Yeah I think the drivers thing is overstated. Lots of kids have medical conditions and other reasons that stop the driving (and drinking on the plus side) here you aren't allowed to take passengers for two years so that helps with the worry if your children are law abiding.
I think hitting pubery first is at least at hard as being last and probably harder so I don't see it as an issue in acceleration anyway.
the friends thing is related to what causes acceleration not to the acceleration itself.
I agree with puffin. Don't worry about the driving. I was in university without a licence then never bothered to learn to drive as a) I live downtown in a large city and b) I don't own a car to learn on. It hasn't been an issue.
More broadly, you're getting better advice from others than I could offer, but you have my moral support!
