Quote of the Day

From an Associated Press story by Ben Feller on driver education classes:

Instruction isn't always the problem, said Mike Orr, who teaches driver's education at Rockridge High School in Taylor Ridge, Ill. Within two weeks of class, he says he can tell which kids will be bad drivers because they lack maturity and a sense of responsibility.

"Driving expertise comes from attitude, not just skills," Orr said. "You can't legislate parenting skills. Those responsibilities have to be taught day one in the classroom, from kindergarten all the way through. But more importantly, it's got to be taught at home."

***

When I was hit by a teen driver, her mom showed up at the scene asking me not to call the police or my insurer and report the accident. Her daughter, she confided, had been in an accident earlier that same week. She was a "good girl" and her mom didn't want her to lose her driver's license or insurance. She was 16 and had her own car.

Hello? Anybody home? If your daughter, who I admit seemed very sweet, is involved in TWO accidents in one week and they're both her fault, then maybe she shouldn't be driving. I don't care about her GPA or how responsible she is at home, what matters is her ability to DRIVE well.

Comments

[Mary]

You are so right, V. What was that mother thinking? I hope that young girl learned her lesson. I just read that article online last night. It caught my eye because my son was asking me about driver's education last week. I still have two years before he's driving but I am very nervous about it. He is a good kid, but so was I and I remember how little I understood the potential consequences of poor driving. I am so glad we have provisional licenses here in So-So Cal.

That instructor is right and I hope my husband and I have instilled enough sense of responsibility in him and modeled accepting responsibility. I witnessed an accident where no one was seriously hurt but it was caused by a very young driver in a huge SUV. It could have been much, much more serious.

[Lynn]

Amen. Driving is a privilege, not a God-given right.

[Nancy]

Amen to the quote from the article and your remarks. I think too many parents are concerned with making sure their kids get what they want -- regardless of cost or inconvenience to the rest of the world. I hope to adequately prepare my kids for driving before they are even behind the wheel, but once they do start driving, they will lose privileges if they can't handle it responsibly.