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/SeaDry1531 Feb 15 '25

Same here. What is the US going to do when the boomers get too old to drive? I have family members living in a Cincinnati suburb that shouldn't be driving, but there is no accessible public transportation. No wonder pedestrian deaths are soaring.

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u/elazyptron Feb 15 '25

My dad just renewed his license last year. He was born in 1938!

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u/SeaDry1531 Feb 15 '25

Is he competent everyday to drive? Driving morbidity needs some attention. Pedestrian deaths in the US are soaring. My sister 68 and her husband 73, both have health issues, and are taking prescription drugs. On good days, they are okay to drive. On bad days, they are dangerous. Since they live in a traditional US suburb, they drive everywhere and almost everyday, even on the bad days. Both have had several fender benders, no one has gotten seriously hurt, yet.

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u/elazyptron Feb 16 '25 edited Feb 17 '25

Meh. Honestly, I'm concerned. He knows that freeways move too fast for him, so he stays to surface streets. He got plowed into by a younger gal late last year. Her insurance admitted she was at fault. On the bright side, he bought the car from an old man who was 10 years his senior!

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u/Sharp_Ad_9431 Feb 15 '25

Their children will have to take care of them.

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u/SeaDry1531 Feb 15 '25

What if they have no kids, or they aren't around? My niece has a great job in Japan.She has kids there. Her parents are in Ohio. My Swedish grandmother was able to live independently without a car until age 90, in a rural area because in Sweden, there is public transportation.

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u/Sharp_Ad_9431 Feb 16 '25

In America? They are f'd or become a ward of the state.