Is it just me?

It seems to me that every time I see a car swerving through traffic… or pulling out onto the street without indicating… or hear an engine revving behind me at the lights… or see a speeding car in a residential area… there is always a P-plate displayed on that car.

I realise that I’m turning into a ‘grumpy old woman’ but I honestly don’t remember P-platers being so reckless when I was younger, and the majority of these bad drivers are young males driving powerful cars that are far in advance of their drivers’ skills and experience.

Not only do these drivers put themselves at risk, their reckless driving also puts everyone on and around the streets at risk as well.

Maybe it’s time to increase the age for driving?

Or restrict the engine type and size that P-platers are allowed to drive?

Or put an identification number on the cars so that any reckless driving can be reported to the police by other drivers?

And maybe the parents of these young drivers should take some responsibility for allowing their children to drive expensive, powerful cars before they are capable?

I’m not sure how these young drivers are able to afford their cars. So much for the days when struggling students could only scrape together enough money to buy a ‘bomb’ that wasn’t capable of going faster than 80km/hr without shaking violently.

I think part of the problem these days is that some parents are so focussed on providing financial security for their children’s future that by the time those children reach driving age they have more money than they know what to do with sensibly – so their inevitable choice of  ‘investment’ is a suped-up car.

It can’t be left to the law to have to keep putting more and more restrictions in place to keep our roads safe – and to save us from ourselves. Let’s take responsibility for our own actions and keep our children – and everyone else’ children – safe from harm by only allowing them to drive a car that is equal to their skill and experience while they are still learning their road skills.

Following on from my article last month, ‘Feminism 21st century style – is it time to find a new balance?’ I have been sent a couple of links from a WOL reader that you may also be interested in reading:

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/lifematters/attitudes-harden-towards-the-lot-of-a-working-mother-20101010-16e39.html

http://www.smh.com.au/business/talents-of-women-are-being-squandered-20100927-15u6j.html