Charas-Project
Off-Topic => All of all! => Topic started by: WarxePB on June 09, 2006, 06:49:10 PM
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So, I just got my driver's license today. I can finally drive without my mom around. In Canada, we have a system called "Graduated Licensing", where you get a "beginner's" license after passing a written test, which restricts you to driving with an experienced driver and other things. After 9 months, you can go for a road test, and if you pass that (which I did, after 2 other attempts), you get the full license with a few restrictions (no blood alcohol and you can only drive with 4 people). After a year and a bit, you get the full license.
So anyways, what's driving like in your countries? Do you own a vehicle? And what kind of experiences have you had on the road? Let's hear.
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I got my license quite a while back. I've had it for a year and a half now, and driving isn't all it's cooked up to be, but it's still fun. I own my own vehicle, a 1998 Ford Taurus (I got stuck with it). Me and my parents are going to look into some other cars for later. I've almost been in several wrecks, but I glided out of them.
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Don't know how it's here in Holland and personally, for 2 years I don't care. Driving here is from 18+ for safety. Though, at 16, almost all the teens get scooter or motorbikes (they're like motors, but go slower).
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In the US, its pretty much the same, after you pass the written test, you have a temperary licence where you have to drive with a guardian or driving instructor, after 6 months (and once your 16) you can take your road test, after you pass that, you get your probationary licence where you can drive with 1 other person (other than family). Then after 9 months, you can have as many people in the car as you want. I've had my licence for a little under two years now. I drive a 1979 poniac bonneville. Its more of a boat than a car, but I don't know of one person I know that doesn't like it.
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I live in Denmark and that seriously sucks from a driving point-of-view because:
1. You can't get a driver's license before you're 18
2. The prices on cars are the most expensive in the world an ordinary car costs about 40000 $ and a crappy old one costs about 10000 $ so most ppl can't afford a car before they turn 25 or something.
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I never really cared about driving. I can drive but I just haven't bothered to get my liscense. Money reasons mainly.
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Yeaah and in the US if you're 18 or older you don't have to get a permit. You can get a full licence. I drive two cars a 2005 Kia Optima and a 1999 Honda Civic Si.
I've been driving since I was 14 and I just recently got my licence.
I got pulled over one day and they told me if I just get my licence they'll remove my ticket. (For 400 bucks)
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I'm all for the 18+ law here in the States. I realize that some teens are responsible and that the others ruin it for them, but the majority seem to be fukwits behind the wheel. I nearly had a head on with some moron in a fast car (thanks mommy and daddy) who decided that blazing across my lane would impress his girlfriend recently. I've come close to being run off the road by another not paying attention, and I can't count the number of teens I've seen playing with their (parent's) cars.
I've been in two wrecks since I began driving 4 or 5 years ago. My first car was officially in my name for two weeks before some broad turned and paniced when she heard my tires screeching as I floored my brakes. Unfortunately her Dodge Ram (Why do people buy trucks if they aren't going to haul anything in them? I guess if you have the extra money to throw away paying for gas, tires, etc...) acted as a wedge and created a nice triangular dent in my car, totalling it.
The fender-bender was my fault, as I was not paying attention to the cars halted to allow a driver to make a(n uncessesarily) slow, 90 degree turn without signalling, and rear ended another girl in a truck. Her rear bumper was bent downward and my car had some stress marks on the bumper.
I can proudly say that my parents did NOT buy me a car. Though, they have assisted me in repairs that I in no way would be able to afford. Not to say that I don't pay for repairs or maintenance. Sure my paychecks go into my car, but I would rather have that than an XBox or some other trivial item.
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Brazil: 18+, written + practical test = full license.
Iīm 22 and still havenīt gotten it :( Money issues and fear of becoming my parents private driver XD
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I drive a F-150 without a license. I know it's a stupid thing to do, but until september, there's no other way to get to work!
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Originally posted by Drighton
I'm all for the 18+ law here in the States. I realize that some teens are responsible and that the others ruin it for them, but the majority seem to be fukwits behind the wheel. I nearly had a head on with some moron in a fast car (thanks mommy and daddy) who decided that blazing across my lane would impress his girlfriend recently. I've come close to being run off the road by another not paying attention, and I can't count the number of teens I've seen playing with their (parent's) cars.
I've been in two wrecks since I began driving 4 or 5 years ago. My first car was officially in my name for two weeks before some broad turned and paniced when she heard my tires screeching as I floored my brakes. Unfortunately her Dodge Ram (Why do people buy trucks if they aren't going to haul anything in them? I guess if you have the extra money to throw away paying for gas, tires, etc...) acted as a wedge and created a nice triangular dent in my car, totalling it.
The fender-bender was my fault, as I was not paying attention to the cars halted to allow a driver to make a(n uncessesarily) slow, 90 degree turn without signalling, and rear ended another girl in a truck. Her rear bumper was bent downward and my car had some stress marks on the bumper.
I can proudly say that my parents did NOT buy me a car. Though, they have assisted me in repairs that I in no way would be able to afford. Not to say that I don't pay for repairs or maintenance. Sure my paychecks go into my car, but I would rather have that than an XBox or some other trivial item.
You live in the Houston area right? Well, there's your answer. XD
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Augh, Houston. Ew. Driving in Houston is as bad as driving in the DFWM area. Except worse somehow.
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Originally posted by ZeroKirbyX
Augh, Houston. Ew. Driving in Houston is as bad as driving in the DFWM area. Except worse somehow.
Perhaps to tourists, but I know plenty of backroads. I only drive through main thoroughfares if traffic is light or when absolutely necessary. Currently I take Hwy59 to and from work because construction makes my alternate routes slower.
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if you go around the place enough, you should be able to know backroads. I wouldn't know how to get out of Houston to save my life. I hardly ever go into the city.
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Originally posted by SonicChaos7
I wouldn't know how to get out of Houston to save my life.
Perhaps that is part of the problem. Drivers don't know where they are going, thus they drive insane because they are too busy not knowing where they are.
A manditory class on highway, major roads would do the trick. I'll call Bill White.
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I pay attention on where I'm going and what's going on around me. It's just other people don't. I may not know what road I should be on, but I'll at least look and see if it says north, south, east, or west.
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Why don't you people take a BIKE TO FRICKING GET PLACES YOU LAZY BUMS! No.1 Transportation in Holland: The Car. No.2, close follow-up: The Bicylce. No.3: Trains. No.4: Bus No.5: Walking.
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I'll tell you my reason. I go to school 20 miles from where I live. That would be a long way to bike...
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I have to commute to and from school and work 30+ miles. I would have to wake up more than 2 hours before school to make it there on time and also shower upon arrival.
In Texas - a short bike ride would have you drenched.
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Driving licence is divided in two parts, the written and a driving.
It cost quite alot to take driving lessons and all, my older brother is taking his licence tthis year.
But alot of teens have scooters or motorbikes here, itīs from 15+. Cars are 18+. I actually wish that someone would kill himself in an accident with a scooter so that the parents of all the people who drives like maniacs would take their vehicles away from them.
But thatīs just my point of view.
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Originally posted by ZeroKirbyX
Augh, Houston. Ew. Driving in Houston is as bad as driving in the DFWM area. Except worse somehow.
Hells yeah! We've got, like, the highest accident levels around! It's no wonder I don't want to drive...
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I'm 17 and haven't started yet. I tried to start a while ago though; my dad took me to the DMV so I could take the written test. He thought he had everything, but the DMV changed the rules between the time my older brother did it and now, so I couldn't take the test. >_<
Now you have to be enrolled in a driving school to take the written test...
The only driving school nearby is run by Asians, so my mom doesn't want to take me to that one. I know, sounds racist, but that's what she said. @_@
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I just finished taking Driver's Ed. I live in Illinois so it sounds wierd to me.
Here you can either wait till your 18+ to go and take the written and driving test and get your license, or you if you will turn 16 before a certain date of the year you can take a Driver's Ed class. I think the date is in March. I was born on March 5th so I got in early.
To take the class, you start with the written test. If you pass, you can take the class and they give you a permit while class is in session. You can only drive with 1 other person other than an immediate family member but you must have a guardian there!
Here they go by your class grades. The class has 2 grades. One for actually driving in class, and another just doing written tests. If you can get a B average in both classes you DON'T have to take the big driving test when you get your license. (I had a B+ in the written class and a C+ in driving and they said I could bypass the test. I chose to take it anyway.
The permit lasts for 1 year. When the class is over, I think you have an extra year to keep the permit. To finally get your liscence you need:
+The written class certificate (Well now it's by computer)
+Your passing Driver's Test (Again computer)
+Social Security Card
+25 Hours of Recorded Driving (Like a permission slip signed by your parents).
+Birth Certificate
+Signature
+Proof of residency
+You need to take the bigger Driving Test (unless you have the B average bypass).
That's how you get your liscence here. I'm a really good driver and have never come close to an accident which is a miracle considering where I live.
Originally Posted by Drace
Why don't you people take a BIKE TO FRICKING GET PLACES YOU LAZY BUMS! No.1 Transportation in Holland: The Car. No.2, close follow-up: The Bicylce. No.3: Trains. No.4: Bus No.5: Walking.
I wish I could. I used to walk places all the time. I used to go to high school where I could walk there easily but I had to transfer to another school (Which is like 34 miles away WTF?).
I live 2 miles away from St. Clair County which is the largest and most accident prone shopping area in the midwest. I used to walk to the movie theatre and the mall and stuff everyday, but a new law stops me from doing that. I have a 5 lane superhighway right in front of my house (when there are no cops it sounds like the ocean!) and the law says I have to face traffic to walk on the side of the street. That means I have to cross an entire highway where the speed limit is 50mph and walk on the dangerous side of the road because there are no sidewalks. When you're walking over a bridge where to your left, you see at least 3 stories down and to your right you see 50mph cars facing you. (I don't care what statistics say. Cars facing you are a lot scarier than cars behind you!) I can't walk to my new school and I can't walk to the places I like to go.
In america, we say we're trying to get healthier, but simple effective stuff like walking we can't do. If they built more sidewalks and stuff there would be a lot more people walking, including me.
BTW: I should be able to get my license by the time the next school semester starts.
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Let's see me bike over 100 miles to college while trying to haul everything I need up there with me.
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Yer.. I should really go driving... I have my Learner's License. I don't have confidence though... its probably cos in the middle of a chemistry test I heard that my m8s were in a car accident... they're fine... just since then it makes me more weary.
Here u need to be 16+ to drive (I'm 18). U do a written test, then on Learner's License, u need to do 50 hours (or maybe 40.. can't remember) driving, 10 at night (including driving lessons.. which they are about $50). Once you do this, you have a driving test. Then u get P plates, where u can drive without experinced drivers. Its over 2 years, where u do P1 and P2 where u do a massive test to get your P2. After P2 you go to full license... alot of money needed.
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Originally posted by Tomi
I'll tell you my reason. I go to school 20 miles from where I live. That would be a long way to bike...
I know 2 people who bike 20 KM to school. Still, you got a point. I blame it on yer stupid big *** cities. I bike exactly 4 and a half minute to school.