How young is too far?

Kwesi · #1 06-30-2009, 07:06 PM

So I'm 18 and I've been driving for about a year. I'll admit that I'm the not the greatest kid to hit the streets but I can handle myself pretty well in all the situations I've encountered so far. I'd love to take the drives out to the upcoming central New Jersey and NYC International GTGs which are about 3.5 and 4.5 hr. drives, respectively.

Both my parents say it's too far a drive for a such a new driver and I, being hardheaded like I am, completely disagree. I think my Dad's just saying that because he doesn't like anyone with the ability to drive leaving the house for more than 2 hours, or else he starts to worry

. What do you guys think? I've got GPS, google maps, and in case of emergency I've got family all along the east coast so is there really a problem here?

Linas · #2 06-30-2009, 07:11 PM

When i was 18 i drove to a phish festival from Chicago to Vermont. I dont know how far that was because we kinda worked our way up from DC. Nowhere is too far, if its your car and your gas money...

tplyons · #3 06-30-2009, 07:12 PM

I went to my first GTG when I was 18. I drove to Nino's house and went from there.

Perhaps you could drive halfway and catch a ride with someone else.

J. Crawford · #4 06-30-2009, 07:18 PM

Im 16 and am trying to talk my parents into letting me drive to Columbus for the Ohio GTG. Isnt looking pretty.

Now for the NYC one, I would love to go.. but my dad would have to come, or someone have to pick me up..

Jonny B · #5 06-30-2009, 07:20 PM

I suppose it depends on your level of maturity. Some of us "grow up" faster than others (some of us never grow up). Can you honestly say you are responsible in most aspects of your life? If so, I would say drive away my friend.

capnsandwich · #6 06-30-2009, 07:23 PM

You could always rent a car for a day or 2.

iamlowsound · #7 06-30-2009, 07:31 PM

Your parents, their rules. Sucks, but that is the way it is.

lowsound

Kwesi · #8 06-30-2009, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linas

When i was 18 i drove to a phish festival from Chicago to Vermont. I dont know how far that was because we kinda worked our way up from DC. Nowhere is too far, if its your car and your gas money...

funny thing about that is... they kinda bought the car for me and kinda provide the gas money, lol.

now if only they gave me GAS money

jdieh1 · #9 06-30-2009, 07:33 PM

I don't see the problem with it. My friends have been driving on over 2 hour trips ever since they got their provisional plates (P plates here in Australia. I'm not sure if you have them overseas) and they're only just 17 really.

I say go for it man. Maybe take a friend as well?

PSPookie · #10 06-30-2009, 08:17 PM

At 18 I drove from LA to Atlanta to go to school. Then again I had my mom with me for that one.

Of course, after that the road trips were on. Up to Boston, down to Panama City Wherever.

Was I mature enough to be doing this? That's debatable. Did I engage in stupid and dangerous behaviors on these trips? Certainly. I lived through them, though.

whoatherechunk · #11 06-30-2009, 08:47 PM

+++++1

Quote:

Originally Posted by iamlowsound

Your parents, their rules. Sucks, but that is the way it is.

lowsound

rcarraher · #12 06-30-2009, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

So I'm 18 and I've been driving for about a year. I'll admit that I'm the not the greatest kid to hit the streets but I can handle myself pretty well in all the situations I've encountered so far. I'd love to take the drives out to the upcoming central New Jersey and NYC International GTGs which are about 3.5 and 4.5 hr. drives, respectively.

Both my parents say it's too far a drive for a such a new driver and I, being hardheaded like I am, completely disagree. I think my Dad's just saying that because he doesn't like anyone with the ability to drive leaving the house for more than 2 hours, or else he starts to worry

. What do you guys think? I've got GPS, google maps, and in case of emergency I've got family all along the east coast so is there really a problem here?

When I was 15 my mother let me and a friend drive from LA to San Diego. I had to promise not to go over like 55 mph. This was in like 71, so the 55 speed limit wasn't inforce yet. Sure enough, just outside on San Diego, I got pulled over for driving to slow on the freeway. Mom paid the ticket and didn't even give me a hard time.

ThatGermanDude · #13 06-30-2009, 08:55 PM

maybe try promising them you'll take at least one break maybe two for the longer one (, which is better for your concentration anyway) and check in?

otherwise tough luck

JansenW · #14 06-30-2009, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kwesi

funny thing about that is... they kinda bought the car for me and kinda provide the gas money, lol.

now if only they gave me GAS money

You can do what you want, after you pay for the car, insurance and gas.

3506string · #15 06-30-2009, 09:31 PM

At 18 I drove from south Oklahoma to north Louisiana for school 7 hours. I got to experience rush hour traffic in downtown Dallas. I will admit i was nervous as heck being from a smaller city I wasn't used to a 70+ MPH flow of traffic with cars on every side all while on extremely narrow roads and cars weaving all over the place. But to be honest the only way to get used to things like that is to be exposed to them. Now its no problem. Open highway driving is a breeze but driving through congested cities can be intimidating. One thing that helps me is to memorize my exits before I enter a city so I wont have to take my eyes off the road in heavy traffic.

OptimusPrime · #16 06-30-2009, 10:14 PM

I drove from southwest Florida to Jacksonville a couple months after I got my license. Alone. It was fine.

Kwesi · #17 06-30-2009, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatGermanDude

maybe try promising them you'll take at least one break maybe two for the longer one (, which is better for your concentration anyway) and check in?

otherwise tough luck

I planned to anyway my distance driving limit is about 2~3 hours without stopping.

ADbassman · #18 06-30-2009, 11:18 PM

I can't even count the number of road trips I took at the age of 16 or 17. My parents trusted that I knew what I was doing, and I didn't prove them wrong.

Kwesi · #19 06-30-2009, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3506string

At 18 I drove from south Oklahoma to north Louisiana for school 7 hours. I got to experience rush hour traffic in downtown Dallas. I will admit i was nervous as heck being from a smaller city I wasn't used to a 70+ MPH flow of traffic with cars on every side all while on extremely narrow roads and cars weaving all over the place. But to be honest the only way to get used to things like that is to be exposed to them. Now its no problem. Open highway driving is a breeze but driving through congested cities can be intimidating. One thing that helps me is to memorize my exits before I enter a city so I wont have to take my eyes off the road in heavy traffic.

This is exactly what I'd love them to see. They're are exactly the "do it for the experience" type parents unless it pertains to education or beefing up my resume, which is ok for motivation but not so much for fun. I want to be able to drive long distances and enjoy myself or go places without fear or worry that it's too far away. I want to travel and I figure this is a small step towards that.

Mom says "It's too far" and Dad says "You're gonna crash" (seriously, he does but he's not a bad dad, lol) it gets kind of disheartening after hearing that attitude applied to a lot of other things. I'm not the most adventurous guy in the world so when I do come up with ideas that take me out of my little box i get all excited but they kinda manage to always shoot me off of my cloud.

hbarcat · #20 06-30-2009, 11:35 PM

When you move out and pay your own rent, utilities, food etc. you get to drive wherever you want.