I'm pretty sure there are only 2 states where that's the case. It's definately not a normal thing for the vast majority of Americans. It's 15 in most states 16 in a few.
Edit: It's actually 5 states, plus 3 more that allow teenagers to get learners permits at between 14.5 and 15 with additional drivers education requirements.
Here's the numbers on just how many.
If you include Michigan with full permits at 14.75 at the asbolute earliest (though most teens wouldn't be able to complete a 40 hour drivers education course that fast so the average will be even closer to 15)--then around 7.3% of teenagers can get their learners permit sometime during their 14th year.
You're right. That list is a bit more complicated than it looks though. There are 5 states that allow a teenager to get a learners permit on their 14th birthday.
I was aware of Iowa and Sout Dakota, but I wasn't aware that North Dakota, Kansans, and Arkansas do this as well.
Michigan and Idaho issue learners permits at 14 years and 8 months, and 14 years and 6 months respectively. However they only allow driving during a drivers education class until that course is completed. Also Montanta issues permits at 14.5 if enrolled in a drivers ed class.
Most of these states are also very rural with very small populations, so the vast majority of American 14 year olds cannot get a learners permit.
I'm pretty sure there are only 2 states where that's the case. It's definately not a normal thing for the vast majority of Americans. It's 15 in most states 16 in a few.
Edit: It's actually 5 states, plus 3 more that allow teenagers to get learners permits at between 14.5 and 15 with additional drivers education requirements.
Here's the numbers on just how many.
If you include Michigan with full permits at 14.75 at the asbolute earliest (though most teens wouldn't be able to complete a 40 hour drivers education course that fast so the average will be even closer to 15)--then around 7.3% of teenagers can get their learners permit sometime during their 14th year.
If you don't include Michigan only 4.1% can.