Do Your Parent Job: Be Firm on This Driving Issue!

I recently wrote a blog about my teenage daughter’s texting prowess (“My Daughter, The Phone Killer”).  Some of the comments expressed concern about texting and driving. 

 

As a mother, I value my child’s safety.  In my opinion, driving is not a right, but a privilege and a major responsibility.  I have always made a big deal about driving.  Both of my children went through rigorous training before being allowed to drive. 

 

My children were not allowed any deviations from the rules listed below.  They had to satisfy each and every one of these requirements.  Before being allowed to garner their driver’s license, each one of them had to:

 

1.     Take the longest and most thorough training available at their school.  I can’t remember my son’s (that was ten years ago), but my daughter had to take a six week course, split into two modules: three weeks in class training where she learnt all the rules of the road, watched accident videos and discussed the responsibility of driving at length, and three weeks of “on the road training” with the instructor by her side.

2.     Drive with me in the car extensively.

3.     Take the BMW driver’s course.  My son took the one day class and my daughter underwent the two day, in-depth training at the BMW Driving School in Greer, SC.  Each road condition was replicated on the track and they were taught how to handle it.  I met parents who flew in from all over the United States to bring in their teenagers to this life saving course.  The training is about a thousand dollars, but an accident or even a ticket is a lot more expensive than that (plus, how can you put a price on your child?).

4.     After graduating from all three courses (the school’s, the mom’s and the BMW driver’s training), they were allowed to drive, but not before being fully inducted in the responsibility of driving.  My rule was simple: I would provide the car, gas, maintenance and insurance, my kid would provide “Responsible driving”.  That meant: no texting and driving, no phone conversation using the receiver (only headset conversations allowed), no shenanigans from friends in the car while driving (I remember; I was a teenager once…).  Seat belts must be worn by driver and ALL passengers at ALL times.  One accident or ticket would mean the end of their driving privilege until they could pay for their own car and insurance.  My son is 25 and to this day he has a spotless driving record (Thank God!!!!) 

 

Last year I lost my beloved ex-brother in law in a fatal car crash.  He was not wearing his seat belt.  He had several major driving infractions in the past, all of which had been resolved and dealt with by his parents.  He was never made to suffer the repercussions of his irresponsible driving and he eventually paid for it with his life.  Loving parents must have a stoic attitude and be very firm on this issue, for their child’s life hangs in the balance…

 

Driving is not a right; Driving is a privilege and a responsibility.

 

Please share this video about Texting and Driving with your child (twenty-somethings are just as guilty of this behavior…)!  I watched it with my 16 year old daughter and it brought both of us to tears.  The main part occurs in the first 30 seconds, so you have no excuse not to watch it. 

 

Stay safe!  Do your parent job: be firm on this driving issue!

 

Mirela Monte, Your Myrtle Beach Connection                        Join The Optimist Group!