catlingirl
Active Member
Thanks for all the advice and experiences you all have shared. It s helping me make a decision.
Kid is 18 wants to drive to OK over winter break
- Thread starter catlingirl
- Start date
By himself?
No and hell no.
That's what I say. Even iffn' he is with another of like age, that statistically more than doubles the chances of stupid/immature things happening in the negative manner.
If he is paying for the car and insurance, I'd be more likely to allow it.
I was an eighteen year old driver once, but for the grace of God a few times, I made it unscathed, but it coulda been way worse for me or somebody else.
Larry Gude
Strung Out
There has to be some basis to say "Ok, it's a big step but, you've done the beach/mountains/3 hours/5 hours and you've demonstrated that it's a good bet you're ready to take a big step" and the limited experience cited ain't enough in my book. This sounds to me like taking off training wheels and saying "OK, you can go out in traffic now..."
Larry Gude
Strung Out
pelers
Active Member
Late to the game on this, but it really depends on your son's maturity. Tell him to sit down and plan out the route. What roads will he be taking, where will he be stopping for the night, what detours does he plan to make, etc. Go over it together and form your opinion if he's ready or not based on the route he plans. Give him a couple of quizzes about what to do in certain situations (flat tire, mechanical failure, bad weather) and see how he answers.
ETA: I made my first cross country drive at 19, from WA to SC, then up to MD. Solo. I'd had some experience driving intermediate distances (3-4 hours) from driving to university (eastern WA) and over to Seattle. It was fine. When you get too tired, stop driving. Get out and stretch periodically. Don't drive through the Midwest while Sturgis is going on unless you don't mind sleeping in a parking lot. Don't drive through the south after a hurricane destroys New Orleans. Don't mock the puny mountains of the east coast, for they are filled with hours of 25mph switchbacks. Don't rely on your phone's GPS because if you lose signal, you lose your maps.
ETA: I made my first cross country drive at 19, from WA to SC, then up to MD. Solo. I'd had some experience driving intermediate distances (3-4 hours) from driving to university (eastern WA) and over to Seattle. It was fine. When you get too tired, stop driving. Get out and stretch periodically. Don't drive through the Midwest while Sturgis is going on unless you don't mind sleeping in a parking lot. Don't drive through the south after a hurricane destroys New Orleans. Don't mock the puny mountains of the east coast, for they are filled with hours of 25mph switchbacks. Don't rely on your phone's GPS because if you lose signal, you lose your maps.
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glhs837
Power with Control
Phone GPS is a lot better these days. Actual GPS chips reading the satelittes, not just guessing based on tower locations, and I'm pretty sure Google Maps has an offline mode.
catlingirl
Active Member
His father and I both told him no. He wasn't too happy. oh well.If he was going to stay there to live we probably would've let him go. I'm thinking the spring or summer will be a better time to go.After he has more expereince and can save some money for the trip. Thanks again for all the help.etc
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Good call.
itsbob
I bowl overhand
18 years old?
There are 18 year olds in Afghanistan, Iraq, Phillipines, Africa... that have been there for 6 or more months..
Driving in a heated, safe car with nobody shooting at him kind of pales in comparison..
It's kind of sad (yet cool) that an 18 year old asked permission... 18 I was driving tanks and APCs around Europe.. no adult supervision on the week-end.. etc.. etc. Young adults will rise to the occasion, if allowed to have an occasion.
There are 18 year olds in Afghanistan, Iraq, Phillipines, Africa... that have been there for 6 or more months..
Driving in a heated, safe car with nobody shooting at him kind of pales in comparison..
It's kind of sad (yet cool) that an 18 year old asked permission... 18 I was driving tanks and APCs around Europe.. no adult supervision on the week-end.. etc.. etc. Young adults will rise to the occasion, if allowed to have an occasion.
TPD
the poor dad
18 and never driven more than an hour away? Never took friends to Kings Dominion? Never went to a concert in DC? No trip to the beach for a weekend with the girl/boy friend? Who is to blame for none of this driving taking place?
Beyond seeking approval, does the bolded mean the kid wanted you to foot the bill for the trip too?
Larry Gude
Strung Out
But, that's not the world we live in anymore. If this was 1978 and I was 50 I'd probably be with you, sure, let the kid go. Maybe.
Plus, an 18 year old deploying to A'stan has been through some training and isn't being sent by himself. The fact that she asked indicates that we're not talking about a kid who has done lots of stuff in his 18 years including showing decent judgment and competency. I'm with you on the 'never gonna learn if you don't try' part. But, this is a pretty big step.
acommondisaster
Active Member
The Navy gave me an M14 in 1983, having never handled a gun other than 1 afternoon in the shooting range with a 45 in bootcamp in the 70's. We spent half a day shooting the M14 - I weighed about 100lbs and that sucker put me on my butt just about every time I tried shooting and I had a bruise on my shoulder the size of my head that was black and purple and green for weeks. After that afternoon, I was deemed ready to be part of the Emergency Reaction Force, should we ever be overrun by Cubans (I was in Homestead, FL). But this is off topic, but I just wanted to share. Because it's Christmas eve and I'm working.
acommondisaster
Active Member
Good call. Especially when you included the "can save some money for the trip" makes it sound like he's not ready quite yet.
I guess I watch too much Investigation Discovery channel, but there are so many young people who just disappear. And 18 is still gullible enough to get into some trouble you might not expect them to. They're at the age when they think they're invisible and can handle themselves around strangers. And if he's scrimping on money, he might not stop and sleep when he really should. Good call.