Speeding

Do you let your teen drive around with other teens?

I’m 15 almost 16, and I have a lot of friends who are a year older, and drive. I know them through sports and hanging out and stuff. So the thing is, my mom doesn’t ever want me in a car with them. I see why, you know, because statistics are that young male drivers have more accidents. However, these people that I go with are safer drivers than my own parents. They almost never go over the speed limit. They know they don’t want to get pulled over, so they’re not stupid. My mom thinks they’re dangerous drivers, and doesn’t listen when I try to tell her they’re not bad. She drove around with her friends when she was 15, and she won’t give me a good reason as to why I can’t go with them. What do you think?
Also, I do go driving. But I have to lie when we do, make up some excuse about where I’m going. And I don’t like lying to her, but we’re in a small town, there’s nothing to do but hang out, and this is the best way for us.

Um, she’ll have to loosen the chains sometime. Does she expect you to ride your bike until you’re 30? She knows as soon as you go to college you’ll be driving with whoever you want, whenever, so I think this is just a little bit of a control-freak situation that stems from that realization. Her decisions are to suit her and make her comfortable, not you, and I would let her know that. She’ll get pissed but she’ll eventually come around. If not, then you’re screwed, because there’s no way to disobey over-protective parents without alienating them, so you just have to choose what’s more important I guess.

Tyler’s Song – RIP – Drinking & Driving Related Accident – Zabeth Dkos