Originally Posted By 999HAUNTS Seriously though, When we get her enrolled in dr.training, I will be a nervous wreck. My dad has taken her around without a drivers permit, which I totally did not authorize by the way. He took her to an industrial area and let her at it. He said she did rather well for her first time behind the wheel. I am a nervous wreck to be in the same car as her, but I trust that she will have enough brain to stop when needed and not to turn into the headlights of a Mack truck. I must trust. I must trust. I must trust.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ LuLu, Travis has been driving since he was 13. We've got friends with large properties he can drive on and he drives 4-wheel drive trails in everything from ATVs to jeeps to full size SUVs. So, we already know he's a pretty good driver. That's the only reason he's been driving on the road already (and only very recently). I figure if I didn't white knuckle it hanging on the side of a cliff, I'd do okay on the road, LOL! We did purchase my parent's Honda, though, so he's not driving a full size pick-up or SUV (both V-8s). Hubby's using it to commute right now. We might let Travis buy it from us later on if he wants to.
Originally Posted By LuLu Great advice, m2! Glad to hear things are working out well for you. 999, my DD could NOT wait to get her permit. She has had drivers ed and one behind-the-wheel lesson before I let her drive with me. Since she had done freeway, day, dusk and night driving, I guess I felt I should let her drive to the mall (short freeway trip) or anything. Now I'm rethinking this, it's too dangerous, and there are great suggestions here to work around this. Suzie, that is *great* that he already has that type of experience!
Originally Posted By trailsend LuLu ~ Let me say this. Atlanta is one of the hardest places to drive because of heavy traffic going 80 mph in 7 lanes of traffic. I mean, cars zipping in and out of lanes; great for learning reaction time. I knew if my kids could drive in Atlanta, they could drive anywhere. And since they both went out of state to college, many trips were made. Talk about nerve wracking!!!!! Thank God for cell phones ~ I would call mine every 30 min. The one thing that I feel is so important; just think about it. Why wouldn't you want your kids to know how to drive the very best they can in the world we live in?? Don't keep them from being good drivers just because it's just too hard a job to do. It is hard; but your peace of mind is worth it.
Originally Posted By debtee We are having such a problem in Australia at the moment with teenage drivers on their P plates beng killed mainly late at night. We have vast open roads and this is leading to many deaths. There has been 5 young people lose their lives in the last month it's so tragic! The general feeling is that these young drivers are not getting enough driving experience before they are left in charge of a car by themselves. Also Speed has played a part. So anything you can do Lulu in allowing your daughter to have as much practise as possible will help her when she is driving alone in the future. I learnt to drive a stick ( we call it a mannual car )in a car-park long before I was allowed out into the real roads. My mum insisted on it and now I'm so pleased she did as like Lisa said as an adult I can now drive any car without any probs. I wish you good luck and good patience Lulu!
Originally Posted By SuzieQ Once the permit becomes official and my son is driving more frequently, I'm sure I'll be back typing stories with still shaking fingers!
Originally Posted By Big Thunder OMG I feel for you Lulu. I gotta plead hypocrite here. I learned to drive when I was around 13. It was illegal, but I'd sneak a few drives and I loved it. I remember being younger [around 8-9] and my dad used to teach others to drive, cousins, family friends, etc. They used to like my dad cuzz he had a cool car and he allowed certain teenagers to drive it. He also taught many how to ride motorcycles, but when I was around 12-13 I'd ask if I could ride one of his bikes and the answer was always a loud sarcastic "NO" Same went for his cars later on. I was always resentful that my dad never taught me how to drive, nor did he ever let me drive his cars or motorcycles. Now flash forward to the current year, Thunder family household. My soon to be 15 year old daughter has been talking "driving" for a year. I dread it miserably. I dreaded her riding a bike for Pete's sake, now a car? A part of me wants her to move forward and learn to drive. I drive her to school when I am around, it's 30 minutes each way, that's 2 hours a day. Frankly it's a problem because when I am out of town it's hard to get rides for her. If she had a car and a license, it would free me up. But sheesh last year in our town 3 kids were killed driving away from their school, that makes me worry. Plus, the male chauvinist in me thinks that guys are probably better drivers than girls, but I cant dare say that out loud. They don't teach drivers ed at my daughter's school like they did at my school when I was a teen. So my thought is to take her to the college parking lot at night and show her the basics of driving, and then teach her traffic laws etc, parking, etc. I agree with those that pointed out that in school they just drive regardless, many times during the most heavy traffic conditions. I know she will do fine, but as her dad, I know I will be a nervous wreck. It's kinda like a surgeon operating on his own child. It's different.
Originally Posted By LuLu >>They don't teach drivers ed at my daughter's school like they did at my school when I was a teen.<< BT, I think it's the law in CA that you have to have driver's ed and behind-the-wheel from a licensed school before you can (legally) drive with a licensed adult. The public schools no longer provide this service, and you have to pay, it's close to $300. But I don't think they can get a permit without the classroom part, or a license without the behind-the-wheel part. Parents don't count! (Probably a good thing!)
Originally Posted By peeaanuut I have not read the entire thread so if this has been mentioned that im sorry its redundant. But if you feel uncomfortable with her driving, dont have her drive. Your unconfortness will translate to her driving habits. If you constantly jump and deep breath and sigh, than she will do the same. She will react and than think instead of think and react. Her driving habits will become what your passanger habits are (which you already said were bad). This is a 2 way street here and your both in a learning curve. She needs to learn to drive and you need to learn to be a passanger. What you are trying to instill in Dr Frootloop is the confidence to be able to drive a vehicle and react to situations on the road, read other drivers and road conditions, be able to navigate properly. If you are not confident in her driving abilities than she wont be and that can actually be a dangerous situation. Now that being said, I say let her drive when and were you feel comfortable because the more confortable you are, the more relaxed and comfortable she will be and she will retain the information you are passing on to her instead of just worrying about not killing you. My driving experience started at a younger age and I had several instructors. First my mom and my dad, than a few race drivers that my father knew and trusted. Than I went to an advanced driving school and a defensive and offensive driving program. So driving with different instructors I got a good feel of different driving habits from others. Also I learned alot of extra car control that most people dont have (but admitedly will almost never need). The moral, if your not confortable, she is not going to be.
Originally Posted By LuLu And trailsend, I'm totally with ya, I think I just need to build up her experience before I let her back on the freeway with Mom! Another side note, it's required to have 10 hours behind the wheel before getting your license (which isn't nearly enough, is it?). DD has maybe 5 months to go yet, and already about 3 hours experience. (And I'm still alive! :-D)
Originally Posted By trailsend peeaanuut just remininded of something. Here in Atlanta, and I think it is at Atlanta Motor Speedway, they offer a course of defensive driving. It is quite expensive, but the results are worth it. I'm sure other large racing venues probably do the same.
Originally Posted By SuzieQ LuLu, this site has great information regarding teenage drivers. Scary, but good. <a href="http://www.hwysafety.org/research/default.html" target="_blank">http://www.hwysafety.org/resea rch/default.html</a> Hey Dave - let us know if that truth hurts, will ya? <a href="http://www.hwysafety.org/research/fatality_facts/gender.html" target="_blank">http://www.hwysafety.org/resea rch/fatality_facts/gender.html</a> <<About one-third of all motor vehicle crash deaths in 2004 were females. Females accounted for 30 percent of passenger vehicle driver deaths, 48 percent of passenger deaths, 31 percent of pedestrian deaths, 13 percent of bicyclist deaths, and 11 percent of motorcyclist deaths.>> And a report in the teenage driver section shows the crash rate is much higher amongst male drivers as well, LOL.
Originally Posted By Big Thunder Lulu Yeah I knew that I'd have to pay for a driving school, which is no problem. I still want to teach her some myself though. Actually my plan was to teach her last year so she'd have a head start, but fear, anxiety, and spite set in. Some of the kids at her school have licenses, and a car, but still choose not to drive. I am not sure why. I haven't click SuzieQ's links yet, but I'm sure it will be similar to what was just reporting on the news about teenage accident accident and mortality rates. Which should not come as any surprise. We all know that teenage drivers pay higher insurance rates, and there is a reason why actuaries set those rates. Peeaanuut, you make a very good point, thanks for reminding us of that. Dave, we all know the truth, and many times the females cause males to react different when driving... I know Mrs Thunder does when I drive [sheesh]
Originally Posted By SuzieQ LOL, Big Thunder! In a report in the teenage driving section they said both male and female driver accident rates almost double when there is a male passenger. The safest combination was male driver with female passenger.
Originally Posted By beamerdog All children in my brother's and my family must drive with a parent for at least 500 miles after they get their license before they get to drive on their own. And we've had them drive in every conceivable situation (we live close to Philly *and* farmland (narrow streets, no lights, sometimes no lines). I lost my vision for 3 months just when my youngest got his license, so he drove me all over tarnation (probably about 3,000 miles, lol). He is an awesome driver, still drives me around some and I trust him enough that I can close my eyes and go to sleep when he drives. He hated the rule when he was going thru it, but now thanks me for the experience. My suggestion: set a number of miles that he has to drive with you or his dad. You'll calm down alot after being in the car with a young driver for that amount of time. Kind of like exposure therapy. It's either that, or have a heart attack from the stress, lol. Good luck!
