What age did you learn to drive at?

[DEL 707]

At the young age of 31, I'm finally learning to drive.
There was plenty of talk, offers of finacial support, plus a few lessions from various family memebers, to learn when I hit 17. But growing up in London, I never really felt the need to, due to the ease of public transport.

However since moving out of London, I reliased how screwed I was, especially when my dad suffered a burst aneurysm in his stomach and I had to rely on other people to run me back and forth from the hospital.

I've chalked up 16 hours of lessons so far and my instructor has given me his blessing to practice on my own, obviously with a qualified driver. So I now have, achieved some degree of freedom.
One thing I'm quite dismissed at is that how many bad drivers there seem to be on the road, as a non-driver I never paid attention, but now that I have some clue as to what I'm doing, every time I'm out of the road I see something that shocks me!

My boss always told me I would be safe on the road.
"All the other drivers on the road will be more experinced then you and they will avoid you. Nobody wants an accident"

Where as my driving instructor told me.
"Assume everyone's an idiot, make your own decisions and don't trust the other drivers."

So far my driving instructor seems to be right.

Are there any other late learners out there like me?

 

[Skywalker]

My dad was an ex rally driver so I was lucky enough to be taught at the age of about 11

 

[[TW]Fox]

17. Other than finances I don't understand the reasons behind waiting any longer than that. If its unaffordable fair enough but if it isn't it confuses me why some people wait so long before bothering.

 

[Judgeneo]

Learning now, 21.

 

[daz]

17. Other than finances I don't understand the reasons behind waiting any longer than that. If its unaffordable fair enough but if it isn't it confuses me why some people wait so long before bothering.

If you live in London

I started learning when I was 17, passed when I was 18. Coming up to 10 years now

 

[Soulja]

24. I wish i had gone straight for it when i was 17 but never really had the need to.

 

[[TW]Fox]

If you live in London

I'm pretty sure they having driving instructors in London, too. Sure you don't NEED a car but then learning to drive isnt something you should only do if you need to own a car surely? It's a valuable skill to have.

 

[PardonTheWait]

I was 25. I had a full motorbike license from 22 though.

 

[Maccapacca]

11 or 12 we had a fields all around and a neighbour had a recovery business, we got all the cars before they went to the scrapper, learnt to syphon all the cars in the yard, it was what we spent summers doing, cars and bikes in fields.

Some particular gems

Renault Fuego Turbo
Landrover 90
SJ410
944
Various Metros

plus many other

Passed my test on the 3rd attempt, too many bad habits and being cocky @ 17

 

[2Thumbs]

Started learning at 17, passed when I was 18.

 

[Dr Who]

My Father was a police driving instructor so learned at 17 and was bought a car.

Bikes, age 12, passed test age 39

 

[andy_mk3]

I passed 7 weeks after my 17th birthday.

 

[ViZioN8]

I was quite late in starting driving lessons as I didn't start still I was 22. Being away at Uni, I wouldn't have bought a car even if I'd have passed so I didn't see the point in doing lessons then.

I passed before I graduated though to make sure I could put that on my CV when applying for jobs, or if I needed to drive as part of the job.

My boss always told me I would be safe on the road.
"All the other drivers on the road will be more experinced then you and they will avoid you. Nobody wants an accident"

Where as my driving instructor told me.
"Assume everyone's an idiot, make your own decisions and don't trust the other drivers."

So far my driving instructor seems to be right.

Apart from 'L' or 'P' plates, they'll have no idea if you're a new driver or not. But I completely agree with your driving instructor. Just because they're more experienced doesn't mean they're a better driver. Sure they've driven more miles, but once (bad, possibly dangerous) habits are created, they're unlikely to change.

If in doubt assume they're an idiot. It means you'll think worst case on the road which puts you in a better position to handle situations that arise.

 

[Neil777]

I started learning a month after my 17th birthday and passed a few months later.

 

[Janesy B]

20, just couldn't afford it before then.

 

[Begbie]

17, got a job purely to fund having a car. I had my theory test on my 17th birthday and bought my first car when I was 16.

My dad has always been a car fanatic, and I couldn't wait to get driving. I did have a few lessons in a transit and merc van round Glasgow fruit market when I was 13/14.

 

[Bigpops]

25, and I only learned then because I thought it would be more difficult if I left it much longer.

I didn't need a car back then, though I had one for a short while but hated it (it was a C reg Nissan Micra). Only now do I really need to buy a car, aged 37, and that's so that I can take part in my hobby. I still get driven to work every day.

 

[OpenToSuggestions]

I learnt at 17. I couldn't wait .
I passed after 5 months. My first test was cancelled as a taxi went into the back of me when I was parked at a red light. The second test I passed .

 

[Mr Gimp]

I was 20, and only left it that long as I spent all my driving test money in the pub when I was younger at college!

 

[semi-pro waster]

Where as my driving instructor told me.
"Assume everyone's an idiot, make your own decisions and don't trust the other drivers."

So far my driving instructor seems to be right.

Are there any other late learners out there like me?

I'd have to agree with your driving instructor, it won't necessarily prevent all problems as you can't always foresee quite how stupid some people will be but it's certainly a good starting point.

I learnt when I was 17-18 although I know a few people who have learnt when they are older and were fine with it.

I'm pretty sure they having driving instructors in London, too. Sure you don't NEED a car but then learning to drive isnt something you should only do if you need to own a car surely? It's a valuable skill to have.

I don't know how valuable it is if you've got no intention of driving. I passed when I was 17 or 18 and barely drove again until I was about 25 because I rarely had a need to - having the skill wasn't necessarily all that valuable in any quantifiable sense although I'm glad I passed when I was younger.