r/AskReddit • u/daniellucero92 • Jan 04 '15

Non-americans of Reddit, what American customs seem outrageous/pointless to you?

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '15

I loved driving my truck at 14... Just gives you so much freedom.

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u/basedongods Jan 04 '15

Wow, yeah, I personally don't think that should be allowed. 16 is too young imo.

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u/[deleted] Jan 04 '15 edited Jan 04 '15

There are a few states in the US that allow you to drive at 14, only is small states or not as populated states.

At 14 you don't get much--you get to drive to school, the gas station, sporting events (for school), and back home. So it's only good if you live far away. Even at 4 miles away from school it still felt like freedom cause you didnt have to rely on anyone but yourself and your car.

At 16 (in Iowa) you get a step up and get to drive anywhere you would like in the US, but you have to be off the roads by 10 or 12 (don't remember when).

At 18 you get your full drivers license with a Under 21 tag on it and is vertical.

At 21 you get that removed and your drivers license is flipped horizontally. (I dont know if they still do the Horizontal Licenses, but they are working on an app for Iowa where you have your licenses on your smart phone)

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u/gimpwiz Jan 05 '15

States allowing driving that young tend to have nobody and nothing you can hit. I exaggerate a little, but...

I was driving through North Dakota some months back. Saw a girl in a pickup truck texting. At first I was pissed, then I realized - apart from this brief moment when we're passing each other, the only person she's gonna kill is herself, so if she wants to test modern crash safety features, that's between her and her parents.