driving force.

[CharlesHarris]

Many kids in the US first learn to drive a farm tractor by age 12 or so, then graduate to the old pickup truck which has FARM USE tags on it and is allowed to be driven on public roads only within the county of residence. Kids aren't supposed top drive on county roads, but only on the farm, but it is fairly common practice for them to visit neighborboring farms during daylight, supposedly for farm-related chores, close to home, as long as they don't do anything "stupid."

By the time they are 16 and old enough to get an instruction permit and take driver education in school (to qualify for a reduced insurance rate) many are competent, on rural roads at least, if not in town.