To not let 15 year old drive my children around?

[Shabooboogaloo]

Just back from half term with family in USA.
Where they live 15 year olds can drive (!) due to crap local transport.
15 year old DN has been driving to school, around town etc for 6+ months and was apparently excited to get to take my kids (10 and 12) out in the car to the local coffee place a few miles away. On their own.

Now - if they were walking I would have let the 3 get on with it, go out together but there was NO WAY I was letting them go out in a SUV in a city on their own.

Had a quiet word with the mom to that effect. Everyone thought I was the ultimate buzzkill and a bit insulting to the 15 year old. my offer to go with them was shot down. The trip didn’t happen.

YABU - fun police! It would have been fine and the 15 year old would have been able to handle it sensibly.

YANBU - 15 is too young to be responsible for young passengers, too young to be in the roads alone in fact.

No way would I let this happen and it's a shame you're being made to feel unreasonable.

A newly qualified driver distracted by two younger children bouncing around in the car chatting. As you say, she would have very limited capacity to cope with any problems or emergencies.

It's not just the driving, though. I wouldn't let a 15 take my 10 and 12 yo children off anywhere without an adult in another country in case there was a problem.

82% think YANBU so that’s reassuring! Roll in next year’s visit…

Obviously they’re your kids so you decide but you also have to accept others disagree. The rules are different in a different country and this person has been certified to drive. It’s likely no less risky than have the grandparents in this country that drive kids round and have no idea what’s happening on the roads…

Interesting, I wonder what stats say about accidents caused by the over 60s ( their grandparents are 65ish) versus under 18s

I love how you can emphatically make a statement about 50 different tests. You could be right, but how do you know what all 50 tests in the US are like? I've been here my whole life and could only tell you about 2 tests. The state I grew up in, and the state I now live in. There are 48 states out there that I have no clue what is required to get a license. You've experienced all 50 of them?

Jesus, some American’s are really getting their panties in a wad over this… most American’s I know are all like ‘ the traffic out there’s crazy!’ But suggest that you may not want your kids riding around in a SUB driven by a 15 year old American ( or ANY nationality) and it’s all - how DARE you say American’s aren’t safe drivers even though the accident rate in the US is way higher…

Small kids? They're 10 and 12! Op I think you're BU, if they're safe to.drive then age doesn't come into it.

Well I'm still hanging around this thread just to find out whether D"N" is niece or nephew.

Loads of posters have assumed they're female but OP has never said so...

Who cares?

What?! Me, clearly.

Hope that helps.

Clearly you have far too much time on your hands! Do you really have nothing better to do than wonder about the gender of OP’s niece/nephew?

Are you my mum, or something?

And I'm wondering about their sex, not their gender.

Bye!

It’s very relevant. Teenage boys are far more likely to indulge in speeding and risk-taking behaviours than girls.

I completely agree - "small kids"? They're not much younger than the driver.

Also agree regarding it very much making a difference what sex the young driver is. If male I'd be more reluctant than if they're female as young male drivers are much more likely to be involved in an accident.

I was going to say this, in most states they can’t carry passengers or drive after dark, but thinking about it there are probably states where it’s allowed.

Who cares?

As previous posters have pointed out, the sex of the driver is relevant. Teen male drivers cause many more accidents in the US than teen female drivers. Insurance rates reflect this.

I wouldn't give a crap about the law involved.

There is no way I would trust a 15 year old to drive me or my kids around. No fucking way.

NO WAY.

Your kids your rules.

Passing a test is the easy part, EXPERIENCE counts for a lot when driving.

‘

‘I completely agree - "small kids"? They're not much younger than the driver.’

thats sort of my point! I know that 10 and 12 is not small, but I can tell you now neither of my children would be of much use is an emergency situation like a car accident. They would be very upset and looking to an adult to handle the situation.

Not quite the mid-west one horse town I was imagining 😁

My ds is 17 and passed his UK test 6 months ago.

I wouldn't let him take kids of 10 and 12 out.

I don't allow him to have friends in the car.

Those are my rules and since he is not an adult and he does not own the car, it is up to me. Luckily, he is happy with it.

Oh goody… the OP has finally gotten her chance to declare with righteous superiority.

Been waiting longer than you expected with your ‘Those crazy Americans’ example?

😂

God they’re insane - 15! No way. I still think 17 is too young.