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A New Law or Smarter Parents?

KARE 11 news in Minneapolis (NBC affiliate) will be airing a segment tonight on how teenagers are "dying at an alarming rate on Minnesota roadways." The previews that aired last night repeatedly during the football game made you believe that they are wanting a law passed to prevent teenagers from being able to drive a car with passengers. You can see one of the previews here. Another preview mentioned how there is a law in 39 other states that have such restrictions, and whether Minnesota should adopt one as well.

How can we as a society keep pushing our own responsibilities onto the government? If you as a parent are concerned about your child driving with other kids in the car, don't allow it. If you catch them, revoke their driving privileges. It is not that difficult. I know the argument of not being able to watch your kids all the time applies, but the police enforcing the law can't be everywhere at the same time either. The responsibility of our children should not fall onto the government. The fact that we are letting kids, yes kids, drive at 16 years old is bad enough. Add a car full of friends with music playing loud and using cellphones or texting while driving, and you have a recipe for disaster. It's hard enough for someone who has been driving for years to handle it, let alone a teenager who just got their license.

So Mom & Dad I challenge you. Start making your children understand that driving is a privilege. They are operating a heavy machine which can be extremely dangerous unless taken seriously. Set a good example by staying off the phone and not eating anything while driving, and pay attention to the road. If you set the rules for the car and follow them yourself, my bet is your kids will do the same and possibly share those rules with their friends as well.