Teenage drivers....a vent!

[It's A Happy Day]

This afternoon I am outside with my 2 kids & my niece (4,4, & 5). The weather was warm & they wanted to play outside. Well my yard is very squishy so the rule was they could ride their bikes, trikes, scooters, hoppy balls etc. but they had to stay in the driveway. I moved my car and parked it on the street in front of my house. The teenage daughter across the street got dropped off by a friend (another teenager). As the friend is backing up....BAM....right into my car OK, I know accidents happen but it was the attitude and how this girl handled the accident that made me want to scream at her She is driving an SUV, I have a midsize car that sits a lot lower. She is yelling out the window to her friend who really isn't close enough to see what damage was done "Is it bad? followed by giggling " After about 1/2 a minute of this going back & forth and nobody actually looking at my car I yell up from my driveway "yes it's bad" I was getting the vibe that if I didn't acknowledge what happened she was going to drive away. Now, I haven't seen my car yet but hello, park the vehicle and get out and see what you did!!! So I go up the front walk and look at my poor car - front fender, light, bumper smooshed - not too bad mind you but the car is still pretty new and in good shape, and this is just annoying. Driver is still in her SUV looking out asking "is it bad", still angled across the entire street blocking the whole road. Finally she puts it in park and gets out - still leaving the vehicle in the middle of the road. She looks at her bumper - no noticeable dent, looks at my car and says nothing, offers nothing. I finally asked her for her information to which she gets the registration and hands it to me - I got her fathers info - he is the owner of the vehicle and had to ask for her liscense. She then proceeds to tell me "I can't see out the back of this thing!!!" SO WHY ARE YOU DRIVING IT??? and then tells me "I haven't hit anything in the 1 1/2 years since I got my liscense " Her whole attitude just really set me off. Mind you I did not let her have it but when you are in an accident, is it too much to ask for the person causing the accident to not laugh about the whole thing and be a little apologetic Again, I understand accidents happen and this was her 1st so maybe she was nervous, embarassed, whatever, but I really had the feeling that had I not been outside that they would have felt it "wasn't that bad" and she would have just driven away

 

[DisnyMama]

Hi It's A Happy Day, There's really no way to say what she would have done. Her friend might have told her to do the right thing and go to your door or leave a note or she would have called her parents and they would have told her what to do. She may have been very nervous but I do sympathize with your annoyance regarding her attitude. My DS (16 in 2 months) is getting ready to drive and I plan to make sure that he has explicit instructions as to what he is to do if this type of thing should ever happen. I hope everything works out ok for you with your car.

 

[nsyncraider17]

As someone who may or may not have hit a car while pulling into a parking space when I was 17 , I'm guessing that the laughter, excuses, and lack of action were probably because she was embarrassed and didn't know what to do. When you're learning to drive, they don't really teach you what to do if you mess up. I'm sure it's possible that she was just a brat, but I think I was a fairly mature 17 year old, and I know I didn't handle my situation that well either, just because I was scared to death.

 

[iloveboardwalk]

Some people giggle when they are nervous.

Still, I find teenagers a little strange myself, so I think I know what you mean. I'm sorry about your car.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I can assure you that adults drivers that hit you are not any better.

Sorry about your car, I would have called the parents or the police for a report.

 

[MushyMushy]

She was probably just reacting out of nervousness. Kids are strange beasts that way.

 

[skunkvette]

I once got hit by a young driver in a bank lot, I was driving my very bright yellow, brand new (and expensive) car when she backed her mom's SUV into me causing $5K in damage.

I know accidents happen and I was very calm as I pulled over and parked my car to inspect the damage and trade info, but her attitude really flipped me off.

She walked over , handed me her insurance card with no comment (remember she backed into my car).

I asked, "No I am sorry or I did not see you?", her response, " I don't know why you are upset, my insurance will pay for everything..."

That's when I decide to call the police and report it for her record.

 

[pfishgirl]

I would also probably go with the.. oh my gosh, i just hit that car?? giggle, oh boy, giggle giggle, i can't believe it, amazement, and the immaturity kind of way for a 17 year old school girl attitude

BUT... I do agree and think she should of appologised to you because she knew it was her fault..


I'm sorry about your car and I hope it really isn't too badly damaged..

 

[LindsayDunn228]

If she's old enough to be driving, she old enough to handle it in a mature fashion, IMHO.

 

[MushyMushy]

If she's old enough to be driving, she old enough to handle it in a mature fashion, IMHO.

Tell that to a lot of adults. Immaturity isn't confined to teenagers.

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Tell that to a lot of adults. Immaturity isn't confined to teenagers.

I totally agree.

 

[golfgal]

You are really better off not saying anything if you are in an accident so just handing over your insurance information is the best way to handle it. I know a lot of people that giggle when they are nervous as well.

Maybe her parents should get her this:

http://www.teensafedriver.com/

I know we will have this installed when our kids start driving!