In our state, a teenager can get their learner's permit when they are 14 and 9 months. We have a 15 year old who keeps asking when she can take Driver's Ed. Putting cost aside, I can't see my 15 year old driving. We have a physicians assistant in our pediatricians office who thinks that the more Michigan winters of driving under her belt the better off she'll be. And, aside from having to no longer chaffeur her around I don't see any other advantages.
The thought of what it will do to our insurance rates alone boggles my mind. What d'yall think?
I'm not sure I have a lot to contribute here. My oldest is 9, so we're not to this hurdle yet. I didn't drive until I was 18 because I was scared to try.
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"The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine." --Elaine S. Dalton
I was 17, but then I was the oldest so there wasn't a huge rush to get me behind the wheel, only when my next bro came along was there a hastening of desire to drive... He's a second child in every way... always thinking the first child is holding him back... can't wait to be in charge type personality...
I found that once I did drive, I became the family chauffeur, and driving lost a lot of its glitz in our home...
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
There were no accidents, thank goodness. Except the little mishap when I backed into someone in the 7-11 parking lot the ONE TIME (I kid you not) that I sluffed school.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
In CA you can get a permit at 15 and a half and driver's license at 16. I lived in a rural area and my parents were tired of driving me to seminary in the morning so I was literally told that I would do it and my mom enrolled me in a private driver's training program because they didn't offer it at the school during that time. If I lived in a city I would let my child get a permit but probably would want them driving with me or mom for a while before they got the driver's license to drive on their own. In CA the provisional license will not allow them to drive friends or be on the road after a certain hour. They can drive siblings and be out later if they have a job that requires it.
Yeah, well that's a given. I'm just not sure I'm ready for the gray hairs with having a teenager drive. But, there are people around here that think teenagers are "entitled" to a drivers license. Cat and I don't agree with that philosophy. We've told this child that when she can afford to pay for drivers ed then she can take it. Are we horrible parents or what?
My best friends parents had a rule that the child had to have earned their Eagle Scout or YW award before they could get a license if they wanted it before 18. It did motivate them.
My best friends parents had a rule that the child had to have earned their Eagle Scout or YW award before they could get a license if they wanted it before 18. It did motivate them.
Hey, I think I like that type of motivator. Interesting. Thanks.
I'm always amazed when I drive by the Highschools around here, how many new cars are in the parking lot... I have to wonder if these parents who give their kids such things, if they hate their children...
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
I had to drive this old van in highschool that looked like it was used to smuggle illegals over the border. Later I got to drive grandma's old mercury cougar and thought that was great!!! I remember kids who had new cars in high school. One guy would smoke the tires every day during PE out in the stadium parking lot. I think it was a diservice for those kids. Sets high expectations for life. A lot of kids with Mustangs back then. Now we have kids driving Escalades and Hummers but it's not the parents buying them. It's kids with their Indian Gaming money buying them for themselves.
My best friends parents had a rule that the child had to have earned their Eagle Scout or YW award before they could get a license if they wanted it before 18. It did motivate them.
Hey, I think I like that type of motivator. Interesting. Thanks.
Yeah... we'll make her get her Eagle Scout first...
Oh, dear, it wasn't exactly accurate on the her paying for drivers ed... that was just part of it... she needs to be able to help pay the increase in our auto insurance rates too. No payee, no drivee
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It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
I was afraid to get my driver's licesnse as a 16 yo and waited til I was 17, I was afraid of the responsibility and had actually had two nightmares. I keep hearing some that think the age should go to 18.
One sad thing I heard from a couple coworkers who have teens who are learning to drive. In VA, the new driver doesn't need "behind the wheel" w/a real certified driver's teacher - they just need parental documentation that the teen has completed 50 hours of driving w/a parent. My coworkers said that some parents falsify this info, that stuns me, that people would lie about this.
In our area, there is a newspaper column about driving- lots of parents on there have suggested their teens take extra driving classes that go beyound regular driver's ed. I can't think of the name of these type of classes but they teach how to manage unusual road occurrances, skids, etc- t hey have special driving ranges to teach and practice these skills. Also in that column, some have suggested the minimum driving hours be around 1000 hours.
Another important thing is the rules about how many passengers a new driver can have. That column talked about having "gradual driving" privileges, for example- w/full privileges coming due at age 18 or after a certain period of time.
To me, kid's should show responsibility in many areas- for instance, knowing the responsibility that lies within a small metal key operating the car. Hopefully education programs don't just show bent up cars but also videos, etc of those who have their lives altered forever by being paralyzed, etc from car accidents.
I am finally just now getting to the point that I am not constantly worrying about my almost 20 and 22 yos driving... they both have their own vehicles... which they paid for and provide the insurance for...
In this family until you pay for the insurance you don't drive... Son2 (17) still doesn't have his license, for several reasons... but he doesn't have a "regular" job... just works as a temp for people we know that have businesses here and there... Construction, landscaping, that kind of thing... he makes decent money, but the hours are not regular, so there is no real need, mostly after school, Saturdays... plus he can ride his bike anywhere in town (we live in a SMALL town...) The other reason that we make our kids wait is that they have to "show a level of responsibility" by completing a goal... that comes in different ways for each of them... none of my kids had their licenses at 16... and they ALL have driven at least a year on a permit.
So far they are all pretty good drivers... but I still worry...
Just as a side note, I actually didn't get my license until I was 20. I could drive, but I failed the actual driving test a couple of times and got scared off. I would psyche myself out. And, to this day I have a pretty good driving record. I've only had like one fender bender (knock on wood) that wasn't completely my fault.
Someone mentioned earlier that it's amazing all the cars kids drive these days. It reminded me of a talk someone gave in our ward a couple of years ago, it was on gratitude. The man said he was in a Burger King and heard a couple of teenage boys talking and the one boy was complaining because his parents gave him a new car and they were upset with him because he wasn't grateful. He told his friend, "Why should I say thank you when it wasn't what I wanted?"
I would have said, "Fine, then you don't need a car at all buddy!"
My parents (namely my mother) had a great incentive to allow me to drive. Early morning seminary. Plus, I was a responsible teenager and thus they didn't have any concerns in that regard (though I left them very unprepared for my younger brother).
With everything be so spread out here, driving is often important unless you are lucky to live close to work.
I saw a special of teens driving and the lack of judgment that they have. I would say that driving is not a right but must be earned. I dont' know how to drive.
I've only had like one fender bender (knock on wood) that wasn't completely my fault.
The operative phrase is "wasn't completely my fault"... not "one fender bender", dear...
Let's see... someone did a hit and run sideswipe on the mini-van in the hospital parking garage just last month after you left it parked there while patronizing the establishment... then there was that one lady who was not paying attention run smack into the side of my car in the grocery store parking lot that caused $3K worth of body work... and then there was the one where you didn't look when pulling out of a parking lot and bumped up against that new van with my old k-car. At least you aren't your mother when it comes to driving...
Me, on the other hand... I have only been threatened by Ninja Deer...
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It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a "salad dressing dude."
Someone hit my Honda Prelude I had right after my mission and I decided to just keep the money instead of fixing it, but since the Lord looks out for his favorites, like me, it got hit again in the EXACT SAME SPOT like 4 months later and then I got it fixed.
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Life is tough but it's tougher if you're stupid. -John Wayne
I've only had like one fender bender (knock on wood) that wasn't completely my fault.
The operative phrase is "wasn't completely my fault"... not "one fender bender", dear...
Let's see... someone did a hit and run sideswipe on the mini-van in the hospital parking garage just last month after you left it parked there while patronizing the establishment... then there was that one lady who was not paying attention run smack into the side of my car in the grocery store parking lot that caused $3K worth of body work... and then there was the one where you didn't look when pulling out of a parking lot and bumped up against that new van with my old k-car. At least you aren't your mother when it comes to driving...
Me, on the other hand... I have only been threatened by Ninja Deer...
I believe the first two you mentioned were not my fault, as you know perfectly well. And, the third I don't recall. At any rate, that would make what, 2 accidents? I'm talking about accidents that "were" my fault dear. So there.
Poncho wrote: "The man said he was in a Burger King and heard a couple of teenage boys talking and the one boy was complaining because his parents gave him a new car and they were upset with him because he wasn't grateful. He told his friend, "Why should I say thank you when it wasn't what I wanted?"
I would have said, "Fine, then you don't need a car at all buddy!" "
That is like a story/urban legend?? about a young high school grad who received a Bible from his dad fro HS graduation. The grad was miffed as he had wanted a new car. So he stopped speaking to his dad. Then the dad died, the grad opened the Bible-- and there was the uncashed check that he could have used for buying that car. I don't know if that story is true but I like its point.
btw, the older I get the more I find myself annoyed with cars filled with teenagers. On a regular basis there's some story about a car load of teens that all get killed... and so my little brain kinda thinks the worst, but I imagine that despite what insurance companies say most teens are about as good at driving as anyone else...only with less experience and fear of death... :)
...Oh wait...
--Ray
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I'm not slow; I'm special. (Don't take it personally, everyone finds me offensive. Yet somehow I manage to live with myself.)
