Do teens need more driving time before taking your teen with them?

[Anonymous]

Is a brand new driver seasoned enough to take your teen in the car with them?

Or have you enacted a certain amount of driving / length of time to wait for your teen to ride with a newly licensed driver?

Trying to navigate a bf / gf situation where the driver in question has just very recently gotten their license. My teen would like to go in the car.
Thanks for any advice.

[Anonymous]

You could try a “not after dark” rule but realistically you’re probably not going to be able to enforce this and you’ll breed a lot of resentment.

Lol I might make the bf/gf take me on a demonstration drive.

[Anonymous]

In MD, kids get provisional licenses (https://mva.maryland.gov/drivers/Pages/rookie-driver-general-provisional.aspx) that restrict them from driving teenage friends for six months.

However, I agree with PP that in bf/gf situation, any limit would be difficult to enforce. I like the demo ride idea, but your teen might not... So, perhaps consider how much actual experience the new driver has. One of my kids has way more experience driving with a permit than her sibling had after six months with a provisional, for example. Also where are they driving? If they're just on low-speed wide roads or the neighborhood, perhaps you'd be more comfortable than on the highway?

[Anonymous]

Depends on the specific kid entirely. Some yes, immediately, others not even after a long time.

[Anonymous]

In Maryland and we didn't allow our kids to drive others in that first 151 days per Maryland law nor did we allow them to be in the car with others that were still in that probationary period. Yes, it caused some upset teens, but we didn't care.

Thankfully, DS's girlfriend was out of the probationary period before he was and drove them (he paid for gas.)

It wasn't worth the risk. After that period of time, there were no resitrictions.

[Anonymous]

In Virginia a new driver can only have 1 passenger (excluding family) with them, which I think is a good rule. A car full of loud, distracting friends is a bad idea for the first year. As to whether the new driver should drive your child, it depends. My oldest DS was an excellent driver when got his license. My younger DS was not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In Virginia a new driver can only have 1 passenger (excluding family) with them, which I think is a good rule. A car full of loud, distracting friends is a bad idea for the first year. As to whether the new driver should drive your child, it depends. My oldest DS was an excellent driver when got his license. My younger DS was not.

And I believe the 1 passenger is only for daytime school events.

[Anonymous]

Our insurance has a rule about no other teens in the car except family members without adult present -
So, no. Not driving my kid!

[Anonymous]

It depends, if it is a short drive not on the highway, I am fine with it.

[Anonymous]

In Virginia a new driver can only have 1 passenger (excluding family) with them, which I think is a good rule. A car full of loud, distracting friends is a bad idea for the first year. As to whether the new driver should drive your child, it depends. My oldest DS was an excellent driver when got his license. My younger DS was not.


And I believe the 1 passenger is only for daytime school events.

I thought the school events restriction was for more than 1 passenger, up to three.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

In Virginia a new driver can only have 1 passenger (excluding family) with them, which I think is a good rule. A car full of loud, distracting friends is a bad idea for the first year. As to whether the new driver should drive your child, it depends. My oldest DS was an excellent driver when got his license. My younger DS was not.


And I believe the 1 passenger is only for daytime school events.

I thought the school events restriction was for more than 1 passenger, up to three.

From the DMV website -
If you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 21, unless accompanied by a licensed parent, or other adult acting in place of a parent, in the front passenger seat. However, after you have held your license for one year, you may carry up to three passengers under age 21 in the following situations:

Travel to and from a school-sponsored activity;
A licensed driver 21 or older is in the front passenger seat; or
In case of an emergency.
Learner's permit holders may not carry more than one passenger under age 18.

[Anonymous]

I would not allow it.

[Anonymous]

I generally don't allow it until the driver gets a lot more experience. Some families don't adhere to the 45 hours of driving and have their kid test much sooner.

[Anonymous]

I thought the school events restriction was for more than 1 passenger, up to three.


From the DMV website -
If you are under age 18, you may carry only one passenger under age 21, unless accompanied by a licensed parent, or other adult acting in place of a parent, in the front passenger seat. However, after you have held your license for one year, you may carry up to three passengers under age 21 in the following situations:

Travel to and from a school-sponsored activity;
A licensed driver 21 or older is in the front passenger seat; or
In case of an emergency.
Learner's permit holders may not carry more than one passenger under age 18.

That seems to support what I thought. One passenger for any reason, up to 3 once you have had the license for one year and for a school event, or the other circumstances listed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would not allow it.

When would you, or under what circumstances would make it allowable?