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How many of you have kids that have a driver's license but have no....

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Swale2010

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desire to learn directions the old fashon way?

My DD is getting her license today! Anybody in my area is forwarned! LOL

She will be driving a little gray car with a "student driver" sticker in the back window. She is not allowed to remove this sticker. LOL

I feel that it is so important to know where you are at on your own. GPSes are a pain in the **** IMO. Things can go wrong with them...then you have a kid that is out there and has no clue how to get back...this causes stress on them because they are lost...and leads to them making horrible decisions while they are driving.

Do you think that I am over reacting or these are legit concerns?
 
:9: DD19 hasn't even gotten her license yet. No car, not driving mine because I can't afford to have anything happen to it, so I'm probably not qualified to judge if you are overreacting :lol:
 
we do not own a gps--only dh has a smart phone--yeah we all drive the old fashioned way--what truly helps my kids to learn is that--well we play soccer all over the place!!

we often drive the tollway just to get to practice! AND they go to school with kids who live NOWHERE near us--LOL so that really helps them get exposure to places.

I remember when DS #2 had some friends (female) over from school they had just got their license and were a bit unsure how to get home I had a friend leaving my house going in the same general direction so they ended up following that person until they knew where they were--ANYWAY--I said to the girls who live in a rather wealthy area--"don't you have a gps on that phone of yours??" and the girl driving said ---

LOL

My dad refuses to get me a gps until I learn basic directions on my own!

kudos to that dad!


pssst.... patty my dd got her DL almost exactly one year to the day today!!
 
I agree that young people who first get their license have a lot of learning to do! I was a TERRIBLE driver at that age...nowhere near as experienced as I am now, but ya gotta learn sometime right? As far as GPS, I am confused by what you mean? I have a GPS, one my parents gave me for a Christmas gift..it is a simple model...it works perfectly...sometimes I ignore it and purposely will ignore a turn to see what it does...it ALWAYS reconfigures and redirects me to the right way to go...so I don't know what you mean by that but some of us are still bad at directions no matter how old we are! :lol:
 
debate my nephew--who also went to Depaul-- Got his DL about a month after he graduated--so age 22 and he ONLY got it because he was spending the summer with a friend driving from Orlando to LA via the coast and he had to get a license to share drive time!

he lives in Chicago so he also uses public transportation for everything--including taking the train home to his parents--or to my house for holidays
 
The only thing I can't stand about an ID vs. a DL is that they are half the length of time.
 
Swale2010 said:
I feel that it is so important to know where you are at on your own. GPSes are a pain in the **** IMO. Things can go wrong with them...then you have a kid that is out there and has no clue how to get back...this causes stress on them because they are lost...and leads to them making horrible decisions while they are driving.

Do you think that I am over reacting or these are legit concerns?
Click to expand...

No I don't think you are over reacting. Kids these days don't know how to do anything without some type of electronic device telling them how to do it.

GPS's can be a pain. When I travel, I take my GPS, a road map, atlas, AND printed directions from Mapquest!:lol:

(Oh, and I"m not ashamed to actually GET OUT AND ASK for directions. lol)
 
focadima said:
we do not own a gps--only dh has a smart phone--yeah we all drive the old fashioned way--what truly helps my kids to learn is that--well we play soccer all over the place!!

we often drive the tollway just to get to practice! AND they go to school with kids who live NOWHERE near us--LOL so that really helps them get exposure to places.

I remember when DS #2 had some friends (female) over from school they had just got their license and were a bit unsure how to get home I had a friend leaving my house going in the same general direction so they ended up following that person until they knew where they were--ANYWAY--I said to the girls who live in a rather wealthy area--"don't you have a gps on that phone of yours??" and the girl driving said ---

LOL

My dad refuses to get me a gps until I learn basic directions on my own!

kudos to that dad!

I feel the exact same way as that dad feels. The thing that bothers me the most is that the kids can learn to get somewhere once they do it enough, but what happens when there is construction/detours...they miss a the next detour sign then they are up ****'s creek without a paddle. Have no idea what is North, South, East or West.

DD only knows landmarks...thinks there is only one way to get somewhere...no alternate routes....ugh...I am not ready for her out and about on her own...I too cannot afford her to cause an accident.

pssst.... patty my dd got her DL almost exactly one year to the day today!!
Click to expand...

How's her record? LOL....I can use that information as a guide of things to come...LOL
 
My DS will be 18 on Halloween. He took the test, failed it and we haven't been back since. He has no desire to drive. When it's nice outside he gets on the prairie path and rides his bike. It's nothing for him to go 6 miles to get to someone's house.

His "protest" is that he doesn't have his own car to drive, so he's not getting a license. Boo hoo. No teen car here, it's not going to happen!

He knows where he's going on the priairie path, but not on real streets.
 
kewpon addict said:
I agree that young people who first get their license have a lot of learning to do! I was a TERRIBLE driver at that age...nowhere near as experienced as I am now, but ya gotta learn sometime right? As far as GPS, I am confused by what you mean? I have a GPS, one my parents gave me for a Christmas gift..it is a simple model...it works perfectly...sometimes I ignore it and purposely will ignore a turn to see what it does...it ALWAYS reconfigures and redirects me to the right way to go...so I don't know what you mean by that but some of us are still bad at directions no matter how old we are! :lol:
Click to expand...

I have had situations where I was driving in another state and the way the GPS was telling me to go was not even a street that existed. You know changed the name...new construction...what ever the reason...just not reliable enough to an inexperienced driver....I just keep seeing the insurance commercial...you know the one where he is a GPS...they talk about the GPS not being updated...he screams out....TURN RIGHT....NOW...I can picture my DD turning into a parked car because the GPS told her to......recalculating...LOL That is how the commercial ends.....recalculating....that's funny.
 
I see both points--and I have 3 that have their dl and one ready any time (we need a reliable vehicle for her to practice--she has passed drivers ed)

Anyway, I was never taught directions--just go this way--turn right turn left etc--Have no clue East or West etc. If giving directions or receiving directions I need clues--such as on the corner of turn right--you will see a gas station etc.

My sons and my husband--don't need that--it was natural--they knew directions from get go--it was in bred---you could say I am on the east side of the street they knew where to go--if you told me you are on the east side of the street--I would say--so when I turn are you on the right or left--i would have no clue.
My dd also has her Fathers sense--she can tell east west etc.
Sometimes we all joke in the car--so what direction are we traveling--of course everyone but me--gets it correct! The only times I get it right is if I am on a familiar road--and I know heading into Chicago is East and going to the suburbs is West--but I have to be on the correct road for that to work--or my husband went to a school that had a direction in its' name and I would sometimes figure out--oh this road runs East and West--his high school is North so I must be going this way--but that is rare

SO GPS for me--that is a good thing--however--they can lead you the wrong way--and have many times!!! Especially if the map isn't updated!

My soon to be driver is similar to her Mom--doesn't have the best directional clues--though her Dad tries to teach her. She can get from place to place with jsut the same cues as I need.
I travel with people all the time--and they have great abilities---when they have me as a co driver they all know we need mapquest with exact directions
SO--yes--if you can teach them--GOOD THING--however, I think many just don't have that ability.
I wonder if any of it is math related--because I can do basic math--especially if it deals with coupons---but algebra etc--is not good---My ones that are good with directions and my husband--excel in math-----my dd that is like me--well as stated--just like me--
SO___GPS can be good as long as you know they can steer you wrong (once we were going to Chicago Bears Training Camp and it had us driving in corn fields but we were on the high way --of course dh was driving--it was me I would have been confused--and yes, we have updated the GPS since then--another time we were driving with people that are great at directions--and we had mapquest with us too---mapquest told us one way to go--the GPS different--the person followed the GPS_-which took us 30 minutes out of our way!)
So--map reading should be a part of drivers ed--and you should try and teach it--but if you are confused like me--then GPS can be your friend
 
boyzrus said:
My DS will be 18 on Halloween. He took the test, failed it and we haven't been back since. He has no desire to drive. When it's nice outside he gets on the prairie path and rides his bike. It's nothing for him to go 6 miles to get to someone's house.

His "protest" is that he doesn't have his own car to drive, so he's not getting a license. Boo hoo. No teen car here, it's not going to happen!

He knows where he's going on the priairie path, but not on real streets.
Click to expand...

Mary encourage him to take the test again before he is 18 other wise he has to retake the written exam!
Though Jen doesn't even have her hours in because of our cars--though Kristine did take her yesterday--just in the neighborhood thinking if it broke at least we are close to home!! She drove Kristine nuts--she is like me and hugs the curbs! I told Rich he needs to get her out driving more--and he needs to teach her these things--PERIOD_-It saddens me--actually I do cry that she doesn't have her license when all her friends do---makes me so sad!!
 
And I hate the attitude I get....Mom...I got this...c'mon...I got this....well I tell you what you don't got this...especially in my car.

She is a pretty good driver...greately improved over the past year...but I am not so sure how she is going to fair when she realizes that she is lost.

LOL...I know I will get her back she has a phone.....ring, ring....Mom? I'm lost will you come get me? Sure, where are you.....uhm....I don't know!


LOL, I'm cracking myself up!
 
Swale2010 said:
desire to learn directions the old fashon way?

My DD is getting her license today! Anybody in my area is forwarned! LOL

She will be driving a little gray car with a "student driver" sticker in the back window. She is not allowed to remove this sticker. LOL

I feel that it is so important to know where you are at on your own. GPSes are a pain in the **** IMO. Things can go wrong with them...then you have a kid that is out there and has no clue how to get back...this causes stress on them because they are lost...and leads to them making horrible decisions while they are driving.

Do you think that I am over reacting or these are legit concerns?
Click to expand...


I did not give my kid a GPS, it is too distracting for me and would certainly be so for a new driver. We did many many many hours of student driving together, and he was not allowed to go to unfamiliar places until he had many many hours of driving on his own.

When I have to send him to some place new or out of his range (for baseball, etc), I print off the Mapquest, we review it together, and I make him take the side roads. I am not comfortable with his comprehension of the highway system yet. I was at his age, but I drove the expressways all the time back then (my parents were divorced and I was the designated driver lol), plus we live in the country and he learned to drive in the country. He will have to save the solo highway driving for when I have been able to spend more time with him in the car on it (when we go highway places, I have him drive there).

If he had no desire to drive without being able to use his common sense and navigate, I would restrict him to going places he knows how to get to.
 
kmjlovesjesus said:
I see both points--and I have 3 that have their dl and one ready any time (we need a reliable vehicle for her to practice--she has passed drivers ed)

Anyway, I was never taught directions--just go this way--turn right turn left etc--Have no clue East or West etc. If giving directions or receiving directions I need clues--such as on the corner of turn right--you will see a gas station etc.

My sons and my husband--don't need that--it was natural--they knew directions from get go--it was in bred---you could say I am on the east side of the street they knew where to go--if you told me you are on the east side of the street--I would say--so when I turn are you on the right or left--i would have no clue.
My dd also has her Fathers sense--she can tell east west etc.
Sometimes we all joke in the car--so what direction are we traveling--of course everyone but me--gets it correct! The only times I get it right is if I am on a familiar road--and I know heading into Chicago is East and going to the suburbs is West--but I have to be on the correct road for that to work--or my husband went to a school that had a direction in its' name and I would sometimes figure out--oh this road runs East and West--his high school is North so I must be going this way--but that is rare

SO GPS for me--that is a good thing--however--they can lead you the wrong way--and have many times!!! Especially if the map isn't updated!

My soon to be driver is similar to her Mom--doesn't have the best directional clues--though her Dad tries to teach her. She can get from place to place with jsut the same cues as I need.
I travel with people all the time--and they have great abilities---when they have me as a co driver they all know we need mapquest with exact directions
SO--yes--if you can teach them--GOOD THING--however, I think many just don't have that ability.
I wonder if any of it is math related--because I can do basic math--especially if it deals with coupons---but algebra etc--is not good---My ones that are good with directions and my husband--excel in math-----my dd that is like me--well as stated--just like me--
SO___GPS can be good as long as you know they can steer you wrong (once we were going to Chicago Bears Training Camp and it had us driving in corn fields but we were on the high way --of course dh was driving--it was me I would have been confused--and yes, we have updated the GPS since then--another time we were driving with people that are great at directions--and we had mapquest with us too---mapquest told us one way to go--the GPS different--the person followed the GPS_-which took us 30 minutes out of our way!)
So--map reading should be a part of drivers ed--and you should try and teach it--but if you are confused like me--then GPS can be your friend
Click to expand...

Me personally, I have all my bases covered. If I am going to a place that I am not familiar with I make sure I know where it sits in relation to the nearest town, airport, something...to me that is landmarks that I have visually seen a map. I also use a GPS at times along with map quest and a map of the state that I am in.

I had to save my mom from a health issue in Florida...covered all the bases. Felt comfortable that I had a GPS...well they put that sucka through the Xray machine (they made me) and scrambled all the information...so I was lost as soon as a left the airport. I did know that I had to go North of the airport...this was a long time ago...way before they would recalcute. Just knowing that I had to go North and reading the signs got me to where I needed to go.

I guess I should not get to crazy about this. I know the GPSes are better now. I just don't use them that much....I am an old fashioned map girl...but I do turn them in the direction that I am driving....LOL....true right or a true left...LOL
 
They do not teach map reading in driver's ed. I asked my DD and she told me that they don't...but then again she could be blowing smoke up my ****.
 
debate said:
The only thing I can't stand about an ID vs. a DL is that they are half the length of time.
Click to expand...

IDs are longer than DLs. DLs are like 4 years and IDs are 5 years at a time:
"
Under 65 ID Card
There is no minimum age for the Illinois-issued ID card, which provides photo identification for Illinois residents. Children traveling on airplanes may need an identification of this type to fly.
The card is issued for a fee and is valid for five years. You can obtain one with proper documentation at your nearest Driver Services Facility."

Other than at DePaul you live/lived in the burbs DesPlaines right? Just wondering, did you not want to get a DL when everyone else in HS did? At least I'm guessing someone in your family has a car. It would seem hard to get around out there on CTA/Pace.

I grew up in DuPage and I don't think it ever was an option not to get my DL, but maybe our family assumed we'd all get DL right at 16.
 
kmjlovesjesus said:
Mary encourage him to take the test again before he is 18 other wise he has to retake the written exam!
Though Jen doesn't even have her hours in because of our cars--though Kristine did take her yesterday--just in the neighborhood thinking if it broke at least we are close to home!! She drove Kristine nuts--she is like me and hugs the curbs! I told Rich he needs to get her out driving more--and he needs to teach her these things--PERIOD_-It saddens me--actually I do cry that she doesn't have her license when all her friends do---makes me so sad!!
Click to expand...

Oh, he is going to take the test soon. He's been going to friend's houses over the weekend and then he wants us to pick him up at 11. He can drive over there and I can stay home in my pjs!
 
i think you either are good at directions or you are not, nothing in the world can change this and fortunately there are gps systems out there for the directionally challenged. i have a ten year old that could find her way anywhere in the world and the 14 year old still cannot tell time or find her way from our house to two blocks over. she takes after some of my other relatives and is helpless. the boy who is 13 is pretty geography savvy too like his lil sister. i am passionate about geography and maps. i can look at a map or google earth for hours. history is a drag to me tho and i hate to read.
 
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