is my uncle right?

jesta · 2 May 2006 at 10:23

hey,
had a conversation with my uncle about driving he said i can learn to drive now if i get my provisional now(2months till my 17th). "i said dont you have to be 17 to start learning?"and he said he knows a mate who's daughter is learning to drive now(shes 16 and 11months or something years old) and i was wondering once you get your provisional(2months before your 17th birthday) can you start learning?

i was told you HAD to be 17.... im confused..can anyone help me out?

jesta

[TW]Fox · 2 May 2006 at 10:23

He is wrong, you are right.

Sirrel Squirrel · 2 May 2006 at 10:30

I know you can get a provisional 3 months before you're 17, don't think you can start learning until you turn 17 though

FakeSnake · 2 May 2006 at 10:32

There are many 16+ instructors around.
so In a way you are both correct(ish)

You are right in as much that you cannot learn on a public highway, BUT, as I said there are places you can start earlier.
A very good friend of mine is an instructor, and takes 16+ learners. He uses Westpoint Devon Drivers Centre, which is private property.
It has a very large road layout with all kinds of junctions.

Scuzi · 2 May 2006 at 10:32

[TW]Fox said:
He is wrong, you are right.

Unless you are required to drive a DLA car with which I believe you can begin driving at 16. I think this is only in exceptional circumstances though for people who are disabled or people who are required to drive a DLA car for a disabled person.

For the rest of us it's 17 though.

jesta · 2 May 2006 at 10:34

oh cool..im right!!

but was also kind of hoping he was right so i can start learning to drive but hey only 2months to go!

thanks for confirming im right

schnipps · 2 May 2006 at 10:41

Does anyome here think 17 is too young? Why is it 18 to drink alcohol but 17 for driving, It seems a bit strange that you cant be trusted with beer at 17 but you are allowed to drive a ton of metal around on your own

Phantom · 2 May 2006 at 10:59

FakeSnake said:
There are many 16+ instructors around.

thats too young to teach surely

PeterNem · 2 May 2006 at 11:18

schnipps said:
Does anyome here think 17 is too young? Why is it 18 to drink alcohol but 17 for driving, It seems a bit strange that you cant be trusted with beer at 17 but you are allowed to drive a ton of metal around on your own

You can be trusted to marry and have kids at 16.... does anyone here think 17 is too old to start driving? [/devils advocate]

I know a lot or 20 year olds who are totally incompetent and immature on the roads, and I know some 16 year olds I am sure could od a much better job. I guess we have to draw the line somewhere though and this will always inconvenience some who would be capable sooner.

TaKeN · 2 May 2006 at 14:54

I applied for my provisional when i was 16

So i could do my tractor test

stoofa · 2 May 2006 at 15:57

So long as you're staying off of the public highways you can start learning to drive as young as you like.
If you've got access to true private property legally (supermarket car parks don't count) then there is nothing to stop you getting behind the wheel at any age.
So long as you realise that the car is not insured and so whoever is inside the car with you is not insured for personal injury either etc.

In response to Devils Advocate above:

A marriage cannot kill a row of innocent people when I show off after getting one.
So I personally feel getting married at 16 should be fine, but driving at 17 I do personally feel should become 18.
Of course once I turned 17 I wouldn't have agreed with it becomming 18.

Violent-J · 2 May 2006 at 15:57

17 is NOT too young, I'm 17 and im a quality driver, so are 3 of my mates who are also 17 and drive.

If anything we're probably near the best drivers on the road, because we have great reactions etc.

Hate · 2 May 2006 at 16:01

Violent-J said:
17 is NOT too young, I'm 17 and im a quality driver, so are 3 of my mates who are also 17 and drive.

If anything we're probably near the best drivers on the road, because we have great reactions etc.

hmm, thats probably the wrong attitude to take, but I guess every 17 year old thinks they are gods gift to driving.

Scuzi · 2 May 2006 at 16:04

Violent-J said:
If anything we're probably near the best drivers on the road, because we have great reactions etc.

It's that attitude that makes a person a bad driver. Good drivers know where their weak points lie and do not exceed their limits. Bad drivers usually have the attitude of invincibility which you demonstrate and as such, exceed their personal limits or the limits of their car.

paradigm · 2 May 2006 at 16:12

Violent-J said:
17 is NOT too young, I'm 17 and im a quality driver, so are 3 of my mates who are also 17 and drive.

If anything we're probably near the best drivers on the road, because we have great reactions etc.

Ahahahahaha! Whatever.

Anyway, with regards to the 17 for driving 18 for drinking debate, the reason for that (as far as I can tell) is to get you used to driving BEFORE you can drink, hence less drink-driving.

ScoobyDoo69 · 2 May 2006 at 16:23

I don't get this attitude that most young drivers have!
I've been driving with a full license since about 2 weeks after I turned 17, and not once have I ever turned round and said "yes I'm a fantastic driver"
I think I'm a good driver, but I know there's things which I can't even begin to comprehend with my lack of experience.
I just hate it with a passion when people my age do this and let us all down, they thing because they're great - they're constantly in control and so drive like absolute prats, having accidents and raising my premiums...

pfffftt rant mode off :mad:

TripleT · 2 May 2006 at 16:31

Violent-J said:
17 is NOT too young, I'm 17 and im a quality driver, so are 3 of my mates who are also 17 and drive.

If anything we're probably near the best drivers on the road, because we have great reactions etc.

Hahahahahaha

Sorry..

P.S - Hahahahahahaha

Baron G · 2 May 2006 at 16:31

I'd be happier if it was 21, but I would have killed anyone that suggested that when I was 17 and it would make life difficult for thoase 17-21 year olds who work or travel to college / uni. So instead, why not introduce US style restrictions on young drivers i.e. restrict the number and age of passengers they can carry, evening curfews unless traveling to/from work etc. These are meant to reduce the chance of younger drivers being in situations where they are tempted to show off to their mates.

And 16 is waaaaay too young to be getting married.

Baron G · 2 May 2006 at 16:32

Violent-J said:
17 is NOT too young, I'm 17 and im a quality driver, so are 3 of my mates who are also 17 and drive.

If anything we're probably near the best drivers on the road, because we have great reactions etc.

Forgot to say...

hahahahahahahaha

Violent-J · 2 May 2006 at 16:32

Well me and my mates all passed 1st time, I passed with 1 minor after 18 lessons with no non-instructor driving. I'm not saying every young driver is good, it depends on the individual but I would argue that reactions etc. do help I also believe that our control, lane discipline, observation, judgement and hazard perception are probably much higher than the average standard seeing as I know the highway code, got 35/35 68/75 in theory test, regularly checking mirrors and not being lazy with indicators and lanes like old drivers.

It could be argued that young drivers are a big liability and it's true that many are, due to boy racers etc. a high percentage of accidents and that is reflected in insurance premiums, but sensible young drivers are certainly the best, I'm intending to build a rally car soon and enter and win many races.