POLL: Should Parents Ever Let Their Unlicensed Children Drive?
When, or is it, ok to let your children drive before they have their license? Vote in our poll!
On Wednesday night, an 11-year-old girl behind the wheel of a white Lexus mistook the accelerator for the brake and hit a home in Englishtown. With information from eye-witnesses, police learned that the car belonged to a Manalapan woman. When found and questioned, the woman admitted to letting her daughter drive the car, switching places with her after the accident, and fleeing the scene.
This incident prompts the question, should parents ever let their unlicensed children get behind the wheel of a car? Is it ok if they're a certain age? Is it ok if you are teaching them how to drive? Or, should children never be allowed to drive until they have a licensed permit? What do you think?
Vote in our poll and explain your opinion in our comments!
Peggy Berger
6:40 am on Friday, June 8, 2012
My son is 15 an passed his written test. I started allowing him to park the car in the driveway to get the feel of the brakes and gas with me in the passenger seat. It is a clear understanding that he will not drive until he has his license but I want to give him little instances to get the feeling!
Jerry
1:04 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
Peggy, I hope your insurance agent doesn't read Patch.
rose
1:14 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
Right before they get their permits, in a secluded area or empty parking lot where no one can get hurt. Before that there is no reason simply because it's illegal.
sheri korman
5:15 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
Your survey is open to interpretation. If a 16 year old teenager has passed his or her written driver's test in school, it is one thing to practice parking the car in an abandoned lot. An 11 year old child driving on the street is a totally different story. However, parents really should NOT teach their children to drive. Spend the $350 and send your child to an accredited driving school. We parents cannot teach our children the same way the driving schools do; most of all, that parent that 11 year old child is the most incompetent of all.
Retro Richard
12:26 pm on Thursday, June 21, 2012
Here in China driving and accoutrements thereof are big business. Driving schools are right up at the top, just behind the car sellers. AND...they reek! Yes, this country is new to private car ownership, but the attitude of "other countries made mistakes too," does not serve them well. Learning from other experience would be much better! I have for my young friends, conducted my own "school." Behind the wheel time in controlled areas and with me in the vehicle at all times, for attention to my driving and running commentary. The "attention" is tested informally in group or one on one discussions. I believe my own skills owe a lot to family members and friends who appreciated my interest and took the time to "instruct" me in the right way to go about this motoring business. I memorized basic behavior and procedure, and got the chance to practice in safe areas. As soon as I had my learner's permit they upped the level of interaction and experience, making me a co-driver...or the solo driver on jaunts to the big city for shopping or recreation. I can't imagine having had the wonderful life with vehicles on and off the road that I've had, without their "gift" of patient instruction and sharing of skill and knowledge. A personal aside...or another one: driving schools are another way to shift responsibility for this kind of sharing and guiding that is largely absent in our modern societies, a sad lack of commonalty and concern for our fellow beings.
John Tyler
6:29 pm on Friday, June 8, 2012
Any bets that there is a divorce or something going on with the family, and mom just wanted to be the best friend her daughter could have, and so she was behind the wheel. Did the mother get a ticket for endangering a minor????