Convincing parents to let new driver go 2.5 hrs away?

Question

My two friends and I, all new drivers, want to go to a water park 2.5 hours away. The city is not big or crowded, and it is relatively easy to get there. How can I convince my parents that I am a safe and responsible driver, and that my friends are, too? Both of their parents seem to be ok, it's just mine that are posing a slight problem. My friends and I have already agreed to take turns driving so to prevent getting tired. Any ideas, please?

Answer 1

Tell them you'll call and check in every hour or half hour. They're just worried which is completely normal. It's a good idea to travel with friends, though. Just make sure you are all alert, not talking on a phone while driving, and driving the speed limit.

Answer 2

If you want to go somewhere, you'll have to get on your parents good side and show them that you're responsible. Clean up the house, do some yard work, and babysit the neighbor's kids are all good ways to show that you are responsible enough to look out for yourself. But if you go be careful not to get in an incident because you're parent's probably won't let you go anywhere again.

Answer 3

If you what you really want is to go to the water park, ask one of your parents to drive you there or to ride along while you drive.  If you just want to take a "road trip," pick a closer destination for your first time.  When your parents see that you were able to handle that, maybe they'll let you go on a longer trip next time.

Answer 4

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I think that you are too new of a driver to go that far. Most responsible parents would never let a new driver take such a long trip.  Be thankful that your parents are involved in your life enough to care so much.  I know it's not the answer you want to hear but it is the right decision your parents are making.

Answer 5

I have to agree with your parents.  You three girls are not experienced enough to drive that far.   The best way to convince your parents to let you go is to find a more experienced driver who is willing to travel with you.

Please take a moment to consider why your parents do not want you to go.  They like to say "yes".  They like to see you having a good time.  So, why would they say "no"?    Maybe it's because motor vehicle crashes are the LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH for teenagers.   And, your chances for a serious accident go up when there are more teens in the car, because the teens don't just sit there quietly, they distract the young new driver.  For this reason, many states have graduated licenses that restrict the number of teens that can be in the car with a new driver.  These states have seen a dramatic decrease in automobile accidents.

Many teenagers don't really believe that they can die.  I didn't really understand it, didn't believe it, when I was a teenager.   It was only later, when I had lived a little longer and actually experienced the deaths of people that I knew and loved that it really sank in for me that the people that I loved most really could die in an instant.   That I could die in an instant.    Imagine, just for a second, setting off for this trip to the water park.  Then, you wake up in the hospital, and someone says your best friend died in the car accident.   That's what your parents worry about.  I live in a city that is large enough, that we hear of accidents like this where a carload of teens has died, several times a year.   Sometimes it is not even their fault, but because they are inexperienced drivers, they don't have the experience to react quickly and correctly when trouble comes their way.

When I was in high school, there was a young man who would come find me and my boyfriend in our quiet little corner where we wanted to have our lunch together -- alone.   It was really annoying although we were really fond of him.   So it was a shock when we heard one day that Bennett had died in a traffic accident.  It seemed so strange that he didn't come to bug us anymore after that.  I kept thinking he should pop around the corner any time, but he never did.  It was really hard to believe he was gone.   Two other boys in our class had a horrible auto accident that same year and spent months out of school, recuperating.

It would absolutely destroy your parents if you died or were seriously injured in a traffic accident.   And, it would definitely cut short your fun.   So, as much as you want to go to this water park, please think about finding another way to get there, or finding somethig else fun to do.