Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Should your 16 year old get a car?
NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Perish the thought immediately. This is the voice of experience. I will tell you why... Our first four got cars when they got their licenses. They saved their money since they were preteens with the great incentive that they would get a car. Everyone was happy with this arrangement...they could drive themselves to and from practices, stay after school for clubs, get milk on a moments notice etc.... Then they totaled the cars. Not because of treacherous conditions or any illegal substance . They are smart, (straight A students), responsible (leaders in school) who demonstrated sound judgement most of the time. They seemed perfectly able and ready to be driving all around independently. So, when our insurance gave us money to buy ANOTHER car, they crashed that car too! All four of the kids! 2 cars each ! That is 8 destroyed cars. Unbelievable really and thanfully no one ever got hurt..but the experiences are not good for anyone. A 16 year old does not have the experience to be driving at will....because he is 16 . Our second son just turned 15 in Oct and has his heart set on getting a car..he doesn't understand that he is not getting a car. Looking back at these car wrecks it is pretty unbelievable that we as parents would have kept repeating the same actions! And we were in a hurry too to get them driving again so they would not be afraid to drive. So I am telling you now if you 16 year old wants a car...., don't do it....don't even think about it!
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Yes, totally agree, they can drive your car at 16 but having their own is too much. 2 of ours were ruined for lack of oil in the engine and two were out of inspection for over a year!! Plus they never seem to wreck when driving the "family" car, and curfews are easier to enforce.
ReplyDeleteLOl Love this and thank you for Great Sounded advice! My oldest turns 16 next year in August. I think I will now hold off in purchasing a vehicle for him until he has at least 2 years of driving experience:)
ReplyDeleteI can speak from personal experience when I was 16 I drove too fast! I got into one minor and one serious accident while in high school and ruined the car -and was not wearing my seatbelt - and am very lucky to be alive. I look back and realize I did not have the maturity to own a car at that time.
ReplyDeleteMy parents were the type growing up that did not give me or my sister any handouts. Anything we had, once we hit the age where we could work, was on our dime. We grew up in an affluent community where a good portion of the kids in the HS had their own cars if not more then one gifted to them by their parents. I resented mine for not being part of the "norm" but looking back now I understand why and the life lessons learned by earning things on my own.
ReplyDeleteI am with self pay for a car (gas, repairs, insurance, and monthly payment) - with privilege come responsibility. Several 16 year old teens can drive wisely, and care for a car, others can not. And some will for a while then need to have the opportunity removed ie car sold or licence removed either by parents or legeally if a ticket, accident etc occurs.
ReplyDeleteLimited freedom to drive to school, and certain activities can beintroduced; later as they mature and meet other agreed upon goals (honor roll, respectful language to those in authority, completion of chores without reminders, etc). We do not all succeed on the first try. Some responsibility can be given, then more or less as appropriate.
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