topic Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad in Community Chat

Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

PickyPicky3 — Fri, 06 May 2022 01:54:40 GMT

Today I was on a highway (not an interstate) when a car passed me going 80 MPH with two teens sitting on the back doors (with the windows open and their feet inside). They were so happy, waving to every car. The car pulled into a mall parking lot, and I stopped to call the police.

The police said they already had a few calls. I made sure to tell the officer the driver used his turn signal when turning into the parking lot. Total idiots, but not 100% bad.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

spiderw — Fri, 06 May 2022 02:13:10 GMT

I cringe when I think of who I used to drive with when I was a teen. It was a big adventure then in many ways, no fear of danger even when you heard of horrible car crashes. I have many stories and as an older person now cannot believe what I used to call fun! driving.

Now I worry about all the kids in my family who drive and will drive and how many more cars are on the road and reckless drivers. It is a good thing you did by calling the police to protect the kids in the car and also to protect others from being harmed by their speeding.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

PickyPicky3 — Fri, 06 May 2022 02:29:03 GMT

It shouldn't be hard for mall security cameras to spot that car.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

JamandBread — Fri, 06 May 2022 02:34:36 GMT

There were a dozen kids killed in car and motorcycle wrecks when I was in high school and college.
It was the worst anxiety I've had when my daughter and her friends started driving.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

Desertdi — Fri, 06 May 2022 02:36:34 GMT

"Old folks" who drive 20 mph in a 50 mph zone....are JUST AS DANGEROUS...

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

hckynutjohn — Fri, 06 May 2022 05:25:15 GMT

@PickyPicky3

Like teens I ran with, most think they are invincible. Hey, if they want to risk their lives? I sure as heck wouldn't call Law Enforcement, they have people trying to murder each other on the roads.

Sticking with traffic? My concern is people behind the wheels of vehicles doing everything but focusing on driving. Now they can and do kill people, kids hanging out windows etc. only endanger themselves.

I had several teen friends that I would not even get into any vehicle they were driving. They were plain nuts, and this was back in the 1950's. I raced cars and respected them more, probably even moreso because I paid for my cars, not mommy or daddy.

If that is your worst concern of being on the road? I was just now watching a segment on national news about Road Rage, one driver actually shooting at another driver, while driving. So kids playing invincible? Been going on for all the decades I have been driving.

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

Cats3000 — Fri, 06 May 2022 10:24:40 GMT

@PickyPicky3NO!!!!!! Total idiots, period. Imbeciles, period. A menace to others on the highway, period.

Where the heck are their parents? They should take the car keys away and no more driving until they're at least 18.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

PickyPicky3 — Fri, 06 May 2022 11:44:27 GMT

@hckynutjohn I understand what you're saying, but in this case I think you had to have been there. I didn't call 911 -- I called the local police and started my call with "I'm not sure if I should be bothering you about some teens doing a really dumb thing." I see people speeding and driving badly every day. The level of recklessness in this case crossed the line. This morning I'm feeling good that I made the call.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

candys mine — Fri, 06 May 2022 11:46:33 GMT

That kind of behaviour makes me more concerned than angry. The invincible mindset of teenagers seems hardwired in the brain.

What makes me mad is that I'm seeing more and more Adult drivers blowing through red lights. Not just one car squeaking through the yellow/red changeover but One, two, three cars go through a Red light before the next car decides to stop. They are going through WALK lights too.

Also, I've seen SO many cars with one headlight out lately, I've checked mine a couple times to be on the safe side.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

Imaoldhippie — Fri, 06 May 2022 12:27:17 GMT

Dont berate the OP for doing the right thing. She just might have saved the teens lives and maybe others that day.

@PickyPicky3 ............you did the right thing and you do not have to defend yourself in this thread at all. Thank you for being a concerned citizen.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

Spurt — Fri, 06 May 2022 13:46:48 GMT

In our city its a new and dangerous game---drag racing on expressways and in many cases even driving the wrong way while doing it---many innocent people have been injured or killed.....!!!! Driving antics today have gone way beyond just driving above the speed limit....

Its up to the parents to instill the right stuff as they grow up and especially when they start to drive...especially considering their age and immaturity and lack of experience in driving...

Ultimately if the teen's childish antics result in someone getting injured or killed there will be no more smiling faces laughing or joking ....especially when the parents will be held liable and are sued and their insurance company puts them in a high risk category and the parents pay through the nose in insurance premiums..As long as that child is under 18 the parents are held responsible......So if the parents take their teen's driving lightly they are the ones that will pay BIG TIME for their lack of parenting and ignoring their part in teaching responsibility.....!!!!

Look at that case where teens were taunting a jogger and "hitting him just a little, just for fun"...they ended up killing him and the girl just brushed it off and no remorse what so ever, she didnt think it was a big deal, she was angry and went to her grandmother's and destroyed things in her house because the grandmother took away the car...SMH!!!

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

sometimesQVCaddict — Fri, 06 May 2022 13:56:05 GMT

ALL ages can be idiot drivers, lumping 1 age group all together really isn't fair. Yes, some teens feel invincible & do stupid things, so do adults!! I can't count how many full grown adults I see doing dumb stuff in their vehicles--texting, smoking & tossing their used butts out the window, being aggressive drivers, driving over & under the speed limits by extremes, etc. etc. Age doesn't discriminate being idiot drivers!!!! Nor does the type of vehicle. I see all of the above in junk cars to Bentleys....equal opportunity dumb#$@@# in my opinion.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

Lucky Charm — Fri, 06 May 2022 14:24:01 GMT

You did the right thing! And so did all the others who called.

If one of those teens had fallen backwards, now there might be an unintentional death that would hang over an innocent driver that struck him. And it wouldn't be their fault!

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

mimomof4 — Fri, 06 May 2022 14:29:59 GMT

UGH. As a parent of a Teenager who lost his driver's license - Yes Lost his license after only having it 3 months - and another going through driver's ed right now these kids are lucky they didn't get hurt. I also understand the mentality that they are kids and I use to do stuff like that when I was a teen as well.

I'm sure if the police officer visits the parents home that would put enough of a fear into those kids. I wouldn't take keys and a license away forever.

I do agree with the poster who indicated that senior drivers can be just as dangerous. I wish we had additional driving tests as people get older. Taking the keys away is not easy when someone is elderly but I see many every single day that should most definetly not be driving.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Fri, 06 May 2022 14:34:50 GMT

@Lucky Charm If one of the knuckleheads fell out on the road and some swerved to miss him causing a wreck. What if the driver lost control and sideswiped another car or a telephone pole with the kid getting crushed.

They are not the only ones that could get hurt or killed.

If I had done that and my parents got wind of it, sweet baby James, I would't have seen the light of day until the cows came home.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Fri, 06 May 2022 14:42:08 GMT

@mimomof4 My MIL was a hazard on the road from the time I met her. She was in her 50s then. I refused to ride with her and wouldn't let my kids go with her either.

In in 70s my husband was the luckly one who went to a Dr. appt with her and he told the Dr. she should not drive anymore. Man, was she p*ssed. She went up one side of my hubby and down the other. Oh well, better she be mad at him than her kill someone or herself.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

Sooner — Fri, 06 May 2022 14:48:49 GMT

Not enough was demanded of these kids by their parents. Period. Old enough to drive and they did not learn about consequences because they likely never had any. It is epidemic in our culture now.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

mimomof4 — Fri, 06 May 2022 15:03:44 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
@mimomof4 My MIL was a hazard on the road from the time I met her. She was in her 50s then. I refused to ride with her and wouldn't let my kids go with her either.

In in 70s my husband was the luckly one who went to a Dr. appt with her and he told the Dr. she should not drive anymore. Man, was she p*ssed. She went up one side of my hubby and down the other. Oh well, better she be mad at him than her kill someone or herself.

@CrazyKittyLvr2 We are going through something similar with my MIL. For years my kids did not want to get into a car with her and I wouldn't let them. She has gotten lost many times (although she stopped telling us when she did) She was smart and would cancel Dr appoints which my SIL would make for her knowing that this would come up. Then finally was forced to have my SIL go to an appointment and was told she can't drive. If a car and a set of keys is left with her she WILL drive a car. My husband told her for many years she needed to stop driving.

I wish that these medical professionals reached out to the state agencies to remove driving privilege otherwise they can continue to renew their driver's license. Through court proceedings I received a letter from the state removing my son's driving privilege but my MIL so far has not received one.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

mimomof4 — Fri, 06 May 2022 15:14:01 GMT

@Sooner wrote:
Not enough was demanded of these kids by their parents. Period. Old enough to drive and they did not learn about consequences because they likely never had any. It is epidemic in our culture now.

@Sooner I have to completely disagree with your statement. I believe many people say stuff like this and don't take the time to reflect on how they behaved as a teenager and the crazy things they did. I remember doing crazy stuff like this when I was a teen 30 years ago and it had nothing to do with no consequences brought on by my parents. It was the fact that as teenagers we FEEL we are invincible. Sometimes all it takes is a reality check from a police officer scolding us to remind us. My husband tries to tell me he was a perfect teenager. I didn't know him then but knowing him as an adult I don't believe him.

I ask you to really look back on your teenage years and see what crazy stuff you did that would cause you to question your decision making. Have some empathy and put yourself in these kids shoes.

We can't blame parents for kids bad decisions. As a parent of a kid who is still making bad decisions and got himself in legal trouble I am at my whits end. I have done everything possible but nothing changes. I guess since you must be a better parent than I am feel free to take him on and see if you can get him to make better choices.

Re: Dumb Teens, But Not All Bad

Spurt — Fri, 06 May 2022 20:28:41 GMT

@mimomof4 wrote:
@Sooner wrote:
Not enough was demanded of these kids by their parents. Period. Old enough to drive and they did not learn about consequences because they likely never had any. It is epidemic in our culture now.

@Sooner I have to completely disagree with your statement. I believe many people say stuff like this and don't take the time to reflect on how they behaved as a teenager and the crazy things they did. I remember doing crazy stuff like this when I was a teen 30 years ago and it had nothing to do with no consequences brought on by my parents. It was the fact that as teenagers we FEEL we are invincible. Sometimes all it takes is a reality check from a police officer scolding us to remind us. My husband tries to tell me he was a perfect teenager. I didn't know him then but knowing him as an adult I don't believe him.

I ask you to really look back on your teenage years and see what crazy stuff you did that would cause you to question your decision making. Have some empathy and put yourself in these kids shoes.

We can't blame parents for kids bad decisions. As a parent of a kid who is still making bad decisions and got himself in legal trouble I am at my whits end. I have done everything possible but nothing changes. I guess since you must be a better parent than I am feel free to take him on and see if you can get him to make better choices.

So families of those whose loved ones that are injured or killed are supposed to waive it off and say well we cant blame them they are "just teens being teens"......🙄

My parents laid down the law to us teens when we got our license.....and so did the parents of my friends....they made it clear...you are driving in what can be used as a "weapon"--- .a vehicle which could injure or kill someone. And they stressed safety and added just one ticket....whether it be for speeding, or anything else, even as much as a parking ticket would result in no more driving privileges ..........FEAR OF PARENTS and the embarrassment of having to go back to riding the school bus again was enough for us!!!! Yes, we acted silly on occasion, but it was definitely NOT when we were in a car--- be it as a driver or passenger! And that's the truth!