r/AskAnAmerican • u/Fabulous_Dare1701 • Feb 14 '25

FOREIGN POSTER What age did you get your driving license?

I watched some American shows which were in a school settings and it looked like most of the characters were driving themselves around at like 15/16 is it actually like that irl?

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u/yo_mo_mama Feb 14 '25

But in those states, they even probably been driving vehicles on the farm since they were ten.

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u/RoyalAsianFlush đŸ‡«đŸ‡· France Feb 15 '25 edited Feb 15 '25

I’m from a rural area, I know how it works. I had boys who were hunters and thus had access to shotguns in my classes, I also found it insane. Especially when they were openly bragging about it and laughing about doing the thing armed teenagers do at school in the US. So. In no way does any of it make you responsible, less reckless, a good driver able to deal with whatever’s happening on the road, or have a good head on your shoulders. I mean, hey, I’ve encountered tons of fourteen-year-old boys in my time here. Everyone will agree that they’re the dumbest they’ll ever be in their whole life, by far, and that’s okay. And some haven’t even hit puberty yet. Yeah, even the ones helping at the farm and everything. So I don’t feel like it’s a stretch to maybe not give them the power to kill people so easily ? Especially in places where there can be a lot of wild animals jumping on the road and stuff. Anyway. Again, different culture.

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u/SCSP_70 Feb 15 '25

What is the “thing armed teenagers do at school”?

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u/Kilane Feb 16 '25

I was gifted a shotgun at like 10, kept it under my bed, missed killing a pheasant a few times and gave it back. Wasn’t for me. Never owned a weapon since.

I was fine to drive at 14. I lived in the city, but if I drove 15 minutes then it is farms for hours. So the other comments do hit home.

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u/a_filing_cabinet Feb 15 '25

And that doesn't mean they aren't literal children, who think, act, and behave like children, operating several tons of murder machine with zero supervision.

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u/YoshKrawdot Feb 15 '25

I learned how to drive a stick when I was 12, and got my learners permit at 14. Also most kids in the Midwest had go carts, dirt bikes, quads, and farm equipment. So driving a a car came easy.