Amira gets her license

September 4, 2008 - 4:32 PM by

new driver_2.jpgMy older stepdaughter, Amira, 17, passed her driving test on the first round. That’s big news in these parts, not just because she can now drive — accompanied by another driver older than 25 for the first three months — but due to the fact that the system here often has teenage drivers failing one, two, three, even four times, after taking dozens of lessons. Amira, for example, took nearly 50 lessons, at NIS 100 a pop. Supposedly, that’s fairly average. And that’s not even counting the cost of the test.

Her cousins, and other nieces and nephews of mine, have failed several times in a row, after racking up lessons with each additional driving test. Everyone complains about the system, which does not allow students to practice driving with other drivers; they can only drive with their driving teacher until passing the test.

So now that Amira has passed her driving test, she can drive with us, in our car, something that she wants to do ALL THE TIME. The minute she’s home from school, our nahag hadash — new driver — wants to know where we’re going in the car, and if she can drive. This is all good; after all, we want her to have her independence, to grow and mature, to get herself where she needs to go.

But it’s nervewracking. For starters, the insurance for a 17-year-old driver is astronomical. We found a company that allows you to add a driver for four days a week at a discounted price, but you have to remember to call them each time you want to activate the insurance. Fine. Then you have to breathe deeply at the thought of your 17-year-old driving the new car that you’ve finally purchased after months, years, of deliberation.

The thing is, Amira’s a good driver. Or so I hear; I haven’t actually driven with her yet. But I can believe the rumors. And, after all, she did pass her test. Now, the question is, will we survive?

Tags: , , • Category: A New Reality, General 

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