Right now, I am on the case of first-time teen drivers. It is something of an obsession at the moment, since I'm organising a first car for my teenage offspring. I am drawing up shortlists of cars, budgets, getting insurance quotes and starting to worry. Not about how much it is going to cost me, that’s just money.
No, what I am concerned about is just how those newly qualified drivers are actually driving.
When I park up to pick up my teenager from sixth-form college (which hopefully I won't have to do once they have their own wheels), most days I see first hand how cars arrive and depart from the area. What I have noticed is that teenage boys are by far the most stupid. Now there’s a surprise, eh?
They pitch up in their Volkswagen Polos and Vauxhall Corsas at speed. They break with a slight screech. Equally their departures are as dramatic. I haven’t seen a mishap yet, but it is only a matter of time.
By contrast girls are super careful. No, really, they are. Mature and considerate. They take their time over each manoeuvre and you can see them looking around with a real sense of appreciation over what is going on around them. I hope they keep that up as they get older and don’t let texting and tableting get in their way.
I did see an older girl in traffic behind me so obviously scrolling something below dashboard level. I was tempted to make a citizen’s arrest but was more focused on putting as much distance between us as was possible.
It does seem that according to my unscientific observation that girls seem to take their driving rather more seriously than the boys, who are often two or three up in their tiny shopping cars and clearly egging each other on.
So what do you think of the teens driving around you? Maybe you are a teen with strong opinions. I certainly think that youngsters could do with a compulsory middle-aged, grumpy back seat passenger to calm them down a bit.
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Honestly, I don't see that
Since moving to Essex a few years ago I've noticed that the standard of driving in general in the south east of England is truly terrible. It's not that that people drive aggressively - they just seem to be completely ignorant about lane discipline, indicators and how to use a roundabout properly (no, the right-hand-lane is not for straight on! No, indicating left when you are in said right-hand-lane does not make it ok!).
My recommendation ,,,,
Myself I had motorbikes to start with so it's amazing I'm still in the land of the living.
If going sideways is their thing I could recommend the GT-86 as by then secondhand prices should ensure they are affordable and you can easily turn the traction control off without having to visit a menu. I just hope they don't borrow my car as I was in the habit of doing at age 14!!.
The number of teens driving