[sircockburn]

1. How many hours of practice before you took the behind-the-wheel test?
2. Did you pass on the first attempt? If not, what do you think happened?
3. Stick shift or automatic?

------------

With me, as a Se-dom, I'm ashamed to say that I failed the first time due to accidentally running a stop sign. *hides*

Second time I passed, about 6 hrs of practice on stick.

However, my INxJ bf just failed...FOR THE 4TH TIME.
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Did any of you Se-lasters also have trouble or is he just..."special". Lol

He's doing it on auto too, taking professional lessons with different instructors, accumulating over 60 hours of practice!!

(He's 21, going on 22) He's overly cautious when I try to teach him, and refuses to try in my truck, even in empt parking lots. Maybe I'll get him a rental car, a friendly Honda for him to maneuver around in. Though that's what he uses in his lessons.
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[OrangeLeland]

1. Don't know. A lot, though, because I wasn't really interested in driving and was happy with my permit.
2. Failed twice. More below.
3. Automatic--but we had both and I first learned on a manual.

Like I said, I failed twice--both times because I was being logical rather than following the "rules".

The first time I failed, I didn't slow down for a Yield sign. Apparently, you're supposed to do that even if you can clearly see that there's no other traffic. Makes no sense to me. During that same test, I also got dinged for not checking my side mirrors...even though I had checked the rearview and the situation was such that there was no way there was going to be another car.

The second time, the guy said that my parallel parking technique was bad (true), but also that I had not signaled a lane change--again, with no other traffic around. And I exceeded the speed limit.

Now that I'm older...I admit that I understand the reason why "no other traffic around" is not exactly an excuse. They're testing your knowledge of the rules, not necessarily your ability to react to the specific situation around you. In my case, it didn't matter that there was no traffic at the Yield intersection--they wanted to know that I knew what to do when I encountered a Yield sign.

I wonder if that's the same problem your man is having.

[Ibian]

It's strictly a teacher thing in my country and the legal driving age is 18. That said, my first teacher was horrible. He spent more time polishing the leather interior than actually trying to teach, and he rattled me so bad that even after i switched to a more reasonable teacher, i flunked the first time.

Still, it was a worthwhile experience on the longer term. Makes it easier to spot that kind of twit now, and easier to deal with them.

Oh, and stick. It's all we have, and it's what i prefer. Automatic is fucking boring.

The first time I failed, I didn't slow down for a Yield sign. Apparently, you're supposed to do that even if you can clearly see that there's no other traffic. Makes no sense to me. During that same test, I also got dinged for not checking my side mirrors...even though I had checked the rearview and the situation was such that there was no way there was going to be another car. The second time, the guy said that my parallel parking technique was bad (true), but also that I had not signaled a lane change--again, with no other traffic around. And I exceeded the speed limit.

It's like school. 90% of what you learn is bullshit. better to drive according to conditions, even with the occasional ticket. If you always follow the rules, you will be unable to drive in other countries.

[sircockburn]

oh, I HATED how during the test you have to follow every stupid rule, whether it makes sense or not. But, *shrug* it's all part of the game. Be a nun during the test, and once you pass, celebrate by flying down a freeway at 100mph!!

My man's actually SO diligent about the rules, that he freezes up and gets slowed down. He has trouble reacting and adapting to all the commotion on the road.

I'm tempted to give him a jagerbomb or two before his next test.
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[searcheagle]

	Originally Posted by sircockburn To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	1. How many hours of practice before you took the behind-the-wheel test? 2. Did you pass on the first attempt? If not, what do you think happened? 3. Stick shift or automatic?

1. A lot. My state at the time, Pennsylvania, implemented a bunch harsh "young driver" laws for those getting license under 18. I had to be on a permit for 6 months before I was eligible to take the test.

2. Failed the first test. For me, it came down to geography (and speeding.) But I blame geography. I was taking the area in an area was unusual with and it had a hidden speed zone change=instant fail. There were a couple of violations they probably would have over looked but they were based on me not knowing the area either.

2nd time I took the test in an area I was familiar with and passed. (They could have failed me for a "continuous lane change through 2 lanes" and not looking when changing lanes. I contested that I did look and I was passed.)

It's interesting. I took the first test in the unfamiliar city because I heard they automatically failed men on their first attempt at the other location. lol In the end, it didn't matter.

3. Auto. I have only driven stick automobiles once. And that was because my parents wanted me to at least experience it before they could the truck that was manual. And 10 years later, that is my only time driving stick.

[Warrior]

	Originally Posted by sircockburn To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	1. How many hours of practice before you took the behind-the-wheel test?

Formally, I had the required five (I think) hours on the test track and another hour on the road with the instructor. That was all through driver's education in school.

Informally, I had been driving for years because I grew up on a farm and I had to drive a lot of different vehicles in a lot of conditions.

	2. Did you pass on the first attempt? If not, what do you think happened?

Yes. It wasn't to hard to take two rights, make a three-point turn, and drive back to the parking lot.

	3. Stick shift or automatic?

I took the test with an automatic because that was the vehicle available that day. As I recall, there was some question as to whether I would have to drive the dump truck, but as it turned out I drive the S-10.

[chaostheory]

	Originally Posted by sircockburn To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	1. How many hours of practice before you took the behind-the-wheel test?

10-15 maybe.. I can't really give a good estimate, but I would say it was close to that.

	2. Did you pass on the first attempt? If not, what do you think happened?

Yeah

	3. Stick shift or automatic?

Practiced with a Ford 5-speed pickup and Ford Focus, but took the test using the Focus (auto).

[Vagrant]

1) If I was gonna estimate, maybe 10-20 hours. Didn't take a lot for me to grasp the basics.

2) Passed on the first attempt. Had no room for failure either, since I was leaving for university in the weeks that followed.

3) Automatic. My dad's old Honda Odyssey

I got dinged for not really looking around as much as I should have, but I drive better now anyway.

	oh, I HATED how during the test you have to follow every stupid rule, whether it makes sense or not. But, *shrug* it's all part of the game. Be a nun during the test, and once you pass, celebrate by flying down a freeway at 100mph!!

Pretty much. My parents told me it was basically to see how well you knew the rules, not to actually gauge your driving skill per se. Since I knew the rules, I followed them to a T (no major mark offs, only a few minor ones for not looking around). Now I just drive with what makes sense in the situation.

[Tactical Panda]

	Originally Posted by sircockburn To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	1. How many hours of practice before you took the behind-the-wheel test? 2. Did you pass on the first attempt? If not, what do you think happened? 3. Stick shift or automatic?

1. Less than a hundred.
2. Yes
3. Easy Auto

[Nemesis]

	Originally Posted by sircockburn To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	1. How many hours of practice before you took the behind-the-wheel test? 2. Did you pass on the first attempt? If not, what do you think happened? 3. Stick shift or automatic?

1) I did driver's ed. Can't remember how long I spent practicing.

2) Nope, and for a really crappy reason... I did a rolling stop through a stop sign because some jackass behind me swooped into my lane and would have rear-ended us if I didn't lurch forward. I argued with the tester for about an hour. Apparently saving our asses from whiplash and the testing car from being crunched was the wrong thing to do. Fucking hell. Got it with no problems on my second go.

3) Auto.

[Dru]

1) maybe like, eight. you're supposed to have at least 30 here. it's not like they log it, though.
2) yep. not a point.
3) auto. i tried learning stick once, got impatient, and gave up.

[ElstonGunn]

1. I think I had my permit for about 6 or 9 months before taking the road test.

2. I passed on the first try. They said I did a couple of minor things wrong, but not enough to flunk me.

3. I learned and took the test on an automatic. About two years later, I decided to become fluent in stickshift and now that's the only kind of car I'll own.

...I don't think I've ever driven faster than 85 miles an hour, and I've only done that a couple of times. Cars and speed don't excite me at all. I'm kind of a weenie like that.

[sircockburn]

Also, in what kind of environment did you guys take the tests? I took it in downtown San Francisco, where I lived for a year back in high school. Supposedly the pass rate's really low because it's all STEEP hills, CROWDED narrow multi-lane streets constantly blocked by construction chaos, stopped moving trucks, tourists, pedestrians, bicyclists, weird street/lane setups, and an infestation of pedestrians - who love jaywalking!

There is literally 0 room for error. I took the test during rush hour too. eep.

I visit the city every few years to visit friends, and I HATE driving there. Not a car-friendly city, at least in the downtown/Haight areas.

How I passed there is a miracle. I've seen DMV testing areas in other cities, and I'm like OMG. How easy they have it! lol. I liked the challenge though.

[green eyes]

1. I don't know. I had a permit but didn't drive on my own until I was 17, despite having the car I wanted (a little red Mazda Miata two-seater convertible) for like a year before then. My dad was "too strict" of a teacher, though...and I didn't really feel like I had the hang of it (felt calmer) until my mom started helping me. That summer my parents impatiently demanded that I learn how to drive my car up backroads to school, haha. I believe the first day of senior year was the first time I had ever driven a car alone.

2. Well, I had a-hell-of-a-enough practice. I remember leaving the DMV and running two stop lights, however.
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(and somehow managed to not get any tickets until 26-years-old!)

3. I started on a stick, and all but one of my cars have been sticks. I won't buy a car without one. My preference seems to surprise people.

4. I took the test in the small town I live in. We didn't do much more than driving around the block, the very block my parents were building a house on. Easy-peezy. ...I don't know if I'd survive driving in a big city. It freaks me out, and I can't parallel park. Country driving is so relaxing, though.

...I just remembered that the lady testing me was quite generously-proportioned, and we were all in a sweat when we walked out to my tiny Miata. She somehow fit, though. And she laughed about it all, so it was all good.

[HAL 9000]

1. Too many.

2. I will.

3. Automatic.

[raimius]

6-8hrs with an instructor, about 50ish with parents (including a cross-country trip that added about a dozen hours).
Yes, I passed the first time.

It sounds like your friend is scared of driving. He just has to get used to it. If he is generally safe, go for a multi-hour road trip on a restricted access highway. That will make things seem more routine. Then, get a couple hours in a moderately busy area. If he can do those, he should pass (assuming he knows/follows the rules).

[pistachio]

1)
just learned driving to school and back for a few months.. 15 minutes each way, you do the math
2)
i passed
3)
stick shift

[bacchus]

1. Approx 10 hours in total. Mostly with my father and took a one hour lesson with a proper driving instructor.
2. Passed all three stages the first time - it's simple! Here in New Zealand there is a (1)theory test, (2)basic driving test, then (3)advanced driving test.
3. Manual. I enjoy driving manuals more.

I put off getting the last stage of my licence for a while. Didn't really like driving that much to start, and didn't like my father's instruction. Bought a car recently and I love driving it around. So much freedom.

[Warrior]

	Originally Posted by sircockburn To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	Also, in what kind of environment did you guys take the tests?

City-ish? I'm not real sure what you would call it. The drive started on a major five lane road in the middle of town. It then went into a neighborhood road and on to an area where there was a side road leading to some power lines. That's where I had to do a three point turn and then headed back to the DMV office. I took the test on a Saturday, so there wasn't a ton of traffic.

[stock]

I actually learned to drive in Texas where there was a period of time where you didnt have to take a test if you took drivers ed and drove for 16 hours with classmates and teacher.

I was almost 18 and signed up for the class. My teacher made me drive 15 minutes to the next town and then filled out the forms and I never had to go back.

So in total I drove 15 minutes then got a driver's liscence and didnt have to take a test and then bought my first car- an old datsun 280zx-that car was so awesome.


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I have totaled three cars but I attribute this being having no Se at all, so I miss the blatantly obvious, like the back of the car in front of me.

[OneHertz]

1) About 6 hours.
2) First try.
3) Auto since there are less things to worry about. I drive stick now.

This is for the G2 test however, which is like a basic road test. I haven't done my full road test yet because I am lazy.

[ZerroDefex]

	Originally Posted by sircockburn To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 2 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
	1. How many hours of practice before you took the behind-the-wheel test? 2. Did you pass on the first attempt? If not, what do you think happened? 3. Stick shift or automatic?

1. Heck if I know, it was over 13 years ago and right before they started requiring you to document it.
2. Passed first time and they were impatient enough to get through everyone that my test was on a day with snow everywhere.
3. Automatic, you generally don't learn manual here unless a parent or a friend teaches you. I don't care much for manual anyhow, I hate the added complexity of dealing with a clutch when in traffic.

[Kricket]

1. No idea how many hours- they had a log that you were supposed to fill out, but I doubt I did more than ten hours on my own. I took a course which was a couple hours of instruction/practice per day for a week? Two?
2. Passed the paper test on my first try, and taking the class meant I had no practical test beyond my test drives with my instructor.
3. Automatic, just learning stick now (age 25).

I'm amazed people can get their full license the way I did, but my instructor thought I had driven before the class because my movements were pretty natural. I'm an alright driver, but very defensive/risk averse. No accidents thus far.

[sircockburn]

so most of you passed the first time, with only like 6 hours of practice! The pass rate on this thread is way higher than the pass rate at the DMV I took the test at.

So I guess my INFJ is just "special". haha

[Opressoliber]

I cannot drive with an empty stomach.

Thus maybe your SO does not feel like driving because he has an empty stomach.

Thus my recommendation is that you make a sandwich for your SO.