whom have known me since birth. When they're at the house, I'm usually out with my girlfriend, and asking my father to persuade them to sign the forms is like asking a brick wall to move out of the sunlight.

He tells me to do it myself.

 

[latenightapplepie]

Yup. There are some ridiculous restrictions that I have to deal with at the moment though because I'm on a probationary license, but I can still legally drive a car by myself. Yay me.

 

[Cherry Cola]

Yeah, I can drive.

Do I have a license? No. Can I drive any good? No. Would someone die if I tried? Probably.

BUT I CAN STILL DRIVE DAMMIT!

 

[mortalsatsuma]

Learning atm. gonna have my practical test soon.

 

[Lukeje]

I can drive. I just can't pass a damned test to prove that I can drive to a reasonable standard.

 

[LongAndShort]

Here in Oz, you get your Learner's at 16, keep it for at least a year (while racking up 120 hrs in [in NSW at least]), go onto your Red Ps (probationary license, 90km speed limit, other restrictions) for one year, Green Ps for two more years (100km).

Got my Learners at 16, my reds just before i turned 18 and my greens last week. Two more fucking years before I can get my full license.

 

[Rakkana]

Nearly half a year away! But I know I'll fail my first test.

 

[Sporadic chaos]

Technically yes, I can drive, but I have a learners permit instead of a full licence. Basically what that means is that I can drive as long as I have a licensed driver sitting next to me.
I could have moved up to a restricted licence this past summer but since I'm living over seas I have no need to.

 

[Elhueno]

Yeap i can drive. Got my license pretty much exactly a year ago.

I drive a manual as manuals are cheaper and more efficient. Just did an advanced driving course today at the insistence of my mother and was told that it was a waste of $200 >.>...

ah well, keep the mother happy.

 

[MentalBakura]

Yes, I would reason that I can drive. Legally? No.

 

[Davey Woo]

I have been able to drive legally since January (2010)
Took me 6 months almost exactly to learn, passed first time.

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

I'm licensed to drive cars and ride motorcycles. I've been able to for years. Driving is really quite boring once it's legal.

 

[A Raging Emo]

I can drive, I know how to and I've been told I can relatively well.

However, I'm 15, and can't legally drive a car on the road.

 

[Betancore]

Can't drive yet. I can get my learner's when I'm 16 though, which is in a few months. To be honest, I'm quite adept with the public transport system here and I find it very convenient, especially since driving into the city is such a nightmare, so driving isn't very important to me at the moment. I think I'll learn just for the sake of having a license though.

As far as I know, in Australia, at 16 you can go for your learner's permit, once you've clocked up a certain amount of hours then you can get your P's for a few years and after that, a full license.

 

[flaming_squirrel]

Yup, trying to work out a way of getting insurance which is actually affordable though.
Even at 21 for the first year of driving the monthly payments are rediculous, it's not like I'm trying to get a powerful car or anything but it's still about £150 a month with £300 deposit..