Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Parents must monitor teens’ golf cart driving

On Thursday, Gov. Perdue is scheduled to be in Peachtree City to sign into law newly passed state legislation that will put golf cart driving regulations under the control of local communities.

The City Council will let you know when less limiting rights are legal locally. Thanks to the efforts of our local and state elected officials, once again seniors who have given up their license to drive a car and 15-year-olds who have a learning permit (and have their parents’ permission) may soon drive our cart path systems. Parents may once again have 12-year-olds and older drive with a duly designated adult.

Teens and their parents need to once again remember that driving is a privilege, not an automatic right. Parents are the control. Please think before you hand the keys of any vehicle to your teen.

We had originally asked that parents of 15-year-olds be required to sign a form stating that in their opinion, this specific 15-year-old had already shown the responsibility needed to safely drive a vehicle unaccompanied.

Whether required or not, it is a question that every parent needs to determine BEFORE allowing a new driver (with a learner’s permit that requires an adult in the car, in the next seat) to drive unaccompanied and put other citizens at risk.

Teens, this privilege was taken back for years. It may soon be reinstated but only for as long as your actions show you can be trusted with the safety of everyone else. Younger siblings, if you want this privilege to still be available to you, you need to protect it.

Every cart on our path system has a registration number. After 9/11 we all realize that keeping our skies safe requires the efforts of all of us. Our path system demands the same.

Kathie Cheney

Peachtree City, Ga.