Teaching a teen to drive can be hazardous
@BelleStarr (61047)
United States
June 12, 2017 1:45pm CST
The picture is of my daughter's car. She was taught to drive by her father, my husband Al, and she had taken on the task of teaching her boys to drive. The first two boys Alex and Brandon have gone very well and nothing catastrophic happened.
Last night I got the picture I have included from my daughter. It seems she was teaching son number 3 Chris how to drive and he mistook the gas for the break and this was the result. He may have totaled her car which is the only one that can hold their family of 7.
She says from now on, it is driving school for her boys. Hopefully, the insurance money will allow her to either get it fixed or to find another vehicle. I never thought I could teach my kids which is why my husband did it, he is much more patient. On the other hand, all my kids drive like him which I am not convinced is a good thing lol
27 people like this
31 responses
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
Yes I think that will be a big help and take some of the stress off my very capable daughter.
1 person likes this
@BettyB (4117)
• Summerville, South Carolina
13 Jun 17
@BelleStarr No matter how well we teach them, experience is still the best teacher. They will get that as they grow older.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
I don't think her husband has the nerves for it, he is a little high strung and too much of a perfectionist.
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
12 Jun 17
maybe he should have been doing the teaching. lol of this grandson
2 people like this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
13 Jun 17
@BelleStarr oh no. so sorry. didn't realize
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
lol Yes but grandpa has Parkinsons and it has affected his depth perception, otherwise yes he is the perfect teacher since he is very patient.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Jun 17
@bunnybon7 Its okay we have come to terms with his disease and we don't let it change our lives too much. He is still able to do pretty much everything.
1 person likes this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
12 Jun 17
I am sorry to hear. I hope the insurance money can help her get her car fixed, or a different home. Most importantly, hope no one was injured.
I went to driving school, I had to because I was 15.5/16 years old when I got a license. If you're 18, then someone can teach you.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94921)
• United States
12 Jun 17
@BelleStarr Oh yes, I got my permit at 15&half and licensed at 16, but parents' or an adult isn't allowed to teach us to drive until we get a learnings permit & finished a certain amount of hours with a certified driving instructor.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
@infatuatedbby We don't need the certified driving instructor here.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
My grandson is only 17, you can get a learning permit at 16 in Connecticut.
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@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Jun 17
Oh no! I'm sorry that happened. I hope no one was hurt other than the car. I did that before when I was a teenager, I got scared and just pushed the pedal down. Wrong one though. Thank God I had an angel protecting me and everyone in the vehicle. I don't drive even now, I freeze behind the wheel when I get scared.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
12 Jun 17
@BelleStarr I'm sorry she's sore, I hope she feels better soon.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
He was going around a corner very slowly and his mom told him to speed it up a bit, he over did it and forgot to turn the wheel. My daughter is feeling sore today so I hope it isn't whiplash.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
I guess that the schools in our area don't offer drivers ed any more so Kasey says it is off the AAA for Chris. I think she was trying to save a little money but at thee end of the day, not a good idea.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Jun 17
@BelleStarr So do most of the kids have to take those classes at the next town over or something? Our schools quit teaching it by the time my kids were that age, but we had to pay a person that did it for a living. Now there are several people that teach the kids. I don't know when the schools quit doing it.
At first I was thinking you said the area didn't provide any teachers, but it's probably pretty common that schools don't do it anymore.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247219)
• United States
12 Jun 17
@BelleStarr My boys also took lessons at a driving school. In the end, it was worth the extra money, yet I always worry about them driving. Most of the time, you have to keep an eye on the lunatics on the road.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
My daughter said it happened so fast she didn't have time to react at all, though she has been under a lot of stress at work lately, I don't think she should have taken this on as well. All's well that ends well I guess.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (111284)
• El Paso, Texas
12 Jun 17
It's always better to let kids learn from a drivers ed course before taking them out to let them spin @BelleStarr
1 person likes this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
12 Jun 17
Oh no..hope no one was hurt, but wow lol
My son was 16 when I was trying to teach him to drive I gave up as it was too scary..long story but at least he did not hit anything.
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70035)
• United States
12 Jun 17
@BelleStarr Oh dear so sorry to hear it Belle..
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
Poor Chris feels terrible but he wasn't hurt, my daughter is very sore today, she may need to get looked at for whip lash.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73743)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
12 Jun 17
I definitely agree that driving school might really be for the best unless you live in the country where there are plenty of empty roads to drive on.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
This was an empty road and it is rather rural but he just misjudged a corner, a common mistake for a beginner.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
I suspect so lol she is done with teaching she tells me, the final two will need to take lessons and Chris as well.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
12 Jun 17
@BelleStarr Wise move. Here it costs about $100 to add an unlicensed learner driver to your auto insurance for a month (covering only the learner and the accompanying parent, no passengers, and with L-plates (learner plates) well-displayed).
As soon as the test is passed, then the rates go up to $2,500 or more for a year, as a named driver on a parent's policy. Could be a lot more to get insurance in the newly-qualified driver's own name.
2 people like this
@Courtlynn (66918)
• United States
12 Jun 17
Doesn't look bad from the picture but can only imagine.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
The damage is pretty extensive and the rear window is smashed. These days it doesn't take too much for the insurance company to decide to total a vehicle.
1 person likes this
@DesirousDreamer (34780)
• Peoria, Arizona
12 Jun 17
Holy cow,no one got hurt right? That is so scary. I feel like when I am going to learn how to drive...that is going to be exactly what I am going to do. Except it would be like driving into a cactus instead of a pretty tree haha
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
lol Well at least a cactus is softer, better landing. No one was hurt except the car.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
12 Jun 17
It is an expensive one but it is a few years old. It is a Mazda.
@pitstop (13065)
• India
16 Jun 17
@BelleStarr how is she managing in the meanwhile without a car?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
15 Jun 17
She is hopeful of getting it fixed but is waiting to hear from the insurance.
1 person likes this
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
13 Jun 17
My father taught me - I ran smack into a brick wall - we should have hired an instructor! I think the legal driving age should be about 30 LOL!
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Jun 17
lol My daughter lives so far out that it will be a big help having sons with a driver's license, but this was not the best thing. Luckily she has an extra car.
@AbbyGreenhill (45496)
• United States
13 Jun 17
@BelleStarr I guess he won't be getting his own car anytime soon.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Jun 17
@AbbyGreenhill We at least not until he finishes driving school lol
@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Jun 17
Your last paragraph is quite funny. I hope the insurance will cover the situation as I've no idea how they work when parent's teach their kids. Maybe since the parent is on board, it would be treated as if the parent is driving? I'm guessing her son was on the road when he hit the accelerator and he thought going into the trees was better than hitting another car on the road? Otherwise, you'd think he have had plenty of time to steer clear of that tree.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
18 Jun 17
He was turning a corner and hit the accelerator but didn't turn the wheel, no other cars were anywhere nearby, Just a rookie mistake.
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@MarshaMusselman (38663)
• Midland, Michigan
22 Jun 17
@BelleStarr Ahh, and the tree must have been straight ahead then? I can see that happening. Some parent's here might teach their kids a bit about driving but they use parking lots for that. I don't know that or whether our area would allow parents to teach their own kids road skills.
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
27 Jun 17
lol Oh darn well then I guess it is off to driving school for him. They car was totaled and they have already found a vehicle to replace it.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40066)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Jun 17
@BelleStarr - One of my granddaughters is old enough to drive and my daughter, her mother, has not started teaching her, yet. I think I may offer to pay for driving school ... to avoid those same types of problems! 
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Jun 17
lol That is a great idea, it has been a little stressful for my daughter all the way around.
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@DeborahDiane (40066)
• Laguna Woods, California
13 Jun 17
@BelleStarr - I'm sure it has been stressful for her! I remember how stressful it was when our daughters first started driving!
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@Gabugs (1895)
• United States
13 Jun 17
Your hubby Al seems to be like my son who is very patient in teaching @BelleStarr He is the one who taught his daughter and now his second child, a son who is 15 yrs. is getting ready. But we all are worried as this y is pretty careless and forgetful.
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@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Jun 17
Every child is different when it comes to learning to drive so hopefully his son will be easier than you suspect.
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