My friend's son asked his dad (my friend) if he and one of his friends could use the family car for a road trip going half way across the country for about a week. He said that he will be happy to give the family his somewhat less reliable car to use. My friend said no way at first, but is now starting to consider it. I think he is starting to think that if he says no, his son will try to do it in his own unreliable car. He asked me for my advice and I know that they are both really good kids and would never do any drinking, partying, etc (not to mention they are both Mormon). I'm just not sure if it's a good idea or not, though. Any parents out there who want to give their input.
2007-01-15 17:31:42 · 13 answers · asked by tooqerq 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
Look, your friend will have to judge the driving skills and emotional maturity and responsibility of his son, and the other friend in the car. None of us can assess that properly. Having said that, .......I know there are parents out there who have 18 year olds away from home, ...even driving Humvees and tanks over in Iraq and Afghanistan; so, I can readily conceive that a 19 year old can be both responsible and mature.
From a legal point of view, you have to consider the issue of liability for personal injuries and property damage in the event of a collision,....even if it is not the teenager's fault. The parent and his insurance company bear a financial responsibility, as well as the juvenile's insurance company, if he is not on a family policy. Also, if it is a trip across country, ....who is driving? The son, or both the son and his friend. Does the father trust the other kid as well? What if they switch off driving, and the other one is driving in an accident? IS there medical coverage in their insurance policies for more than the legal minimum in your state? Suppose the son has an accident, but the passenger is permanently disabled in a car crash? You see what I mean?
There is a reason why some car rental agencies decline to rent a car to a driver under 21 as a policy. Even if they have a good record and carry insurance. It comes from sad experience in the statistics of auto accidents.
So, your friend needs to consider a lot about responsibility--including the ability to be responsible for a hell of a lot of bills if something does go tragically wrong.
2007-01-15 19:04:40 · answer #1 · answered by JOHN B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not fairly adequate knowledge right here for any individual to truthfully supply sound advocate. What form of vehicle are you using? Is it a 4 cylinder and in case your injector totally fails you can be jogging on 3 cylinders? Where are your using to; are there Mountains, steep grades worried? Even if you happen to are not able to come up with the money for to exchange the injector make certain you will have adequate price range to be had for a holiday down. Do you will have AAA? This is not fairly a query of giving your vehicle a relaxation however will the auto make the complete 16hr commute?
2016-09-07 22:51:09 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you say no you risk having the child developing negative feelings towards you especially if the trip ends up cancelled because of a lack of car.
Also, you have to consider his maturity, not his age. Some 15 yr olds can be more matured than 19 yr old. By allowing him to have the car also show you have trust in him. Which is usually requited with respect.
2007-01-15 17:52:53 · answer #3 · answered by yminisa 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not a parent but I'm certainly old enough to be the parent of a 19 year-old.
In my opinion, 19 is waaayy old enough to be responsible and intelligent enough to drive yourself half way across the country. The issue is whether or not he wants to have that much mileage and wear&tear on the car. What it boils down is if your friend wants to lend them the car as a favor, a sort of gift. That's just something he has to decide for himself, wouldn't you say?
2007-01-15 17:43:32 · answer #4 · answered by bmi=22 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, I would not let my 19 yo son do the trip. Sorry, I run strict, but this could be why my soon to be 21 yo son has never had an accident, received a ticket or got into trouble due to alcohol or drugs.
2007-01-15 17:40:22 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I DON'T EVEN HAVE TO READ ON AND MY ANSWER IS
HELL NO, THE REASON IS ,THAT IS MY CAR AND IF MY
DAUGHTER HAD ASK ME. MY ANSWER WOULD BE NO
RIGHT AWAY. BUT THE GOOD PART ON HER BEHALF
SHE STARTED WORKING AT THE AGE 16 AND BOUGHT
HER OWN CAR AT THE AGE OF 18 AND NOW SHE IS 22 AND ON HER OWN WITH HER OWN LITTLE FAMILY. IT DOESN'TB
MATTER IF THEY ARE MORMON, WHAT DOES MATTER IS
ARE THEY MATURE ENOUGH TO GO OR ARE THEY PREPARED ENOUGH TO GO OR DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH
MONEY TO GO ROUND TRIP. WHAT HAPPENS IF THE
CAR BREAKS DOWN ARE THEY PREPARED TO HAVE EXTRA CASH TO REPAIR AND PAY FOR LABOR. THING
HAPPEN AND THEY HAVE TO BE PREPARED, MONEY
FOR EATING AS EVERYONE DOES EAT. THEY HAVE TO
THINK OF ALL THAT. JUST MAKE SURE THEY ARE PREPARED BEFORE MAKING A TRIP AND IF THEY CAN
BACK EACH OTHER UP AND NOT LET ANYONE GO AS
A LEACH THEN EVERYTHING IS OKAY BY THE PARENT.
BUT I AS A PARENT WILL SAY NO TO THAT QUESTION.
2007-01-15 17:54:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
A 19 yr old needs to have someone beside him that's had some road experience...especially since it's his first time. It doesn't matter if they're good kids...good doesn't compensate what experience can give.
I wouldn't let my son drive cross country by himself unless he's been on a few long distance road trips with me and is able to handle the different road conditions that come with it.
2007-01-15 17:41:32 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
No and let me tell you why. When I was 20 i took a trip ALL the way across the country in my own car all by myself and it was miserable. I got lost and didn't know what to do. Whe i finally got to FLorida and met up with my Fiancee it only got worse from there. He left me in Pennsylvania and once again i was left to fend for myself alone in a big world. even if he/she goes with friends its still not a good idea. Plus plane tickets are cheaper all around and you don't have to worry about them ending up lost somewhere or breaking down in the middle of knowhere like I did. They go from point A to B and back again with no complacations
2007-01-15 17:43:12 · answer #8 · answered by lucky_blue_clover 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I wouldn't. I need my car. He needs to be responsible for himself by 19 so should make sure his own car would make the trip and set up a plan for if things go wrong
2007-01-15 17:41:03 · answer #9 · answered by Rachel 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on the kids not their chronological age.
I know 30 year olds I wouldn't loan my car to drive to the store.
That said, I have only known a very few 16 year olds I'd loan a car to for any extended trip.
2007-01-15 17:42:24 · answer #10 · answered by Gary 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋