It's a good idea, something has to be tried to reduce the amount of fatalities among young drivers.

fourm member "..but I was once a teenager"

That is so hard to believe, reading your post!! Teenage years are meant to be rebellious, surely?

"..but are completely incapable of governing the behaviour of your offspring?"

You could address that question to countless parents (including HRH our future king).

I think 'Get real' might be the expression you need, but from your child-free ivory tower you probably have never come across it.

Having said that, I agree with your view that a law can be beneficial, even if hard to enforce.

"how impossible it is control a teenager especially once they get to be an adult at 18."

I didn't find it impossible, either before or after he was 18.

Properly reasoned guidance and discussion should be sufficient, if you have done enough in the early years.

My son, now nearly fifty has never driven any of my cars, except one five mile trip, with me, just after he passed his test, si that he could experience the difference of driving an automatic.

Mind you, he's over revved the guts out of some of my motor bikes!

morddwyd

OK, perhaps I should have said difficult as opposed to impossible, however, I believe my meaning whatever the actual words used was very clear.

FM

"The only reason for a teenager to grow out of their rebellious phase is if they receive the right guidance from their parents. Having the support of the law is very useful for parents as they try and steer their offspring."

Your sweeping generalisation is just that, a sweeping generalisation. The right guidance from parents is certainly not "the only way " they can be influenced to grow out of the rebellious stage. Just as a for instance peer pressure can play a large part, getting in with the right or wrong crowd can have a very strong influence.

"It is a common error to assume that personal experience is the only route to knowledge. It often leads to the further error of assuming that one's individual experience is universal."

I didn't say personal experience is the only route to knowledge, you've made that up, however I believe that most of those with personal experience of bringing up children have a far better understanding of the issues involved and how to deal with them than people who have never had that privilege.

I also believe that millions of other parents would agree with me and that in many areas personal experience is by far the best source of knowledge available.

"The young person may pay for the car but the only way they can insure it is for dad to say it is his second car and the youngster is only an irregular user.)"

I seem to recall reading that insurance companies are wised up to this trick and take tough action against those found to be employing this ruse.