Does this sound like discrimination to you?
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
September 2, 2011 7:55am CST
My 27 year old son does not have a driver's license but he is trying to get one. He passed the written and eye tests and has his learner's permit. I have taken him out driving on smaller roads but want to have a licensed instructor take him out on the more major roads, then take him for his test.
I contacted a local instruction school via email, since that's the way they requested. They wrote me back this morning, telling me simply, "I'm sorry but we do not work with adults."
The first thing that popped into my mind was WHY? The second was this sounds like discrimination.
Would you agree? I wrote back asking him to please explain why they won't work with adults since they specifically advertized "PRIVATE LESSONS AVAILABLE". I have not received a response yet and, quite frankly, I don't think I will.
The ONLY difference is his age. Does this sound like discrimination to you? Do you think I ought to persue this? It just seems wrong to me.
P.S. We don't have much in the way of choice in this area. We'd have to go to a neighboring town to, hopefully, find another driving instructor.
7 people like this
24 responses
@macayadann (1235)
• Philippines
3 Sep 11
They are the one in business and they are the one losing. Find another instructor, maybe they only have one car available to use in their driving lesson, poor company
. Age doesn't matter for as long you have the money to pay for their service and so leave them alone, you do not need them. They have poor quality of serving customers.
. Age doesn't matter for as long you have the money to pay for their service and so leave them alone, you do not need them. They have poor quality of serving customers.2 people like this
@Penny4urThoughts (185)
• United States
3 Sep 11
really depends what state you are in...I would personally ask a lawyer.
2 people like this
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
3 Sep 11
That definitely sounds like discrimination to me. Go ahead and peruse it. A student is a student, regardless of age.
1 person likes this
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
2 Sep 11
I would look into it and ask for a copy of their contract. Then if there is a restriction to age in it I may drop it but if not then I'd tell them their contract has nothing to do with has or mentions nothing about age so there fore they must allow him to enroll.
I'd also check them out with the BBB and see if they have any problems with others pending.
2 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
2 Sep 11
I would guess it has something to do with money. Parents have insurance, an adult might not. Yes, the school has insurance but if the student's insurance pays their own won't increase in case of an accident. Whether that's it or not, I'm sure the answer is financial.
Email them back and ask if they can make an exception--you're disabled (that will set alarm bells off!) and it would be a hardship to drive further than you have to in order to get your son to lessons. Other than that, I have no suggestions except to call your state's board of insurance and ask them if driving schools can discriminate based on age.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
29 Sep 11
I think it is harder to find areas for places to teach older people how to drive. It can be a challenge and around here quite costly to consider this as well. It would be nice if there were other options. I know I would Love to eventually get a Drivers license, and I have not driven in over 16 yrs. for the most part, but feel limited the older I get and get tired of having to rely on my husband all the time. Hope you found something for your son that will work.
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
19 Sep 11
A driving instructor in my home country can let anyone learn to drive that has learner's driving license. The person would be over 17 years if normal or over 16 years old if disabled. The car might be manual or it could be automatic.
In my home country it is easy to pass the theory test but it can be challenging to pass the practical test. It took me from 2003 until 2010 to pass my practical driving test. It is best that you son has a professional instructor and you for extra patience. It does seem like discrimination the local driving instruction company won't take him. He has the right paper work so I wonder why.
Good luck to you son with passing his driving test and before then getting an instructor to help him.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
4 Sep 11
hi mentalward I do not know where you live but some of my sons friend who are around your sons age went to Sears driving school and it was inexpensive and they had qualified instructors to guide them and teach them to drive. no age discrimination there. I would see if there's a Sears driving center where you live. my son was going to go there then he got laid off and was out of work for over a year before he got a part time job. I think those people were discriminating and also I would leave them alone.I mean anyone doing business email sounds a tad odd to me. hope you can find a
qualified instructor.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
7 Sep 11
hi marti. sorry to hear about your son's driving test. i feel that this is really a discrimination. is that really how to apply for a driver's license there?
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
13 Sep 11
Maybe that's just their rule. I haven't heard of adult discrimination, I mean that's just silly. Maybe you just need to look for a different agency for your son to learn driving.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
4 Sep 11
hi dear mentalward never heard anything as stupid as this. I have eye problems but tried to get a drivers license when I was 22. Didnt get there at all and run around without a license so what, but when I started all these years ago a lovely nun learned to drive too. She has the drivers license and sure makes good use of it.......
@Rick1950 (1575)
• Lima, Peru
4 Sep 11
I really don't understand what is the meaning of such an answer. I think you should give them a call. At least go into their offices if possible. A 27 years old person is still young. Is there an office where you can complain about this? Good luck!
@beaniefanatic13 (5076)
• Grand Junction, Colorado
3 Sep 11
I would say it has more to do with younger people or minors are more apt to listen and follow the directions of a person of authority. Plus they most likely have no bad habits as of yet to try and break since they have no personal experience to draw from. An adult may or may not have been driving without a license, so may have driving habits to overcome, or just that they are an adult and don't follow the same sense of eager learning as a teenager would. Maybe something along those lines is what I would be leaning towards.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
3 Sep 11
Hi Mental,
It does actually sound like discrimination if they did not specify that they were connected to or working in contract with the Highschool. That being said, I would not waste my time and money going through a driving course. They are very expensive and offer very limited driving experience. When a kid takes a driving course they do get a discount on their insurance for having taken and passed the course. Still, it is up to the parents to take that kid out and give them 40 hours of experience on the road in their own car and at their own risk and the insurance is very expensive. This course is required for kids under 18. After that it is not required at all. They really don't teach all that much for the 500.00++ that you'd be paying for the course. Probably not even as much as you've already taught him. I think I'd pick up a driver manual and go over all the rules of the road and take him out to get some experience in traffic and save my money.
@minomarimat (372)
• Philippines
3 Sep 11
I don't know how this opinion may sound to you, but I think this is a case of customer selection. You know how some taxi drivers kind of choose customers based on various preferences? I'm not so sure, really.
@bellamommy08 (14)
• United States
3 Sep 11
To me, it is discrimination. I am in the same situation, only I am 25. I have a permit but not enough driving experience. I think you should pursue this matter and I hope you have positive results. Good luck to your son!
