[muzzio]

I can tell you this is pretty vastly different now. I also grew up in Illinois, and after passing the theory test you are only granted a learner's permit. To obtain a license you need 50 hours of supervised practice behind the wheel, at least 10 of those hours being at night. You're then given a practical test at the DMV where you take public roads with a designated instructor.

At least, that's the process to get a license before you're 18, I think after 18 you just need to pass the practical test. And since usually the person filling out the 50 hours sheet is one of your parents it's definitely possible to just lie about it.

[kalleboo]

Obviously this all varies wildly by state

[kennell]

I am curious, what does the practical test consist of?

[xtreme]

In Ohio, it consists of about 10-15 minutes of driving around public roads following the instructions followed by a parallel parking test using cones. Most other states are pretty similar.

[kennell]

Would you consider it difficult to pass? Are there any numbers what the failure rate is?

Just for comparison, here in Germany, you have to take a 14 hours of theory lessons and then do a theoretical test (which has a 25%+ failure rate). Once you passed that, you have to take 20 hours of mandatory driver training with a certified instructor. The instructor will decide if you need additional training hours (up to another 8 hours). The practical test then consists of 25-30 minutes of driving and parking (in a real parking spot, not cones). This practical test also has a 25%+ failure rate. Also, all that happens in a car with manual transmission.

[omegaham]

> Would you consider it difficult to pass?

No. It's literally driving around a few streets, stopping at a stop sign / stop light, and (maybe) parallel parking. I had to do it with real cars, which in retrospect were junkers that the DMV had for the purpose.

> Are there any numbers what the failure rate is?

Massachusetts provides a list of drivers ed schools with their pass rates - it seems to vary from 50% to 90%. Cutting that in half and adding a little bit, (the highest pass rates come from large, successful schools) the pass rate seems to be around 75% or so.

However, this is for teenagers who went through driver's ed - adults have a much, much easier time with the test because they're more mature.

Also, it greatly depends on the state. When I was in the Marines, I had the wonderful task of teaching boots how to drive so that they could get an Arizona driver's license. Their test was literally just driving around the block, no parallel parking involved.

I took the test in a manual because that's what my dad had, but most take it in an automatic. In all seriousness, though, a manual really isn't that hard once you spend a few hours stalling at every stop sign in a suburban neighborhood.

[detaro]

Technically doesn't have to be a manual, if you're fine with not being allowed to drive a manual afterwards. So basically only done by people with medical conditions that can't drive a manual anyways.

[kalleboo]

For comparison, in Sweden the practical test is 45 minutes of driving on public roads (including a highway) where things such as eco driving and safe driving (not slowing down past a parked bus is an automatic fail) are also judged. The standard is doing it in a manual transmission car and a minority choose the exception of doing it in an automatic. Sweden's a Nordic country so we also have a mandatory snow driving (skid pad) experience before you can take the test.