I’m very curious about something and I feel like this is my best platform to get nuanced answers. This question probably sounds rude but it’s just the autism being direct about getting to the point, so please offer me some grace.
What is going on in the headspace of people who struggle to get their drivers license? It seems really common in the UK, and increasingly common in the US, for people to have a lot of anxiety about it.
My background is relevant: I got my beginners permit, then license, at 15. I lived in Mississippi in the mid 1990s, and the most excruciating part of the process was waiting for hours at the DMV, even in the shorter “new license” line. The written portion was 20 multiple choice questions, and the practical was me driving an examiner around the block and back to the DMV without crashing. I had one immense, unstated advantage that day, because I’m white and so was the DMV examiner — I have absolutely no idea if that guy made black teens do a much harder practical.
I do remember that a few years after I got my license, the whole nation drastically revised the age limits, and I think a lot of states have complicated tiers of driving licenses.
But in the US, once you’ve got it, it’s relatively easy to stay licensed (assuming you’re not breaking traffic laws and shit). I’ve gone through the “I have a license but it’s from another state” process six times, and it’s different in every state but never hard. Nevada had a serious eye exam!
So I’m not sure if Kids Today are anxious about actually driving (reasonable, especially in the UK), anxious about all the testing, or just getting mired down in doing all the steps.
Before the bike people get mad at me 😉 I know that plenty of people choose not to drive, for lots of very good reasons. I’m curious about the people who DO want to drive but struggled with the process for some reason.
Boosts welcome, I’d love to hear what the DMV is like for newbies these days!
donkey herder, fowl friend
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2024-09-18 22:03:41 UTC
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2024-09-18 22:03:41 UTCEvent JSON
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