<p>I’d get a nice hearty laugh from my mom if I went to her asking to go on a road-trip halfway across the country at the tender age of 17…Oh, wait. I still would…</p>
<p>It depends on the kids.
If I felt they had good judgement & would bow to the adult in charge, than yes.
Ive know some very responsible kids, more responsible than many adults, although I would prefer that they have an adult along, just for emergencies.</p>
<p>I would also note that these kids will presumably be going off to college in one year. If they aren’t ready to go on a road trip with a parent along, they sure aren’t ready to go to college. My parents were far from permissive, but going on road trips at age 17 was not a problem, for me or (as best I can recall) my sister. No parents along. Of course, we had all been driving since the day we turned 15 and 8 months, so we were experienced drivers by that time.</p>
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<p>Is that one really a big deal to people? It’s not weed or anything, it’s akin to smoking a cigarette. </p>
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<p>This is something I never thought about before. So say someone has a permit from one state at 14, and drives to a state where you need to be 15 or 16 to get a permit (and is following all the restrictions of the permit, like adult in the car and all that), is that illegal? </p>
<p>I’m not a parent (I’m 23) but if I had to guess what I would do if I was one I would say that I’d probably be worried if my 17 year old was going alone with a bunch of other 17 year olds, but would be much less worried if someone’s parent was going. At 17 I was a junior in high school, I think my mom would have felt the same way. I was never one to travel far though, I think the farthest I ever drove at once at that age was a few times in between Ann Arbor and Flint (like 60 miles). And that was just because we have family there. Driving most of the way across the country is a lot different. </p>
<p>Either way, I think it’s an entirely different situation if you get a parent to say that yes, they will go along, and saying that you’re willing to have a parent go along. </p>
<p>OK with me if I knew/trusted the mother/friends</p>
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<p>I didn’t ask for permission to go on some road trips at 17…and without any parent chaparoning, either. Then again, I was already a college freshman. As far as my family was concerned, that factor combined with others made it so the mere thought of me requiring their permission would have struck them as absurd as a 30 year old adult child asking permission to do the same. </p>
<p>Do your parents know and trust the parent that will be joining you? If so, I would probably have let my kid go at that age. </p>
<p>The other question, not mentioned or asked, is who is paying the bill for the trip? Are you paying? Does that money come from any money you’re saving for college? Do you expect your parents to pay? Can they afford it? What are you willing to give up or do for this trip? </p>
<p>“Is that one really a big deal to people? It’s not weed or anything, it’s akin to smoking a cigarette.”</p>
<p>Um… there is a reason it’s illegal for minors to buy cigarettes… It’s not healthy!</p>