Okay before people go off on me I have simply put this up as a way of stimulating conversation adn amybe to wake up a few parents. There is a law out there that says children CANNOT drive by themselves, with other kids, etc. for a specific period of time. Lately I have been hearing more and more stories of kids getting seriously hurt opr killed because that law is not being followed. As is evidenced by the bolded areas in this story. How can you "try" to protect a child when you blatantly let them break the law? Again, this is a tragedy but come on parents wake up!!! It is simple DO NOT let your kids drive when the law says they can't!!! I would also like opinions on the responsibility of the parent who let thier child drive. Should they be held accountable for endangering a minor?
This is a such tradgedy :-( One thing I think needs to be done: When your child gets their provisional license, they should give the parents a print out or something explaining all the provisional limits, maybe have someone go over it and explain it and require a signature indicating that the parent understands. When my kids got theirs, I really didn't know exactly what was allowed or not. The kids get info when they take drivers ed, but most don't hang on to that stuff or the parent never sees it. Not all parents take the time to educate themselves about what the provisional license entails.
I know there can be circumstances in which it possibly could be necessary, but I would never ever feel comfortable allowing my 13 or even 15 year child to ride alone with a 16 year old inexperienced driver. At this time and not knowing all the facts, I wouldn't carelessly throw blame on the parents, but I certainly wonder about this situation and if the parents actually felt 'okay' with this or were they unaware of it. I agree it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to clearly explain in written documentation to the guardian of a 16 year old child of the requirements of a provisional license. That said, however, turning over the keys to a 3500-4000 lbs. automobile capable of triple digit speeds should heighten concerns of a parent enough to ask questions and use common sense. In other words, the state shouldn't really have to tell parents those things that good judgement should. However, in light of these types of circumstances, maybe the state should have the parents/guardian read something and sign acknowledging receipt.
I might get flamed for this but here is my take on it. First of all back in my day (24 years ago) I grew up in Clayton and took drivers ed. had a learners permit at 15 and a license at 16. There wasn't anywhere near the population nor traffic back then that there is now. I also grew up in the country driving tractors and what not long before I took drivers ed. so I had some working knowledge and experience of vehicle operation prior to drivers ed. That being said I honestly don't think teens now days should be allowed to get the license till the age of 18, with a learners permit issued at age 16 that requires an actually licensed parent or legal guardian to be with the teen if they are operating a vehicle. With the population explosion this area alone has seen it makes it more imparative that the kids learn properly how to operate a motor vehicle of any kind. Not to mention that 24 years ago the vehicles were a little more substantial than they are now days (meaning they were built sturdier) Of course the only downfall to this is that you will end up with kids just like their parents who are driving $40k SUV's with cellphones stuck in their ears and not paying attention to what is going on while driving (had a women the other day pull out in front of me in her new Sequoia, just a yapping on her cell phone, she then proceeded to blow through a stop sign, and almost ran a red light as well if the car on the turn lane she was facing hadn't layed on their horn.) Fine example of a driver there huh? Craig
Did I hear on the news earlier today, that kids are not supposed to be using cell phones while they drive? Unless, they are talking to their parents or law enforcement??? SO, does only talking to certain people on the phone while driving not affect their driving? And how does one prove it? Is the cell phone taken as evidence? This makes no sense, what does make sense is that the law is very difficult to enforce and prosecute. Another vote for *Teen Driver* license plates. http://www.wral.com/news/state/story/2003803/ Regarding the OP, this does not really surprise me. Every once in a while some teens from up the road will venture down to the cul-de-sac, AND FLOOR IT!!! They're not going 80, but I would say at least 50. And to agree with another poster, I would never let my 13 YO go galavanting off with a new 16 YO driver. I wouldn't let my 13 YO ride with me when I was 16.
call me crazy....but my daughters are not getting their licenses until they are in the 20's (like I did) But its a shame and my heart goes out the the families. Ro
Is that possible, I did not bother to get my license until I was 20, but I lived in a major metropolitan area with adequate public transportation.
While the main topic here is "provisional licenses"...my question is ..why weren't these kids WEARING SEAT BELTS!!! It may not have saved them but maybe it would have....and given them a second chance to be kids...
Wondering the same thing, andthat mother of the twins who died the other day.. NO SEATBELT. She mighthave crawled from the wreckage like her girls had he worn one. I feel NAKED without my seatbelt. Anybody else? It's the 2nd thing I do. Start car, seatbelt, reverse.
I can imagine the pain that family and friends are enduring. I too sympathize with their loss. What's gonna get me flamed is this. The crash didn't cause those deaths any more than the tree someone hit caused his, nor the curve in the road, nor the speed. Poor driving, bad choices caused this tragedy. Some friends have a daughter who is just learning to walk..again. The accident that she caused took the life of her best friend. Neither were wearing safety belts. The daughter has to live with the knowledge that her poor choices, and serious errors in judgment brought about a needless tragedy. The daughter was on her way to being a model with a spectacular career. Now, she'll be lucky to walk and feed herself. The lawsuit from formerly good friends cost them their home. Insurance payout for rehab was so expensive that Mom had to quit her job to become a full time caregiver. Dad is now working two jobs I know of, and probably delivering pizza on the side, to provide. I'm in awe of their determination, and their love for this child. I am in awe of their having to do what they do, because of a split second poor choice. My friends stare adversity in the face all day. And yet, after the high school ceremony, and the awareness of the inherent dangers from unskilled and unsafe driving, two more accidents occurred within a month, killing another teen, and ruining many other lives. Yeah, I remember feeling immortal as a teen, and that bad stuff always happened to other people. I guess I'm lucky to have survived having a teenager case of opticalassfacia...head inserted rectally so far, that I couldn't see straight... Driver's license in a graduated format, beginning at 16. Speed limit of 45, no matter where, for under 18 drivers. Seat belts..whenever available. Helmet, full leathers, on cycle.
I guess, it all depends where you live. I grew up in Philly and took buses and subway to get to places. I didn't get my lic until I moved to VA and was like...oh my god, we live in the boonies (joking) I was 22 or going on 23 at the time.
I think 16 is an appropriate age for a learner's permit and/or provisional license. Eighteen isn't old enough unless the parent is going to take up some time with their children learning how to handle a car. Children (and a lot of adults, too) feel as if though they are invincible. You're not going to remove that magically at 18. In fact, it may be easier to teach a 16 year old the values of sensible driving moreso than an 18 who automatically feels empowered at that age. Also, I don't oppose children being able to use 9-1-1 or to call their parents if necessary. If it were made a law tomorrow, I would not want my child stopping alongside a busy interstate, multi-lane highway or rural country road to make a phone call. When I see people pull off the side of the road, I think how ridiculous that is. Sitting beside the road, just feet from cars, pickups, and tractor trailers rolling by at 80-90 mph. Good luck with that. You get rear-ended by a drunk driver or a sleepy driver and you are dead. Also, I've seen the lamebrain efforts that some exercise in pulling into the path of traffic...not realizing that those cars overtaking them are travelling at many feet per second. Most cars cannot accelerate quickly enough to counter bad judgement. To me, the single most important thing is parental involvement in teen driving. Its about like was said in the gang thread. If you do not act like you care where your kids are, then they won't care either. It may not always reflect on the parents, but it certainly should be good practice to be nosey when it comes to your teen kids, ask questions, and set ground rules. However, the most important thing is to show concern and love and interest.
When my daughter got her provisional, they gave me a hand out that explained in detail what provisions were part of the license. What time she could drive, who could be in the car, etc.
What blew my mind...and told some behind the scenes info, I felt...was that the child's mother gave him her Lexus to drive without supervision, even after he got a speeding ticket in August. If my kid was on a provisional and had gotten a speeding ticket 2 months ago...I'll be daggoned if I'm going to give him free reign with the keys to any car. What's wrong with parents these days that they refuse to say NO!
If I remember right my niece got her permit and it said that she had to drive for a yr with it before she could even get her licence, doesn't matter if you get it at 15 or 16 or 17 you still have to drive with a adult for a yr. My neice turned 15 in may of 2006, but she thought she wasn't ready to drive yet, and didn't even get her permit till May of this yr, so she will be 17 before she gets her licence. I have worked with her on the back roads around here, but I haven't taken her on the highway, something about her being in my car going 70 miles a hour does something to my heart lol...but she is a good kid. My brother and dad work with her at night and her step father works with her on the highway. My mom has yet to take her out. lol. My question is that you guys stated that a child under the age of 21 can't be in the car when she does drive, but what if I'm in the car as well? Most of the time when she drives my car my daughter is with us. I just hope that she keeps these good vaules that she is learning now, since she isn't a wild child and she is just down right differant from most kids her age..I think she will..or I hope she will.
Good. Maybe that's something they recently started, because I didn't get anything when either of my kids got their license, and for the youngest one that about one yr ago. This was at the Clayton DMV.
