What do you think about teenagers driving?
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
United States
January 25, 2007 2:12am CST
My son is 16 and if everything works out - he'll be taking his driving classes during spring break. He'll have to drive with us for 6 months before getting his license.
All of his friends (same age) have already taken the class and their parents gave them cars right away. I never intended to give my son a car before he was a senior in high school (if that) and I'm amazed that these kids are all being handed fairly new cars at such a young age.
To top it off, one of the boys has really horrible grades and yet he was handed a car. The other boy is a good kid but already got in an accident and totaled his car.
Would you or have you given your teen a car? If so, at what age. If not, what age would you allow them to have a car? Do you even plan on buying them their car or making them work for it themselves?
6 people like this
26 responses
@simplysue (631)
• United States
25 Jan 07
My eldest should finish the requirement in our state to get his license in the next two months or so. I will not be buying him a car. I feel very strongly that children who are handed everything do not repect what they are given and don't take care of things very well. If they have to work to earn their things, they treat them with more respect because they have worked hard for it.
Our state requires an amount of driving time in documented hours instead of how long they have their permit in hand. I think this is a good idea as long as the parents don't lie to meet the requirement. When my son has his license in hand, I'll be comfortable with letting him drive my car. He does a great job out there so far. It's the other drivers that really worry me.
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Those other drivers scare me too!
Good luck to your son and to you as well!
@Evacuee (1147)
•
25 Jan 07
I'm afraid here in the UK the teenage driving problem and the risk of them having an accident is rising. The likelihood of a teenage driver being killed or seriously injured on English roads is 10 times more than a motorist in their 40's.
According to the British Association of Insurers the rate of road deaths and serious accidents are falling for the average motorist but they are going up by a staggering 12% for the younger motorists. They are more inclined to be involved in accidents late at night, at weekends and quite often when no other cars are around. They just corner to fast and loose control through lack of experience. They just do not know what the vehicle is capable of doing.
I do not know how these figure compare with other countries but I bet they are not much different.
2 people like this
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
26 Jan 07
That is so sad. I'm sure the numbers here in the U.S. are the same if not higher. We have some new laws in place now so hopefully it will help to lower our numbers.
Thank you!
@Pigglies (9329)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I think teens should have to work for their car. Or if not actually pay for it, do some kind of work. Even if you have them volunteer somewhere so they see what it's like to work and get something.
A lot of rich teens out here will be given cars, total them, and get new ones. A lot of the teens I see driving are really irresponsible.
I wasn't glad that I had to wait until I was 20 at the time, but now I sort of am. I probably would have gotten into an accident or something when I was a teenager.
1 person likes this
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I agree with you also. Thank you for a great response!
1 person likes this
@Bytemi (1553)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Both, I plan on making a deal with my daughters. I will match half of anything you save for a new care and they will be response for gas and insurance. I feel that in order for them to truly appreciate things in life, they need to work for it and not have it handed to them.
1 person likes this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
25 Jan 07
What I would like and what I can do are totally two different things.
I am totally against a 16 year old driving a car. I would say that even 18 is too young... but I don't think that in this day and age you could convince anyone to refuse a car to a 18 year old.
I really don't care how smart kids are... or think they are... the fact of the matter is... that as soon as they get behind the wheel of a car... they think that they are on a race track.
Driving a car requires some very special skills that immature teenagers don't have. This is not a computer game. If you make a mistake... it is going to be very costly everytime... not counting the fact that you might seriously injure someone or yourself.
To wreck your whole life at 17 behind the wheel of a car is pretty immature.
2 people like this
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Yes, I think 16 is too young as well to drive alone. Luckily I live in California and I believe there is a new rule that requires teenagers to first go to private driving school for a certain amount of hours. Then they can take their permit test. Once they pass, they must drive with their parents for 6 months. Then they can apply for their license. Once they get their license they must be home by 11pm every night until they are 18. They also can not take any passengers with them unless there is an adult in the car with them - this is for 1 year.
So for my son he will not be able to drive alone in a car until 2 months before he turns 17 years old and he can't drive with any other people under 25 years old until 2 months before he turns 18. I think I am o.k. with this. He doesn't have anywhere far to drive and he will mostly be driving to his school and back.
I do not plan to give him a new car. I might buy myself a new car before he turns 18 and then give him my old car. He plans to go to college so I would like him to get some experience driving here in town before he starts driving to college further away.
He will have to prove himself to me first though.
Thank you for your post!
@hello1manu (18)
• India
26 Jan 07
we dont allow.it.my son also have 16.he was a best driver than me.one day his car crashed in an accedent and my dear son passed away.dont let them please.its my request..
1 person likes this
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I'm so sorry for your loss :(
Thank you for sharing - my son will not be driving alone until he is 17 and even then, it will only be very short drives to prove himself.
@jenvalenzuela (267)
• Philippines
26 Jan 07
I think you should let both ends meet... compromise would be the key here. Tell your son that you let him enroll in a driving school and eventually would buy his own car (or let him borrow yours) but he has to be very responsible for the freedom you gave him. Meaning, there's no way his grades would suffer and that he has to be home on whatever time you decide for him to go home.
1 person likes this
@vivek15_vijay (60)
• India
26 Jan 07
I'm answering to this topic though i'm not a parent.I'm just a teenager and i would like to say you that handing over a car to a kid of mere 16 years of age is a very silly thing.He does'nt know some the things at such a age.He is still a kid.But he drives really well and if u(parents) can decide well then itz a time to think about giving him a car.It only depends on the parents.But what i think is it is "ok" to give u'r child a car once he is to a age of 18.
@hikarushidou (843)
• Philippines
26 Jan 07
I guess its okay to have them drive even if they are still teenagers. At least you can send them for errands or they can accompany you when you're too lazy to drive. But I'll only buy my kids their own car during college. They dont need it that much during high school, right?
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Well that is another way to look at it :)
I'll just send him on a million little errands every day and before I know it - he'll be tired of driving and he'll prefer to stay home! *hah*
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Thanks for your comment - I certainly will not be spoiling him :)
@aprilten (1966)
• Philippines
26 Jan 07
My eldest son is only 13 and his not into driving, yet. But, I think that 16 is still too young to have his own car and that it's just given to him. You know, no hard work and you got a car. I believe that if ever you should give him a car that he should earn it. Probably by having good grades and good deeds. Cause if that car he will have is a product of his hard work then I'm pretty sure he will take care of it and he will be careful not to get into accidents thereby protecting the car and especially himself. Give him a car when he's in senior high but make him work at getting it.
@mrsartemisfowl (55)
• Philippines
26 Jan 07
The car is really a symbol of freedom. Most kids dream of having one. I think kids should earn their cars. That way they would value it more. They should also have intensive training so that they would know the different possibilities of having a car like needing a lot of money for gas and of course, accidents.
@blindedfox (3315)
• Philippines
26 Jan 07
It is common nowadays right? I find nothing wrong about teens driving a car. Driving really is a requirement nowadays to live better in this urban jungle. =)
@HeavenUnaware (1757)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Yes it is common but I'm not sure that makes it o.k.
Thankfully there are laws and tests that need to be passed before a teenager is given a license.
My issue is more with the car situation. I do not think teenagers should just be handed a car and certainly not a new one just because they have a license. I think they should have to prove they deserve it and they should have to work to pay for it - that way they appreciate it more and are more careful about following the rules.
You are right about the urban jungle :)
@krystal85 (71)
• United States
26 Jan 07
I got my car when I was 16. I did not have my license but i was going to be taking the test soon.They did not make me work for the car but I had good grades.
1 person likes this
@raj0019 (2623)
• Argentina
26 Jan 07
Teenagers are always willing to drive and drive fast, its not good for them. They must not be allowed to drive until they are wise enough to know good and bad things, parents must be responsible. Minimum age for issuing a driving license must be over 18 everywhere.
@hellboi (661)
• Philippines
26 Jan 07
well teenagers with their raging hormones would sometimes be unpredictable. i guess he is old enough to learn how to drive but i think he is too young to own a car. i suggest though that he go on with the driving lesson but you should only allow him to drive with you. maybe if he earns your trust then you can allow him to drive alone but that would greatly depend on you. if age should be the determining factor then i suggest that you wait till he's 18 before giving him a car.
1 person likes this
@ronita34 (3922)
• Canada
26 Jan 07
My mother never handed me now gold soother on a pillow! I was raised to work and make my own money if i wanted something and my mother who was a single mother never gave us anything like this! There is a saying that goes like this!!! If you give a man a fish then he will eat for a day but, if you teach a man to fish than he will eat for a life time!!!
1 person likes this
@Shababy (140)
• United States
26 Jan 07
When I was 16 my father bought me a new car. I have always been very afraid of driving and was very careful when it came to driving; however, I had lots of friends who also got new cars at 16. Many of them were really irresponsible and did a-lot of dangerous things. My children are both really young. I know when they are 16 they will probably be shouting they want a new car. i know I got one but I am also thinking if they get a car it should be used and that they should have to work part-time to earn it. I wasn't taught how to manage money or be responsible. I think if my father had done that I would have done better once I had to be responsible for my own finances. I also have times I have thought about this although it is many years away that I want to decide if I belive my sons are mature enough to drive at that age. I think I will know when we cross that bridge. I know they will probably be angry with me for not buying them a new car like I got when I was 16 but I am more concerned about their future wellbeing.
1 person likes this
@creavin007 (131)
• India
26 Jan 07
driving teaching for teenager is good unless they in control to handle and maintain the speed.
@lionhong83 (26)
• Malaysia
26 Jan 07
i remember years back when i was 17, i already have my car license and before that at the age of 15, i already have my motorcycle license. By the time when i have my car license, my dad didn't plan to get me a new car and i do not request for a new car as well, but my parents didn't stop me from using their car when they didn't use it. The reason y i didn't request for a new is bcoz my dad already bought a new motorcycle for me when i was 15 and i think that is more then enough for a teenager like me. I'm lucky to say that i still haven't meet with any road accidents until today. i think this is solely based on the teenager themselves whether they are mature enough to drive a car alone. It's definitely not a problem to me when i was a teenager. I feel that there's no need for parents to buy a new car for their children, they should buy a 2nd hand old car instead so that if their children really meet with accidents, it would not be as costly as a new car. Or perhaps parents can buy a new car for themselves and let their children have their old car...
1 person likes this
