I HATE TEENAGERS (rant)

[Mr 5 0]

Thanks for your rant as it makes a good point about teenage driving, especially in parent-owned fast cars.

It should be a no-brainer that irresponsible driving - speeding in totally inappropriate places - is dangerous and stupid.

Teenagers are not the only ones doing this but they are often the worst offenders having lots of enthusiasm, little driving experience and almost no understanding of the danger they pose to themselves and others when the put the pedal to the metal on a 300 HP vehicle in a crowded venue.

Unfortunately, when an adult says what you posted above it's often dumped on and dismissed by teens as some 'old guy' trying to spoil the fun of driving fast and various other knee-jerk defenses. Since you are in the same age group as those you rightly criticize , your words have more meaning than anything I or others might post on the subject.

We all speed but 75 or 80 on an interstate highway and 70 or 80 on a narrow side street loaded with kids - and driveways - is quite a different thing - and it's scary to see.
Especially when the driver is 16 with three months driving experience - and thinks he's immortal and that accidents only happen to other people.

Parents who allow inexperienced teens to drive high-powered cars (with minimal driving experience) are equally irresponsible and should be equally liable when tragedy strikes, as it can and does.

'Rich kids' (pampered teenagers) who are allowed to drive a parent-owned high-performance car recklessly are dangerous and should be grounded, or at least made to drive a Yugo for a year.

Thanks again for your astute observations on a subject that often receives little more than denials and justifications.