I drove at age 14 as well. I got a "school permit" at 15 so I could drive myself to school for activities. People drove tractors to my school too before they could get licenses. What can i say? We were a backward and farm-minded people!
I will not will not get my children a cell phone until they drive, and I will not will not get them one they can sit and text their friends with or call whoever they want at whatever hour of the day. I'd rather see them running around outside playing or doing something constructive. I want them to be safe when they are driving, so I will get something they can holler for help with. I, too hate to see children with cell phones, blackberries etc. I am old school, and it drives me nuts.
It's interesting to watch my daughter play "telephone". the first question she asks when the "caller" answers is "Where are you?". When I was a kid the first thing we said was "How are you?". We knew where the other person was. We called them at home. The only number we could call. Interesting....