So I'm going in to get my driving permit...

Deadbeat 007 · Oct 3, 2007

I'm thinking of going on Friday. I keep putting it off, but my parents want me to be able to get the groceries and take my brother to gymnastics while they're gone. I've been studying the pamphlet the DMV gave me, but is there anything else I should know before getting tested?

Shady Lane · Oct 3, 2007

Hmm...don't know anything about the Arizona test, sorry. In Maryland the test is SUPER easy.

Blind people wear sunglasses and have white canes! No-zones are 500 feet behind the truck. Turn on your brights when you're 200 feet from another car. You can do it!

I've got my permit now...license in two months.

Deadbeat 007 · Oct 3, 2007

Shady Lane said:
Hmm...don't know anything about the Arizona test, sorry. In Maryland the test is SUPER easy.

Blind people wear sunglasses and have white canes! No-zones are 500 feet behind the truck. Turn on your brights when you're 200 feet from another car. You can do it!

I've got my permit now...license in two months.

Thanks! I'm terrible at retaining information, but everyone keeps telling me that it's no sweat. I guess it has to be pretty intuitive, since there are so many drivers out there.

Silver King · Oct 3, 2007

The test is easy. Then it takes about five years to learn how to drive properly, when it will indeed become "intuitive." Later, you'll know what kind of driver you are by the amount of accidents you have avoided. Hopefully, you'll keep distractions (like cell phones) to a minimum and remember your brother's very life is in your hands when he's in the car.

Best of luck to you in passing the test.

Ol' Fashioned Girl · Oct 3, 2007

Remember, too, that it's YOUR life in your hands when you're behind the wheel of a car. Don't make the mistake of believing that you're ten feet tall and bulletproof. You're not. Be careful.

Perks · Oct 3, 2007

My advice is to go early in the morning. Be one of the first ones. By the end of the day, the test administrators are really sick to death of people and very grumpy.

Cassiopeia · Oct 3, 2007

Yep first thing in the morning. Here in Utah I have seen them hand someone a book and say it's open book tests.

Best advice I was ever given was by my Uncle. He said when you get behind the wheel, assume everyone else is a idiot driver and don't be one of them.

It was his version of defensive driving. My son is 16 and doesn't want his learners even..he says people are crazy here.

Joe270 · Oct 3, 2007

Keep your eyes on the road or on the mirrors with the occational glance at the instruments.

Do not make or maintain eye-contact with the driving test monitor while you are driving.

Do not hit a school bus.

Hillary · Oct 3, 2007

Read the book thingy and you're all set. It's really not hard. Check back when you have to do your driving test! That's harder.

Deadbeat 007 · Oct 4, 2007

Perks said:
My advice is to go early in the morning. Be one of the first ones. By the end of the day, the test administrators are really sick to death of people and very grumpy.

Oh no, why did I sleep in today??

Thanks for all the advice guys - I'll try to keep all of it in mind when I take the test.

DamaNegra · Oct 4, 2007

Am I the only one concerned that in some parts of Mexico an exam is not required to get a driver's licence? I got mine like that, I just went, gave them my documents, paid, and 10 minutes later I had my licence. No one cared if I could drive or not.

But don't worry, I've heard those exams were easy. Both my parents had to take them when we lived in PA (wonder why US doesn't trust Mexican licences

) and they were very easy. My dad failed because of language barriers. You just have to relax

you can't drive to your full potential if you're stressed. But don't relax TOO much or you'll fall asleep.

Deadbeat 007 · Oct 4, 2007

Okay, so I just took the written test today, and I failed. =[ It was thirty questions, and I was allowed to get six wrong. I made it to question 21 before it timed me out. So humiliating! I felt like a total dunce walking out of the DMV. I only glanced over the road manual twice, thinking it was mostly intuitive, but I was wrong. I can go back in tomorrow, but I think I'll take another week or two and study, study, study.

MidnightMuse · Oct 4, 2007

Don't sweat it - lots of people fail the first try. This has all gotten so different from the stone age, when I got mine. New rules, different methods.

Just study, study hard, then study some more

Joe270 · Oct 4, 2007

Sorry to hear that, Deadbeat. Is there a practice test on line to help you with the speed you'll need? I remember my test in Virginia. It was long ago, but it was not timed.

That's sorta dirty pool, people are nervous enough without having the stopwatch treatment.

Good luck on the next attempt. Keep us posted.

I have a funny, but really horrible story from my driving school. I'll relate it if people want me to.

Silver King · Oct 4, 2007

~~One less careless driving kid I gotta worry about when I take to the road tomorrow.~~

Just kidding. You'll do all right...with plenty of practice!

Sunkissed27f · Oct 4, 2007

Bummer...good luck next time and call me before you get on the road. JK!

Ummm.....so you can drive alone with just a permit there?

I thought you had to have a licensed driver, most likely a close relative, be a passenger in the car when you drive?

SpookyWriter · Oct 4, 2007

Deadbeat 007 said:
I'm thinking of going on Friday. I keep putting it off, but my parents want me to be able to get the groceries and take my brother to gymnastics while they're gone. I've been studying the pamphlet the DMV gave me, but is there anything else I should know before getting tested?

I thought you were a deadbeat dad with seven kids. Good thing you're taking responsibility for operating a vehicle and not spawning the next generation. Thanks.

CACTUSWENDY · Oct 4, 2007

I sure hope you are a good driver.....as I live in Arizona and we have enough nuts on the road here now.

Really....good luck and please drive with care.

SpookyWriter · Oct 4, 2007

CACTUSWENDY said:
I sure hope you are a good driver.....as I live in Arizona and we have enough nuts on the road here now.

Really....good luck and please drive with care.

Wait another month and it will get better with the visitors. They know how to drive and will slowly show the locals how to pass the hours during rush hour.

Deadbeat 007 · Oct 4, 2007

Sunkissed27f said:
Ummm.....so you can drive alone with just a permit there?

I thought you had to have a licensed driver, most likely a close relative, be a passenger in the car when you drive?

Since it's only a permit, I'll have to have a licensed adult with me. I can't get my license for another five months after I get the permit (whew!). So even after I pass the test, I'll have plenty of practice time.

So I'm going in to get my driving permit...

Deadbeat 007

Matriarch of Mediocrity

Shady Lane

my name is hannah

Deadbeat 007

Matriarch of Mediocrity

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

Ol' Fashioned Girl

Hand? What hand?

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

Cassiopeia

Otherwise Occupied

Joe270

Hillary

Neural Trailblazer

Deadbeat 007

Matriarch of Mediocrity

DamaNegra

Mexican on the loose!

Deadbeat 007

Matriarch of Mediocrity

MidnightMuse

Midnight Reading

Joe270

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

Sunkissed27f

SpookyWriter

CACTUSWENDY

An old, sappy, and happy one.

SpookyWriter

Deadbeat 007

Matriarch of Mediocrity