Young driver may need safety class

Dear Annie: My fiance, “Tom,” has a 17-year-old daughter, “Laura.” She’s had her driver’s license for six months. During the three years Tom and I have been together, there have been a lot of behavior issues with Laura. She’s disrespectful and unruly, and she was suspended for part of the school year.

Because of this, I questioned the decision her parents made to allow her to get her license. Laura totaled the first car they bought her and has received two speeding tickets in the second. Still, Tom and his ex insist that Laura be allowed to keep driving, and they’re going with her to a court hearing over her last speeding ticket to try to have the penalty reduced.

I’ve suggested to Tom that Laura may simply not be mature enough to be a safe driver, and that they should consider taking her driving privileges away. He says I worry too much, and since she has a part-time job and plays sports, it’s not practical for them to chauffeur her everywhere. She also takes her younger brother to his practices. I don’t believe these are good excuses to put herself, her passengers and others in danger.

I don’t want to be the wicked soon-to-be stepmother. I simply don’t want anything horrible to happen. Are there any statistics to bolster my argument? – Worried in Pennsylvania

Dear Worried: According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens, and 16-year-olds have the highest crash rates. They are three times more likely to die in a crash, and the chance of driver death increases with each additional passenger. Drivers with one prior crash have a subsequent crash rate 1.5 times higher.

These statistics may not help you, however, if Laura’s parents find it too inconvenient to take away the keys. At the very least, suggest to your fiance that Laura enroll in a driver safety class.