I don't think there's a good "catch-all" answer.
Out of my high school gratuating class of 250, about 10% were dead from
traffic accidents before I was out of College. Most of us had the same
driver's ed instructor, and friends of mine died in everything from an
MGB GT to a Volvo. Some of them were irresponsible and/or drunk, but
some of them were good, responsible kids who just got in over their
heads behind the wheel.
My father insisted that I know how to really drive well before I was
allowed to get my license, and then trusted me to do so in whatever
vehicle I found myself in. I would have certainly been safer in an
accident in a late model Midget than in the '59 VW I actually drove, but
the fact is that I never HAD an accident, because (a) I was taught to
drive well, and (b) drove vehicles capable of being driven well. That's
not to say that I and my passengers didn't have some tense moments.
I guess what I'm saying is that if you feel you have to worry about
whether the car your kid is driving will provide them enough crash
protection, you should maybe reconsider whether they should have the
privlege of driving.
Ulix Goettsch wrote:
>
> This is a tough question, I think.
> I am 30 now. I had my first Midget with 18, and a 61 Sprite shortly
> after. The 61 didn't even have seat belts. This didn't seem to bother my
> parents very much for some reason, even though they had always been
> seatbelt proponents. Today, I feel that this was fairly risky. Such a
> small car with a solid steering column, no belts, etc. and I am not sure
> what I would do as a parent in the same situation. I may tell my kids (I
> don't have any yet) that they need to start out with a safer car for a
> year or two.
>
> But when I stop thinking as a potential parent and think back to being 18,
> the thought of being denied LBC ownership back then would have crushed me
> and if that had happened, I might be into collecting stamps right now and
> have clean fingernails.
>
> I don't know what the right answer is.
>
> Ulix
>
> On Thu, 27 May 1999 LRuggi2635@aol.com wrote:
>
> > Frank and others-- how do you all feel about the suitability of Spridgets
>and
> > other LBCs for young drivers? I for one feel today's driving environment is
> > decidedly more risky than the one I started out in 24+ years ago. Any
> > comments?
> >
> > Larry
> > Warner Robins GA
> > '65 Midget
> > '72 MGB
> >
> > Looking for something sporty (yet more crash-resistant) for daughter...
> >
>
> Ulix __/__,__ ___/__|__
> ..............................................(_o____o_)....<_O_____O_/...
> '67 Sprite '74 X1/9
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