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Post by michellea on Mar 17, 2014 10:04:13 GMT -5
DS just got his drivers license - took the road test in a snow storm and passed! He had an interesting (and mature) comment - he thought maybe he should take his ADHD medication daily so that he is attentive while driving. This is something he has discussed with his neurologist. In honor of him achieving this milestone, I'm posting a link to a guide for parents of Teen drivers with disabilities. It has some good advice and is easy to read. Compliments of Schaub Learning: www.greatschools.org/pdfs/e_guide_teen_drivers.pdf
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Post by jisp on Mar 17, 2014 10:17:03 GMT -5
Congrats on DS getting his license. Remember other drivers are as much a hazard as your own son's inexperience. Seen so much crazy driving lately…I think the hard winter is throwing everyone off. Plus there are pot holes EVERYWHERE.
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Post by hsmom on Mar 17, 2014 10:19:36 GMT -5
Michellea,
Congratulations to your son on getting his driver's license, but also on his developing maturity to recognize that he will need to be on ADHD medication when driving.
Did your son sit in classes for his driver's ed and how did he do? The reason I'm asking is that my son has learned from his friends that some states allow driver's ed to be taken online at one's own pace (eg, Indiana). However, Illinois doesn't seem to allow that and I'm wondering how my son will fare in the class. He doesn't need to have a license so I'm delaying it a year.
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Post by healthy11 on Mar 17, 2014 10:55:31 GMT -5
I'm aware of several studies that seem to confirm ADHD teens are better drivers when they take their medications, but I'm not sure if that translates to adults with ADHD, since experience also plays a role in driving safety. I know my son doesn't limit his driving to when he's on his ADHD medication, but thusfar he has a good driving record. For the benefit of others, here are some previous discussions about new drivers, and a link to a good article on the topic by Additude magazine: millermom.proboards.com/thread/10237/automobiles-teensmillermom.proboards.com/thread/12590/drivers-ed-insurance-etcmillermom.proboards.com/thread/5690/drivers-edwww.additudemag.com/adhd-web/article/579.htmlMichellea, although my son has never had to show it to anyone (ie, a policeman) when my son started driving we were advised to get a note from the doctor who prescribes his ADHD medication, and have our son carry it in the glove box with the "proof of insurance" card, that states he does have a legal stimulant prescription due to a medical condition. I suspect it could be a potential issue if he was ever in an accident or they did some kind of field test to see if he was under the influence of anything. My son's psychiatrist had no problem writing the note on a blank script.
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Post by michellea on Mar 17, 2014 16:32:58 GMT -5
hsmom - He took the classroom part of drivers ed over a school vacation week. It was a lot of sitting and listening. Luckily, he has very strong auditory skills, so other than the fatigue of sitting still for hours on end, he made out ok. He had a good friend in the class with him, and they studied for the written permit test together. He applied for extended time to take the on-line written test, but he actually did not need it. Per the RMV web-site, we took in his IEP the day of the test to get the accommodations. He did not ask for a voice enabled test - but that was available. I remember I was a nervous wreck - but he passed it the first time through.
Healthy - great advice about the doctor's note for the medication. I remember you had suggested that in the past, but it slipped my mind. I will call the neurologist today!
Jisp - AND yes - the "other guy" is what is so worrisome. Especially since with little experience to anticipate problems, a new driver is at greater risk. He took the car to school today and he had a plan for the parking lot which is wild at dismissal - he waited until the busses and cars cleared out so he didn't have to worry about craziness of the other teen drivers rushing and cutting each other off to leave school. Unfortunately, he can't have plans for everything - and it is the unknowns that are especially frightening. Tell me about the pot holes. If the winter weren't bad enough with the snow and ice, now we have obstacles on almost every road to cause havoc.... You wouldn't believe the upper portion of route 128 - thankfully he has no reason to drive up there.
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Post by bros on Mar 17, 2014 18:13:24 GMT -5
When I learned to drive, I took the theory/written portion of drivers ed through my high school, as it was a mandatory class for graduation.
I didn't even bother attempting to drive until after high school, when I became a client of the NJ Department of Vocational Rehabilitation, which paid for my driving lessons in full - $350 an hour at the Kessler Institute - a premiere rehabilitation hospital.
Of course, I was unable to drive in the end for the same reason I qualified for social security - my disabilities, when examined individually, are not severe, but when put together and looked at from a global perspective they are very detrimental to my everyday functioning.
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Post by mykids on Mar 17, 2014 19:10:09 GMT -5
My oldest has been driving for about a year and a half. Passed written and driving 100% AND I still get nervous and worry. Luckily most days she has after school activities and does not leave when everyone else is. Getting out of the parking lots at school is crazy!
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Post by jisp on Mar 17, 2014 20:25:11 GMT -5
Bros, I am curious how you are coping without driving. My middle son never got his license because when he was in HS he was not ready to drive. But he has been fine now for several years and could theoretically learn to drive. He is heading off to graduate school (destination not determined yet) and I am worried that he will need a car eventually. He visited one potential school last weekend and they had a panel of current graduate students and he asked about the need for a car. They said there was no need. And on grad cafe it there are conflicting posts about the need for a car at this University. Some say YES others say there is no need because there is good bus service. So how is your life without a car? How do you do your grocery shopping? Get to Doctors appointments etc etc? ??
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Post by bros on Mar 17, 2014 21:06:50 GMT -5
Bros, I am curious how you are coping without driving. My middle son never got his license because when he was in HS he was not ready to drive. But he has been fine now for several years and could theoretically learn to drive. He is heading off to graduate school (destination not determined yet) and I am worried that he will need a car eventually. He visited one potential school last weekend and they had a panel of current graduate students and he asked about the need for a car. They said there was no need. And on grad cafe it there are conflicting posts about the need for a car at this University. Some say YES others say there is no need because there is good bus service. So how is your life without a car? How do you do your grocery shopping? Get to Doctors appointments etc etc? ?? I live with my parents. My parents shop for groceries and drive me to doctor's appointments. Doctors appointments are the only time I leave the house now. When I was student teaching, when I couldn't get picked up by my mom, I would take a local taxi service that gave me a slight discount ($8 before tip anywhere in town versus $10 before tip anywhere in town. Our town is just about 5 square miles.)
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Post by mamak on May 7, 2014 16:36:53 GMT -5
Congrats on the new milestone!!!! My son passed on his first try too. He is a very attentive driver and an even better back seat driver when I am at the wheel. He has not bugged me for his own car and we have just shared my car for the last year. We will be looking for his own during the summer. I try to give him my "if you or your friends have a drink don't drive just call us" story and instead of the "Okay mom" I got from my DD he says "mom I don't drink" Jisp, My dd went to school in San Fransisco and after a 6 months brought he car up there. Due to her car being broken into 3 times she brought it home and we sold it. Many places are very good about public transportation and she adapted well even after moving across the bay to a cheaper apartment. She did find it challenging to bring her laundry across the street since her place did not have working washer/dryer she also had to walk a ways to the grocery store and at some times felt it limited her. She did get along for 4 years without a car. Once she was working she found she did not have to have a car but it would sure be nice to have one especially when work started to ask her to occasionally cover shifts that would not allow her to take the public transportation. It also allows her to visit friends and not have to walk home from the BART late at night. She recently leased a car and she is enjoying the freedom now. She drives in to the city for work 2-3 times a week on the days that she GA's at the university for a professor and still takes public transportation the rest of the time. She is appreciating little things we car owners take for granted like going to Target or buying a bulky item and bringing it home. Here is a recent story she wrote about leasing her car and why vs buying. www.kgoradio.com/common/page.php?feed=43&id=73014&is_corp=0&pt=In+the+Market+for+a+Car%3F+Consider+Leasing
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Post by healthy11 on May 7, 2014 22:46:38 GMT -5
Mamak, your daughter is a very talented writer, and her article makes many good points. Unfortunately, my son falls into the "if you like to modify your car" category, where buying makes more sense than leasing. His current "fleet" consists of 4 1/2 vehicles (2 cars and 2 motorcycles, plus 1/2 of another non-working cycle that he's selling parts from) so I guess he more than makes up for the other young people who don't care to drive at all, or at least not to be bothered with the hassles and costs of owning.
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Post by mamak on Jul 10, 2014 6:59:34 GMT -5
LOL Healthy your son clearly likes to tinker with motorcycles and cars. I am trying to find transportation for my son right now. We have been sharing my car for over a year with no problem but when he attends college in the fall I don't want to be a shut in while he is at school. I wish we had a fleet to choose from. I just got quoted $2200 a year to insure a new Jetta so I am probably going to have to lease to keep the monthly cashflow down
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Post by healthy11 on Jul 10, 2014 8:28:14 GMT -5
Mamak, are you saying the quote is $2200/yr for insurance just on a new Jetta for yourself, or in your son's name? Is that quote to insure both your old and a new car together? I'm not sure how California rates are set, but we've found a person's overall credit score has a huge impact on auto insurance rates. That's why I posted this info: millermom.proboards.com/thread/7536/credit-cards-building-score-important Also, for the benefit of anyone else reading this discussion who may not already know, coverage limits as well as deductible amounts if you were to have an accident can make a big difference in insurance rates. Most states have minimum requirements. Here's an article that gives a basic overview: money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/money101/lesson22/index3.htmIn general, I would NOT advise that people get a brand new car, especially for a younger driver. One of the best options we've found when we want a newer vehicle is to buy a car that's about two years old, so it's taken the biggest "depreciation hit" already, but it's still in the manufacturer's warranty period (which is usually 3-5 yrs.) That way, if something major goes wrong, it's still covered (you can figure out quickly if it's "a lemon.") For a teen, parents might even consider getting a cheaper older vehicle that's got good safety ratings and lower mileage on the engine, but perhaps has some body/exterior imperfections, and concede it's not worth paying for collision insurance on it, which is usually the most costly portion of an auto insurance quote. If your young adult gets into an accident but it's not their fault, the other person's insurance should cover it, anyway.
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Post by mamak on Jul 11, 2014 9:56:22 GMT -5
UHG!!!! It is only for him as the driver of that car added on to our policy since we will own the car. We have an umbrella policy which requires really high coverage for all adults in our home. I've been looking at used cars but they are almost as expensive as some of the new cars unless they have tons of miles. My reasoning for why I am just looking for the smallest amount going out each month since we are also paying full tuition. No grants or freebees coming our way. Our goal is to have zero student loans at graduation like my DD. With a new car with warrentee we wont have any suprises> I'm now looking at other imports with lease payments as low as 49.00 a month. Next years models are arriving and prices are falling gonna hit them at the end of the month when sales quota's are under pressure.
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Post by healthy11 on Jul 11, 2014 20:14:35 GMT -5
Lease payments of only $49/month seem unbelievably reasonable, so I don't blame you for considering that option instead of buying something. (What company will give you that rate?? It sounds too good to be true!)
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Post by mamak on Jul 12, 2014 11:04:30 GMT -5
It was a hyundai
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Post by healthy11 on Jul 12, 2014 13:26:09 GMT -5
It may not be a "chick magnet" to attract females, but that's not the point of his having a car, anyway...since it would still get him from "point A to point B," he should be happy to have any set of wheels!
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