- Passed my driving theory test yesterday! What a relief. Now all I have to do is pass the practical and I'm free and don't have to listen to my driving instructor. Also went to London to see Wreck-It Ralph (which FINALLY opened here last month) and really enjoyed it. Have to say that all the "duty" jokes will fly over the head of anyone who isn't American, though. I'm glad I went with my friend from California, who was able to explain the pun to me!
Theory Test
March 3rd, 2013
I'm American (albeit semi-transplanted even after fourteen years or something) and the suggestion of "duty" jokes goes over my head. O_o Maybe I'd have to see it to know what you mean.
I am going to be completely honest with you, I have no idea how this whole process is working for you. Like, in the US, you have to take Driver's Ed when you're fifteen/sixteen or else you can't graduate, so hearing what you've been doing has been rather educational! (Also, slightly befuddling in a clash of cultures sort of way.)
I think, in the rare but not unheard of event that an adult goes for their license for the first time, it's the basic same premise excepting the part about the Junior license.
That's PA. I know a lot of states let you get your permit when you're 15 and/or don't have a waiting restriction between permit and license and in some states behind-the-wheel is also mandatory school curriculum. And, this is all done at the teenager level, because, well, the US is not known for its public transport and its a spacey place so unless you live in NYC or Chicago, you are going nowhere if you're not driving yourself. Which explains why it's all part of required learning.
Edited at 2013-03-05 05:05 am (UTC)
Is your driving instructor a git or just annoying? Some of the teachers I had terrified me, I have to say. 44 recommended hours of lessons sounds like a very good idea - the old system was that you could take it whenever you wanted after only a few "lessons" with your mum or dad. It was somewhat skewed in favour of over-confident teens (mostly blokes, unsurprisingly). If I'd been clued-in enough to wait before booking the test until I'd found a decent teacher I'd have wasted much less heartache and money!
The old system does sound lackadaisical! The theory's been toughened up a lot recently, I think. On top of doing 50 multiple choice questions, you can only get seven wrong; any more and you fail and you have to do it again. I'm sorry you had such a difficult time with some of your teachers. I've heard some horror stories about driving instructors (my driving instructor told me that one of her younger female students had been stalked by her previous male driving instructor) and I don't have anything like that to share, so I am lucky in that sense.