I know a fair bit about the dangers of teen driving. I mean, I'm driving G and Patrick to the high school for summer school during June, and if *this* is how some teens drive when they know people are watching, I shudder to think how they behave when we're not. But I also know that there are far more dangerous oldsters out there on the roads during the day who really don't get what they're doing anymore.
So what does Allstate want to do? Just eliminate the *teen* drivers' ability to get unrestricted licenses until they're 18. Let the old people continue to crash their cars at will! Click on "provisions of the Safe Act" after you click here to find out that Mrs. C is not making this up.
Ok, fine, fine, you say. Teens can be really dangerous, so let's make it so they can't drive until they're adults. If they can't vote, why should they be driving machinery?
Well, I disagree with you... but I can see your point. Make the age of adulthood 18, but let them do *everything* adults can do at that age. Smoke cigarettes. Enter stupid sweepstakes. Drink until they puke. All that stuff you did when you were 14, but was old and dopey by the time you were 21. (Ok, but I never entered stupid sweepstakes. Sorry.)
If that's what you want to vote for in your silly little state, then fine. But do we need to have CONGRESS make all our laws for us nationally? I'm getting a little tired of Congress deciding everything about everything. States like mine get run roughshod that way by big bullies like New York, California and Massachusetts (the evil trifecta... and their supervillain friends like New Jersey and Vermont). It seems a little unconstitutional to me. True, we all get a vote for our congressguy and all that... but I always thought that the powers not delegated specifically to the Federal government were supposed to be left to the states.
You know, the states?
Here in Missour-ah, Patrick can drive at 15 (stricter than Kansas, which lets you drive at 14). He can take drivers' ed and the whole bit. He just didn't want to this year. He would prefer to wait until he's older. Could you please NOT sign him up for drivers' ed this year? He's not ready to be so responsible yet. (sigh. ok.) We love Patrick. I suppose he's welcome to be as strange as he likes, because it saves me money. In other strange news, he also says that God will tell him who to marry when he's older, so he'll probably find someone great unless God gets all Hosea on us. (Note to parents: maybe it isn't *always* best to pray "God's Will" over your kid, ok?)
In any event, I think every teen who is going to want to drive in the next few years should read what Allstate has to say about how competent they are. Do you really want to give your business to a company that thinks you're liable to crash your car *just* because of your age? That you are inherently irresponsible? That you and your parents can't figure out what's best for your family? Hmmm.... no.
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Look Out, Dad!!
My father is the purple dot above the blue weather station. He's juuust outside Milton's evacuation zone. Well! My brother and I jus...
I think Patrick sounds like a great kid. I hope you are grateful for some of his wisdom--I'm sure you are, because I know he has great parents. We actually don't want our kids to drive until they are 18. But I do agree that its silly to say you can vote and go to war at 18, but can't drink until 21. Eighteen is not some magic number, what I want to protect my kids from as long as possible is all of the other stupid people out there (young and old alike). I think most 16 year olds, mine may be included in this, are not mature enough to make good decisions about friends, movies, and music much less driving. I hope mine aren't included in that--I've only got 14+ years to work on them.
ReplyDeleteI think that's *fine* if you don't want your kids driving until they're 18. I'm more than a little nervous at the prospect myself!!
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm used to the expectation that the driving age would be lower, and dislike the idea of an INSURANCE company telling PARENTS and Congress what the best thing for our children would be.
I've also heard of the idea of tying the drivers' license in with high school graduation. No diploma, no license.
Um, dropouts have a hard enough time earning a living, thanks. And can we get any more involved in private lives??
That's very interesting. I didn't know that driving ages varied by state in the United States, and I'm an American!
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Yup, every state should be able to make all kinds of different laws about everything to confuse and fine the out-of-staters who visit!
ReplyDeleteHey, it saves me money as long as I never leave.
In other news, someone from the STATE OF MISSOURI government came by to look at this post particularly.
Hiiiii! I'm sure you can tell where I live by my IP address. From that, you can use census data to figure out who I am and the names of all my children. And pet cat. :]
You're right, some olde people shouldn't be driving. Last year during a kids parade, an old lade drove her car into the parade. When the cop tried to pull her over, she just kept going.
ReplyDelete!!
ReplyDeleteI hope no one was hurt!!