I was driving a tractor since 12, including on the road with small farm equipment, and indeed, mostly out of the necessity, but I also received a lot of tuition (from licenced drivers) to know how to behave.

Different times though.

Not that different. Still happens all the time all over the world (the west included).

True story, they can already drive a tractor at 10 and I know people who learned to drive a proper truck at 13 too