[jacknates]

I was eight, my Uncle let me drive his truck around his farm. Most fun was fording the Orchard after they watered. Ahhh, the good old days.

[UpperMan]

I learned to drive when I was 17 - in the driving school. I got my driver's license when I turned 18. In our country, you can't drive cars until you're 18.

[boffincash]

Like Andre, I learnt pretty young. My *hahum* father used to let me drive before I could actually reach the pedals, but I probably really started driving when I was 5 or 6. That's not saying I was good, quite the opposite. I crashed into many stationary objects before I finally taught myself that you have the take your foot off the excelerator, not press it down further, when changing gears! I could probably drive pretty well, and by my self, when I was about 8 or 9 though. We used to live out west where I would go and move peoples cars around because they were on the tractors. Was cool, because this ignighted my love of all things (almost) cars!
Now I have my Learners, meaning I need mum in the car, or another older person who has had their normal licence for a special period of time. In the next month or so I can get my P plates menaing I car drive by myself.
So I'd like to say I'm an alright driver. But for all those parents out there, I'll say this. Yelling at your kid and telling them to watch out for cattle about 1 km away from the road, which is actually fenced off, is not the best way to learn! Kepp your cool, and be supportive.

[jacknates]

My father kept his cool around me driving, a few times he'd start yelling when I cut someone off or pissed off another driver because I was going too slow, once he made me switch after I missed a stop sign. then I got pulled over in the last few weeks before I was to get my license... because my Mom's license plate was expired. Ooff that was scary! Even today I start breathing hard when I remember the light behind me
My sister and father didn't get along though, took them hours to advance jujst a little while teaching her stick and turned my sister off from ever wanting to drive a clutch car again. My sister has similar stories of my dad screaming at her to stop so she didn't hit the car to lanes over next to her.
One last thing is that my father considered the drive to Julian to be the best way to teach us freeway drivng... Only the first 10miles of that trip are freeway, the next 50 are two-lane mountain road. I figure his mother taught it to him... she took me to the same place, only up wildcat canyon. let's just say, the route my father took us was built because it wasn't as narrow or windy as wildcat. Doing 40 down a steep hill around a blind corner over a bridge barely wide enough for two cars with no guardrail... *shudders*

[GetsTan]

Quote, originally posted by gt1750 »I learned to drive when I was 17 - in the driving school. I got my driver's license when I turned 18. In our country, you can't drive cars until you're 18.
Same... you gotta be 18 to take the test over here
I started taking lessons at the age of 17, but I had done some driving before that (on various parking lots and private roads etc). Not to mention the fact that I had been driving mopeds/bikes and whatnot . First time I ever drove in traffic was in a 8 tonne lorry with air-pressure brakes... I was literally about to poop my pants.
Turned 18 a couple of months ago, so I've had my proper driver's license for some time now. Still need to do the final C-category test though (basically lorries and vechicles from 3.5 tonnes and up)... think I got it next week actually

Good luck btw

[boffincash]

Quote, originally posted by Andre »I got pulled over in the last few weeks before I was to get my license...
I'm actually lookwing foward to that happening to me! How young and ignorant I am

[Adwetyren]

Learned to drive motorcycles at around 12 or 13. Taught myself how to drive a car at around 16. Didn't bother with a licence till I was 19.

[RerRibreLok]

Quote, originally posted by Hornbag »I'm actually lookwing foward to that happening to me! How young and ignorant I am
Same here. I'm just itching for a cop to pull me over because, according to my friends, I look younger than I actually am. -__-

[scewLacysmazy]

Learning now, when someone with a full licence is handy which isn't often

[Nundduedola]

Muahahah I haven't got the legal age to have a full licence in Australia yet I have a full unrestricted licence The wonders of international drivers licence.

[boffincash]

I hate you Fresa, lol. You can drive turbo's and V8s and I can't....

[Enfotanab]

Quote, originally posted by Hornbag »I hate you Fresa, lol. You can drive turbo's and V8s and I can't....

heheh... A good reason to move to WA!

[Nundduedola]

Quote, originally posted by Hornbag »I hate you Fresa, lol. You can drive turbo's and V8s and I can't....
ROFL. I wont though, I will stick to my fuel efficient ever so reliable 1988 4 cylinder Toyota Wagon - Automatic. That's bound to make ya feel better
That said, I wouldn't mind a V6 or V8 Ford Falcon EA Ute Tray back.... stick a bullbar in it and some driving lights...mmm....

[boffincash]

I personally think the new law saying that we can't drive a V8, Turbocharged or Supercharged cars until we are a certain age is stupid. People will still drive their basic V6 engines hard too, we need more driver education....

[SpyRemo]

Quote, originally posted by Hornbag »I personally think the new law saying that we can't drive a V8, Turbocharged or Supercharged cars until we are a certain age is stupid.
I thought that was only NSW?

[Enfotanab]

I think Melbourne (VIC) has a similar rule, but in a slightly different method.
btw, I have to agree with HornBag. Because they're just banning just for the sake of banning. I mean, a Merc C200/230K, A200 Turbo, E200, Holden/ Opel Astra Turbo, Saab 9-3, Smart ForTwo & Daihatsu Copen would be safe enough for early drivers like us. And banning forced-induction cars wouldn't help either! Give one a Proton Gen.2 or Savvy and the driver will still push the car harder anyway...

[SpyRemo]

Quote, originally posted by ToyotaFreak »I think Melbourne (VIC) has a similar rule, but in a slightly different method.
btw, I have to agree with HornBag. Because they're just banning just for the sake of banning. I mean, a Merc C200/230K, A200 Turbo, E200, Holden/ Opel Astra Turbo, Saab 9-3, Smart ForTwo & Daihatsu Copen would be safe enough for early drivers like us. And banning forced-induction cars wouldn't help either! Give one a Proton Gen.2 or Savvy and the driver will still push the car harder anyway...
Yes, I've heard that Victoria have a power/litre enforcement rule.
I dunno, I'm kind of in agreeance with the State Laws. Sure, low-pressure turbo cars, such as the 9-3 and the ForTwo are pretty harsh (although I've heard that they've taken those cars off the list), but they're doing it for the better good. As many low-pressure turbo/supercharged cars there are on the road, there are just as many high-pressure, highly-modified supercharged/turbo cars on the road, such as the FD3S RX-7, Skyline GTS-T/GT-R and other high-performance cars.
It's not whether a matter of, you can still drive those cars just as hard, but the number of road crashes involving 17-18yr old males and Skylines and other turbo cars are just ridiculous. It's these matters that the Government wants to reduce. And if that means to ban other, less dangerous, but no less forced-induction cars, I think it's reasonable. Same with the V8 and over rule.
But, I do think Victoria's power/liter rule is much better.

[boffincash]

So it's not in Queensland? AWESOME!
But, there comes a certain element of common sence in this. If you have a Turbo/V8 etc car, you shouldn't drive like an absolute kazzoo head. Sadly, a lot of young people do. While the law has reacted, I still think that banning isn't gonna help me, or any others to learn how to drive to the best of our ability. Free driver training set-up by the Government would though...

[SpyRemo]

Quote, originally posted by Hornbag »While the law has reacted, I still think that banning isn't gonna help me, or any others to learn how to drive to the best of our ability.
See, now, those laws weren't put in place to teach others how to drive to the best of our ability, it was put in place to stop young people killing themselves.

[Nundduedola]

I have to agree with Top Secret on this one. The law could be improved but it does make sense to restrict what young drivers like us can drive.
And in all honesty its a little unfair that I have a full lisence - to pass the test in Colombia I dont need to know anything about road rules...