Toysoldier: I totally disagree. I took a survey so to speak, the other night at a Hocky game. I ask parents about the driving record of their kids. The ones that had been driving since they were big enough to reach the pedels have not had any moving violations or accidents. Yes, some of them, like my son have bumped into trees along the driveway, or slid on the ice and gone into a ditch. But they have had no accidents on the streets or highways. Several kids on his hocky team that are the city type kids, their parents did not teach them to drive till the were 14 or 15, are not able to drive right now due to speeding tickets, accidents, tickets for running red lights, and even a DWI. One young lady in his class has totaled three vehicles.
I have a nephew that lives in Virginia. There they have to undergo a strict routine before being allowed to drive. Then they are on probation for a long time. Can not drive alone till the age of 18. The first thing my nephew did when he got out to drive on his own, at the age of 18. He was going down a residential street at 70mph in his Moms Mini Van. He hit a cross street, lost control, went into a convenience store parking lot. Hit the curb and went airborne. Tore the front suspension off the car. Insurance canceled, big fine, and totaled Van. It totally blew everyones mind in Virginia last year when I let my son drive to the grocery store. He was sixteen then, and I sent him by himself. No need for me to go with him he knew where to go. Back there they have a provisional licsence till they are 18, and his cousins can not drive alone.
As for Feminine vehicles and Masculine vehicles. Some vehicles like the little KIA Sprotage is preferred by girls, because it is small and easy to get around in parking lots. In other words easy to drive. Young men up here won't be caught dead in one. A Macho vehicle is one that can be used both on and off road. That is not improtant down south in some states, and areas. But here in Alaska it is a big issue. We drive in ice and snow nine months out of the year. And if someone gets stuck in a snow bank, every young man wants a vehicle that can either power its own way out and back onto the road, or can pull a friend out. The nearest tow truck is sometimes 300 miles away. To go to our cabin we often run through 2ft of snow for 27 miles, and cross one river with no bridge. My son's truck and mine will make that trip with no problem. Also by starting our kids early they learn how to handle that high horse power, and high center of gravity before they are turned loose on the roads. They learn to respect the machines they are driving. Oh yes the kid tipped over a truck when he was twelve. We were on our way to the cabin in the spring, he was going about 10 mph. His right wheels broke through some ice. The truck he was driving had five foot tractor tires mounted on it. Over he went, seatbelt held him in place. He never even unbuckled his seatbelt. I hooked a cable onto the frame and pulled him back onto his wheels with the tractor. I held him from going back over till he pulled forward and got out of the hole. He had to drive the truck, so I could drive the tracked tractor.
I also feel every kid should have lessons on an ice skid pad. My son turns 18 in a few weeks, and I would not hesitate to put him in a semi and let him head for the lower 48 down through Canada alone. The training I have given him I feel he could handle it. When he goes on a date he always takes another couple and he drives my F-350 diesel, supercrew, longbed, duelly. If he can navigate a parking lot with that thing he can drive anywhere.
