Teen Driving Privileges?

I applaud you and your good sense. My daughter is almost 17 and does not have her drivers license yet. She has to learn a lot more because in MN there is no jr/sr status. She isn't allowed to have a group of friends in a vehicle if she is getting a ride, it has to be just two of them. Or an adult has to be driving. We live in a smaller town so the small local schools take turns hold some of the more advanced classes, she has to take the bus, unlike others who drive themselves everyday to class. Unfortunately there was an accident a few years ago where a girl rolled her car driving to class. This really opened my daughters eyes to the fact that accidents can happen. No she doesn't complain, because then she knows we will say no. She recently went on a date with a boy and they were allowed to drive themselves. Yes I trust her, but with a deadly weapon?? No she is too young to understand all the consequences but soon she will know. Good job parenting!

Your kid, your prerogative. I think you guys are really smart to impose limitations.

My boys are very young (4 & 6 1/2), so I can't speak as a parent. And I'm learning very quickly just how much something applying to your own kid can change your outlook! But I can only speak from my own driving days.

When I was 16, the only cell phones in existence were huge shoe box phones, so there was not such thing as texting and driving drinking and driving was the only thing we really were lectured about.

My parents did allow me full privileges the day I got my license. I could drive my friends, my brother and sister, drive myself to school, etc. I got rides home from friends all the time prior to getting my license, and I honestly don't remember if I ever asked my parents permission to do that. Not sure it would have even dawned on me to do so.

That begin said, in Illinois they have changed the rules quite a bit, and there are restrictions about the number of passengers that are not related to the driver. Something like the driver has to have had the license for one year before they can have more than one passenger that isn't a brother or sister.

I mention all of this, because I'm sure that states have begun these restrictions because too many (not all) teen drivers simply were not ready for the responsibility. That being said, I was, and most of my friends were.

I think it's a great idea for you to be aware of the responsibility and what she is capable of, but I would hesitate to impose restrictions just for the sake of restrictions. Is she responsible? Do you have concerns about her ability to be a safe driver? Don't restrict her just because you think that would make you a better parent - a more strict parent. Give her some opportunities to show you that she can make good decisions and gradually loosen the reins.

I absolutely agree with you. My state has graduated licensing too. In our state:

- A teen can get a learner's permit at age 16. After 6 months with a permit and the completion of all requirements, the teen can get a Junior Operator's License. Anyone under 18 who has a license is considered JO here.

- Within the first 6 months of having a JO license, drivers may not have any passengers under age 18 who are not relatives. Driving a sibling somewhere is fine, driving a friend (or two or three) is not.

- JO drivers cannot drive between 12:30 and 5:00 AM unless with a parent and can't use a cell phone while driving.

The restrictions above are all sensible to me, but I would have no problem laying down stricter rules if necessary. Your child's life is too important - stick to your guns!

My kids have to call when they get where they are going. They can't have extra people in the car without permission from me and the other student's parents. They can't just take the car and go where they want.
We have rules...

LBC

My kids were never allowed to have friends in the car. I never let them drive to school together. O ly driver in the car. They knew since we live in a small town, that if they did not adhere to these rules, I would know about it before they got home. Once they graduated and proved themselves to be responsible a friend was ok. Never did I let my kids be in a car together. My husband was a police officer and volunteer firefighter and saw too much in his lifetime. They were also not allowed to get in the car with another friend. So we were pretty strict about that.

for the first couple of months, our sons were not allowed to have passengers. We eased off of that restriction once they had some skill behind the wheel.

Currently, our 16yo can drive 1-2 friends, but that 2nd one is very rare since the car's backseat is torturous. :) He doesn't even like putting our big dogs back there!

Other restrictions: he does not get to cruise our small town, unless he has a definite destination. (he's learned to fabricate this very well!)
He has to tell us if he's hitting the interstate...all part of living in a small town.
He also has to tell us if he's heading out of town & hitting those curvy roads filled with stupid deer. (although this rule's kinda stupid, because our niece had a deer hit her in their driveway tonight!)
& because he drives a vintage Camaro with t-tops, he cannot remove the tops if he's outside "city limits"/on the hwy. He has been informed if we catch him with the tops off on the hwy, then the car will be sold the very next day. (at this point he believes us, & he knows the Parent Grapevine is alive & well.)

Here's my Deep Dark Secret: my younger son is not aware that at age 16-17, my Sis & I were driving ourselves + a friend to our Lake House. We drove from St Louis....to the lake 2 1/2 hours away! Not sharing that one with him! At this point, he's made 1 trip into St Louis....90 minute drive & we were in a convoy....& he had his 25yo brother with him. I only had to call ?twice to have his brother to tell him to slow down! LOL

He LOVES his car. :) Final thought: your kids, your rules.