My ds turned 16 this Tuesday and he has NO interest in getting a license. We brought home the driving book from the DMV and he paid no mind to it. He does not want to drive until next year - this is what he has told us. I'm in the camp of waiting until they are more mature - especially boys. I don't think they are mature mentally to handle these tasks and the accident rate of teens seems to prove that. I think a lot depends on where you live and what types of driving issues they would be face with - we have a lot of traffic, very busy highways - and a lot of people who drive here come from all over the world with different ideas of how to drive and what signs and signals mean to them (kwim?) so I'm trusting my ds' decision - when he's approaching 17 we'll sit down and have a talk and see what he would like to do. Since my dh is a LEO, he's seen too much of what can and does happen to kids - so for us, I'm in no rush and don't mind the driving responsibilities of getting my kids where they need to be and we'll take it nice and slow. I know in our church many of the kids (especially girls) were waiting at the DMV before it opened to get their learners - not sure what my dd will be like - hopefully like her brother although they are both very mature and responsible.
Heidi

DS is 16 and doesn't care about getting his license yet. Whew! I really don't want to pay the extra insurance plus we live in the mountain with winding roads.

What blows my mind is the fact that I am the parent of a child old enough to drive! I think back to when I got my license. I did drivers ed in school and then when I was the proper age my dad took me for the test (written only). On our way home he pulled over and let me drive the final two miles home. First time I had ever driven with him or driven our van! After that I would occasionally drive to school (small car) when I had an orthodontist appt. So that would be about 10 miles to school and then 20-25 miles to the ortho! I don't ever remember driving anywhere with my parents guiding me! One winter I drove to school because I had a basketball game. When I went to get in the car afterward it had been freezing rain and everything was coated with ice. I got in the car and drove. No training on how to deal with it but I made it home. I hate to say it but what were my parents thinking!?! Maybe it was the fact that I was the youngest of six girls and they were just glad they didn't have to cart me places! Of course there were less drivers back then and no one on cell phones. Hmmm, maybe my mom was smart not to drive with me. The thought of driving with my ds and not being able to grab the wheel or brake is going to be nervewracking!
squidward