Why inexperienced kids shouldnt drive 500hp cars

[Stoo]

Reading through it, they all had a string of driving offences, it was his Dad's car and it appeared that alcohol was involved..

I think the only way it could have been any worse was if it was on a public road..

Madness.

[Betty_Swallocks]

you don't need an M5 to die at the wheel and kill your friends - that is for sure.

No you don't but it certainly does improve the chances of it happening

[Stoo]

Especially if you start asking how to make it go faster and how to turn the traction control off..

[Syd]

It certainly makes for a haunting and sickening read. I sell these cars for a living and TBH after driving them day in day out you learn a great deal of respect for them, they are (In my case) much more capable than me, and even on test drives you reiterate to the potential owner that things can go wrong if pushed too far. Thankfully most of my customers appear to be fairly sensible.

[Betty_Swallocks]

The thing is that there are several factors at play here.

Firstly, and I mean no disrespect to any teenagers on here, but in general teenage kids (and boys in particular) are pretty dumb. Thrills and showing off in front of their mates is high on their list of priorities. Social skills are still developing and raising yourself in the pecking order by being considered a real lad by your peers is far more important to an 18 year old than it is to a 40 year old. Ragging a 500bhp car moves him up several levels on the "big willy" scale

Secondly an 18 year old has far less experience with which to measure risks against. They hear about people having accidents but unless it's someone you know then it's outside your monkeysphere and therefore no relevant to you.

Thirdly everyone knows that teenagers are invulnerable Bad things happen to someone else not them. "Yes, an M5 is a dangerous thing but I know how to handle it."

These are all generalisations though. I'm sure we all know 18 year olds to which none of them apply.

So the question arises, and I don't have an answer to this one.

Do we (a) protect the dumb 18 year olds from themselves and thereby interfere with the freedom of the sensible ones or do we (b) just let them do whatever they want and take the risks for themselves knowing that a lot of them aren't equipped to make those choices?

[kalniel]

c) Try and protect others from the actions of dumb ones.

Same with the laws on smoking etc. - they're not trying to stop people harming themselves if that's what they want to do, but they try to stop those people harming others.

As far as driving goes I think possible restrictions on carrying passengers under the age of 21 might be a good idea.

[schmunk]

As far as driving goes I think possible restrictions on carrying passengers under the age of 21 might be a good idea.

How will I move my baby around?





(I know what you really mean, honest...)

[Howard]

Very sad - but at the end of the day many young people die each year through inexperience and showing off - you don't need an M5 to die at the wheel and kill your friends - that is for sure.

Butuz

Quite. I see too many younger drivers (Wasn't long ago I was one but I'm 21 and had my license since I was 17 so I'm allowed to say it ) tooling about in crappy old Fiestas/ Corsas/Novas, cornering too fast/sharply and generally "pushing" the limits of their car. Cars that have tiny brakes, knackered suspension, cheap, small worn out tyres and a 15 year old rusty shell that would crumble in the event of an impact. This IMO is just as bad as someone hooning around in a 500bhp monster. It's all about responsibility

[Lord Midas]

I've never read a forum like that. I wasn't expecting it end quite like that. He says he is mature yet there he is doing phenominal speed on a runway with his mates in the car. How is that a mature thing to do, even when you admit you are inxeprienced!?

Tragic

My first car was an Austin Meastro with about 50bhp or something nearly 18 years ago. And I nearly had a few nasty accidents in that!