Teen Drivers - WWYD?
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| Wed, 07-19-2006 - 11:46am |
We went to the beach Monday with the family of one of 12yo DS' friends. DS had spent the night with the friend on Sunday night and when we found out they were all going to the beach on Monday -- something I had planned to do, too -- I asked if DD and I could tag along.
We all meet at my house. DS' friend has an older sister with a brand-new learners' permit. (Well, not so brand-new I guess because I do recall her mom telling me she had a bit of a lead-foot a couple weeks ago, and they were all afraid to drive with her.) Obviously she wanted to drive to the beach, so we agreed to caravan and I lead the way. DS and his friend get into my car with me and DD and away we go.
OMG. That girl is a TERRIBLE driver! Knowing there was an inexperienced driver following me, I got onto the freeway, got in the right lane, set my cruise control for about 67 mph (speed limit is 65) and that girl drove on my tail the entire 40 minute ride to the beach! On Southern California freeways! (Read: heavy traffic, drivers that go too fast) I could not even see her headlights in my rearview mirror, that's how close she was.
I tried speeding up a bit to allow more room between vehicles, but she just sped right up with me. If I'd had to stop suddenly, she would have driven her car right into my back seat. I was NOT happy. And I was NOT happy that her mother, in the front seat, obviously didn't tell her to back off either. By the time we got to the beach, I was a bit frazzled.
I considered making a 'light' and/or 'amusing' comment about this girls' lead foot, but decided against it because I didn't want the day to start off on a sour note.
What would you have done?

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I am inclined to hope so. I felt this girl was not only a terrible driver, but she was pretty darn rude and disrespectful to her mom and brothers all day, too. It made me rather uncomfortable, I must say.
DD said that when they got in their car to leave, they both looked mad! I don't think I will be looking forward to the whole 'mom of a teen driver' stage in my life.
Ummmm...I didn't get that at all from the post. I don't think any mother expects and accepts that their young driver will be a bad driver. But until you have a teenage driver I think you should refrain from judging others on their parenting skills because their teenager is rude and/or drives horribly!
I wasn't judging her parenting skills at all. My comment came from the OP saying she did "recall her mom telling me she had a bit of a lead-foot a couple weeks ago, and they were all afraid to drive with her." I interpreted that to be a less-than-serious comment on the part of the mother. Maybe I was wrong...it's just the way it read at the moment.
Since I will be in the car with my teenage driver in just a few more days, I can say that she will not be allowed to drive cars full of passengers and definitely not on the freeway for quite some time. That's just *my* parenting style.
I'm sorry if I came across judgemental, I truly only meant it as a general observation.
Dani
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