what is reasonable to expect of 15/16 year olds in being able to get themselves home in the evening?

[RubySparks]

We live in rural location but within bus distance of large town/small city. Is it OK for 15/16 year olds to get bus home and be picked up from bus stop in car? This would be 10-11pm in the evening. If it is not OK what age is OK? How do they start to gain independence?

And if the other parents haven't arranged to collect them I assume they're happy with their dc walking home. Teens have mobiles, they could always ring their parents and say they want picking up.

Thanks I think it is just a massive difference in what we are comfortable with teens doing! I'm usually fairly happy to do pickups but thought there would be too many. I have picked up and dropped off all of them many times so not sure what caused such a reaction this time - also this teen was the one I said I would pick up from bus stop and take home!

I always expect to bring my own teen home if necessary so yes thought other parents would do the same.

I would be fine with your arrangement if we lived rurally.

We live in London, so the DC(15 and 16) get themselves to and from central London/local parties usually.

I agree with the posters saying that they need to get practised in getting themselves about in readiness for over-18 clubbing/uni, etc. Though I suppose getting home isn't an issue if they go to a campus uni/aren't keen on parties/clubs, etc?

They do all seem a bit young for their age, mine included and aren't into parties as yet!

At 15 I was travelling between countries alone, at 16 I moved country, alone!

Surely just text messages to update parents on location and safety should suffice while they make their own way home.