this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2026
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I feel so trapped without a driving license... can't go anywhere...

I think everyone has a driver's license at 16 here in the US, but I'm already over 18 with no license... :(

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[–] Ioughttamow@fedia.io 4 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I had drivers ed in high school (over 2 decades ago, in PA) and my parents took me out to drive in addition to that. I learned on an automatic first, but my parents also taught me to drive manual. My daily driver for the last 2 decades had been a manual, until this new car we bought last year. We have 2 kids now and my wife can’t drive manual, well she could but doesn’t like it, and it’s more important we can both drive the vehicle, but I digress. I haven’t looked into it, but I’ve heard that there is no drivers ed classes in the school district we’re in now, that learning is done through driving schools, not sure how I feel about that

When I took the written exam for the permit, it was pretty easy. Most things make sense. You’ll still want to read up to know symbol and sign meanings, and to understand more niche rules.

For the actual driving, the more practice you get in the better you’ll be. You’ll get used to the car your driving, start understanding usual patterns of other drivers, and different driving conditions. It’s funny looking back and whenever I drove by a semi on an undivided highway I would be so far over on the shoulder because I was nervous.

I also have ADHD which is often cited as a risk factor for driving but it mostly works out well for me. It’s a lot of stimuli coming at you requiring a lot of small focus switching and I find it really engaging. Generally the thing that gets me is if the passenger tries to have a serious conversation with me, that is when my driving ability diminishes.

Personally I feel the US needs more density, with walkable neighborhoods, and better mass transit. Cars shouldn’t be a necessity, instead of being freeing, they are a yoke on the working class

[–] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 3 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (2 children)

I remember the only question I couldn't answer correctly was 'at what distance do you dim your brights? 1000’, 3000', .5 mile? And I was like..... as soon as you see the other car?? Lol.

I still don't know the rule.

[–] NannerBanner@literature.cafe 2 points 3 days ago

I think the numbers aren't even universal when comparing states or countries. As soon as you see the other car's lights is as good of a rule as any. I actually know the numbers for my area, and it's not like I use them to calculate when to turn them off.

[–] chunes@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago

Those numbers are definitely different in the age of LEDs anyway.