Would you allow your children to drive @ 17?

I started driving at 16 and am actually better than a lot of the 30+ year olds who are driving.Im 19 now and I understand even more that I am better than a lot of the older people. Now the reason I am better is because I am not making risky driving attempts. I see it all the time on the way to work, the 30+ driver drives over the speed limit by a ton and zig zags through all the other cars. You would expect that from a 17 year old wouldnt you? I see more 16-18 year olds driving correctly than I see the older people still. Most of them do not even know the rules of the road. Best example is a RED light arrow means you have to stay stopped until the green arrow allows but not to many of the older people. The RED light arrow means turn when you can to them and to even further this it gives the older people a reason to flip you off if you do the correct thing.

Hi Eileen, I will not allow my children to drive at 17. No need to rush. They have to wait for the right time when they are in the right age, maturity level and the appropriate attitude and skills to drive. It’s not only about driving but its how you keep your focus. The discipline to maneuver one’s journey with patience and humility!

Here in New Mexico the kids are allowed to star driving at 16. I think that is totally ridiulous. As for your question, no way. My two girls didn't get their license till they were in their twentys. Today they are great drivers and Thank God not had any incidents on the road. Kids driving at 16 or 17 are not usually mature enough to handle a vehicle especially in case of a problem on the road. Now adays they are also talking on the phone and texting while driving which puts so many people in danger. I think there ought to be a law against driving so young.

Hi eileen!! It's really hard to evaluate one's maturity their are even 21 years old who's not even ready and capable enough to drive. that is why the safest way is to make age ranges to be able to have a fixed maturity level. It doesn't work all the time because it really varies. ^^

I would not allow my children to drive at such a young age. I agree they are not mature enough. They tend to be rash and are more likely to meet accidents.

If I had kids I would not.

someone new in my country can get a driving license from the authorities at the age of 17 more, of course, have to learn to drive a car until smooth and should not be driving a car alone without a driver or a person accompanied by an adult who understands how to drive a car

When my son got his license you could get a restricted at fourteen for driving to and from school and work. That was based on all the years our state was a strongly rural community. Kids were driving farm trucks sitting on pillows to reach the wheel. My son was fifteen, and my daughter was sixteen. HOWEVER both their dad and I were professional drivers and had always modeled our expectations of their driving. We had pretty firm rules and our kids were obedient about other things and were about driving as well. They did good.

As far as I know, you can get a permit at 15 and a license at 16. I think if they are responsible and show responsible behavior, plus having them drive themselves (to school and/or to a part time job) frees you so you're not at their beck and call as taxi service then yes, I would allow it. My hubby drove and rode a motorcycle as soon as he was old enough, I had a car and drove when I was 18. If I had had a full time job and bought the car earlier, I would have driven when I was 16. Our daughter is 6 right now, it is my intention to have her get a license at 16 and then drive if she has a car to do so. Of course she'll have to have some form of part time income to pay for the ins and gas, but if she does, then I'm all for it. Neither of our older kids had any source of personal income so neither of them had that opportunity, plus I was never willing to let one of them strand me and drive my car lol. I want to point out that it's really about responsibility and maturity though. If you trust your 16 or 17 year old and they do nothing to betray that trust, then it's a good thing. If they are clearly not responsible nor mature and don't deserve to have a license or be driving, then they shouldn't. That simple.

I think it depends on the individual. My sister was am excellent driver at age 12 and was often allowed to drive on the highway when in the company of at least one of our parents. My grandfather, who grew up in the horse and buggy era, was never a good driver. The problem with many teenage drivers is that they're thoughtless. For the most part, I would prefer parents wait until their teenager learns to be responsible before they're allowed to drive.

i dont know yet, i think it depends on how my future children personality and emotional query is. if i feel they are ready and they can be responsibile of what they're doing, then yes i might give them at 17th..but if not, then i won't put other's safety at stake.. ;) i learned my bicycle lesson at 3 yrs old, i was able to ride a big bike that day before i even started my kindegarden school. then, i learned how to rid a motorcycle in elementary school age, but motorcycle was the last permittion that i got from dad. i was able to drive a car when i was 12 yrs old, or 6th grade elementary school. i drove car to school every friday when i was at yunior high school, for the extracurriculer activities..i kept practicing my drive at home and near the neighbour. till i finally got a driving license when i was 16th years old. i got it because i was emotionally good at the street, and i had a good driving techniques. but yes, u're right..most of young people at the street are not mature enough for swift calls on the road, i proved it myself. I had some car accidents, but 5 from 6 of them were not my faults, coz i was driving in a normal speed, usually 40km/hour..and i was so very carefull and awared. but this thing about driving, no matter how aware and carefull we are, if others don't do it too, danger are still near us..

This may depend on the characteristic of the child. If s/he can handle the responsibility, then why not let them. I learned driving at the age of 14, but I had to delay driving in the main road until I got my license and I wasn't ready yet at that time. So it also depends on the child himself. And also make sure that your child know every traffic rules there is before hitting the road. Safety is a must to prioritize.

This issue would have to depend on the maturity of the driver. Reaching the legal age for driving does not necessarily mean they are ready for the road. As the mother of two teens, the driving issue is always one to talk about. All we can do as parents is to teach them everything they need to know about driving and safety. Don't push them when the age of driving arrives. Take care and caution and trust that your child will be ready to get their license when the time arrives. I knew my son was ready to drive. My daughter is a different story. If I think she can handle being a good driver at 17, she would have my blessing. if I don't think she is ready, i am happy to make her wait.

There is nothing wrong for a 17 year old to legally get a driver's license. Other countries even even allow younger teenagers to legally get theirs. I have been driving the streets of Manila for more than 20 years and I have encountered inconsiderate, discourteous and rude drivers and most of them are not minors. Some even are well-educated executives who think that they own the streets. The key here are maturity, attitude, and good upbringing. Age is just one factor. With proper guidance from mature individuals, I would give it a go!

Here our kids get a driving permint at 15 and their license at 16 so all of my kids had their license to drive before they turned 16.....so I guess the answer is.....yes.

Personally, I would give the go ahead if my daughter wants to be independent & get her licence when she is eligible (she's only 3 now). My parents did nothing to stop me so I had my learners licence at 16.5 years old & got my probationary licence a year later when I passed my driving test.

Both my sons started driving when they were 16 which is the legal age here.

It depends. There are 17-year olds who are responsible, especially worriers like me. My dad taught me to drive at 14 because he felt I was responsible. My brothers always say that I am one of the slowest drivers they know. However, most of the boys in the family are speed maniacs and I suggested that they be allowed to drive when they turn 30.

For me not because we don't have follow the law 18 to above unless they have there license to drive.

I started to teach my son to drive at 13 years old because he was big enough to sit behind the wheel safely and I don't think it has done him any harm, if anything it has given him mature attitude towards driving. He's 19 now and a very responsible and mature driver. He was taught in deserted parking lots and industrial areas so as not to interfere with other drivers so when he got his learners permit it was not so nerve wracking for him when he did start to drive on the roads with other people.