Need everyone's opinions!

**Sprite** · 12-30-2009 02:52 AM

Would any of you let your 16 year old daughter drive with her friends who have had a license for nearly two years?

One of my good friends is 19, and she has had her license for almost 2 years. She is very responsible.

Problem is that my mom won't let me drive with anyone who has a 'P Plate', meaning they are on a Provisional License here in Australia.

How do I convince her to start giving me the freedom that I need? My mom is extremely overprotective and has a problem with nearly everything I do. It's a big scene when I go out to the mall or anything with my friends.
She won't even let me go to any theme parks for a day with my friends because there is no adult supervision. My friends have eventually stopped inviting me on outings because of it.

I understand my mom is protective of me, and I don't mind calling her every half an hour to let her know I am safe!

How can I make her let go?

Any help will be much appreciated!

**x.st.angel.x** · 12-30-2009 03:35 AM

Wish i could help but yeah all my suggestions havent helped just yet seen as your mum wont let you drive with me haha so will be good to hear what others have to say

**LanaBear** · 12-30-2009 09:08 AM

2 years and still has a Provisional License? How long does this last in Australia?

**kira** · 12-30-2009 05:58 PM

I didn't get my license until I was 17 (full license) because I didn't want to do drivers ed which is required for any type of license when under 17years old here. I did occasionally drive a friend's car when not on main roads. My mom knew that and didn't care since I had to learn somehow and she never taught me. My sister had her license at 14 (supervision by a licensed driver over 21 is required at that age) and was driving everywhere at 16 but was not allowed to drive on gravel roads and my mom didn't want her to even after going to college. About half this state is gravel roads and more teenagers get themselves in accidents on them than doing most anything else with a vehicle. She also did not have a good vehicle to take on gravel. I had a truck that handled gravel fine and I think my mom assumed I learned my lesson when I crashed my back on gravel and shredded my forearm. That was the only restriction she had aside from anyone under 18 is not allowed by law to drive at certain times during the night here.

**Mes T** · 12-30-2009 06:15 PM

Have your mom meet this friend of yours and have her see for herself that she's very responsible, etc. She could phone your friend's parents and discuss it with them as well, even though most of us realize that that's just overdoing it... sigghhh... but what can ya do, some parents are like that.

I started driving at 16 and within a month was probably more safe and responsible than half the people on the road. I'm 23 now and have never even gotten a parking ticket, much less been pulled over for anything.

**Sprite** · 12-30-2009 08:04 PM

Well actually, my mom has met her. Our parents are very very good friends...almost like family!

I do have my Learners at the moment, but my mom still panics when I drive with my dad...so she hardly ever lets me drive.

In Australia you have a 'Red' Provisional License for a year after passing your practical test and then you get into a 'Green' Provisional License for two years, and only after that can you get your Open License.
My friend is already on her 'Green' Provisional license.

**x.st.angel.x** · 12-30-2009 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by LanaBear

2 years and still has a Provisional License? How long does this last in Australia?

1 year P1 licence and then 2 years P2 licence. The licence Nix is refering to is P2
Its confusing here haha

**sperosi** · 12-31-2009 12:35 AM

it's a big step for a parent to allow their child to be driven by another child. been here with my oldest, and nothing he said or did changed my mind. seeing how the other kid handled herself convinced me for that one girl, but not for most of the others he wanted to ride with. I don't think there is anything you can "do" to convince her. she'll feel comfortable by her own doing or she wont. but if you push too much, you may just turn her off completely.