WEST PALM BEACH — A father got a little too much of a head start on trying to teach his son to drive and it landed him in jail, police say.

Derrick Johnson, 28, was teaching his 11-year-old son how to drive in the parking lot of an apartment complex this afternoon when the boy lost control and ran into four vehicles, city spokesman Chase Scott said.

If that wasn't bad enough, behind one of the cars he was about to hit was another child.

Luckily, a man watching it all unfold, pushed that child out of the way but was then hit himself, Scott said. He was taken to St. Mary's Medical Center in unknown condition.

The 11-year-old driver-in-training ran into an apartment and couldn't be found as of late Tuesday, Scott said.

Johnson also fled, but was later caught at the Stoneybrook Apartment complex in Riviera Beach. He was arrested on outstanding warrants as well as charges of fleeing the scene of a crash and child neglect.

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/09/16/0916childdriver.html

What age should parents start teaching their kids to drive and where would you suggest these lessons take place???

My daughter took classes in HS and also private classes, once she had her permit I took her out driving.

The poor kid...I feel bad for him. He must have been terrified. I have to admit, I was taught to drive at a very young age also...but the parking lots were completely empty and very large.

My kids began learning at 15...in a school parking lot...evenings and weekends as to have the lot to ourselves....some people....saw on the news where a woman was too drunk to drive home so she had her "FIVE YEAR OLD" drive them home...with a three month old in the back seat...luckily someone saw it and they were stopped before anyone was hurt.

Eleven???

Years ago I drove at eleven..... but ONLY in the fields and someone put the truck in a low gear for me.. I was only allowed to steer... that Fall.. The next year, I was allowed to drive a tractor back and forth to the fields.

I can relate, I too learned at a younger age, but guess folks just picked a more desolate place than an apt complex. I too remember driving in a supermarket parking lot - at night, with no other cars around until I could manage.

My grandfather taught me at the age of 12 but it was on the farm tractor in the middle of the hay field.

Each state has laws governing when the appropriate driving age is so why would anyone try until that time since the child couldn't drive before that age legally anyway.

Are we teaching our children that it is ok to break certain laws but not others?

I can see the fatherly bonding, let me teach my son how to drive, however, in an apartment complex? where there is activities going on? people/kids outside? Not too responsible and the father took off.

Hell, i remember my dad stacking up pillows so i could sit in the drivers seat and steer when i was 7. He controlled the gas and break though, and in his defense my road was dirt and seldom traveled on at the time... Anyhow, i hate when people try to put an appropriate age on anything. Age is an illusion, it's supposed to represent maturity. Maturity on the other hand is individually based. I guess what i am trying to say, is when the child and teacher are responsible, any age could be appropriate. IMO.

exactly - when the child and teacher/parent are responsible.

how responsible was it - to teach the child in a populated area, their car hit other vehicles, almost hit a child/ did in fact hit an adult and then run off.

I was first taught to drive when I was 12, but as everyone else said, it wasn't in an area where someone could get hurt. I feel bad for the boy...I'm sure he was scared out of his mind. But I don't think it would've been a big deal if he hadn't ran into any cars. I know alot of people who teach their kids young.

Wow... that's shocking, mmm but then maybe not. My mom let me drive a whole a year before I was legally allowed to drive. Granted, I did grow up surrounded my fields and it was never on even a remotely major road and I don't think I was allowed to turn once, but I was still driving the car. I don't think it would matter so much if it hadn't ended so badly. I guess though, it all depends on your child and what they're capable of handling. I've been driving for twelve years and I probably shouldn't have a license. What's the right age? I just don't think you can set it across the board and not catch a problem either way.I feel for the kid though. I can't even imagine that kind of thing happening at eleven. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have run though. I'd still be passed out behind the wheel.

Totally stole my answer!

I was going to say something about personal responsibility and how no person finds maturity the same way or at the same time.

Good Answer!

my son became a legal professional race car driver at 14.

he still doesn't have his drivers license.

But he knows how to control a car better than law enforcement.

and he wins too!!!!


Am I bad?


or smart?

a endangering my child?

or abusing him?


or actually educating him better than the government can and actually making a better driver out of him?


this should be fun.

fire away.

I want to hear this.....

dbl post.

As long as you're prepared to take personal responsibility for him if he gets hurt or worse and if the same thing were to happen to someone your child ran into, whether inadvertant or intentional (thats how racing goes sometimes).

Then I don't think it's my place to decide what is or isn't bad for your child,thats your decision. Endangering him, well duh, you're allowing him the privelege of driving a car around a track at high rates of speed, but abuse? I don't think so. However I don't get to decide those laws. Does being a 14 year old race car driver make you a better regular joe street driver? That depends on whether or not you as a Father teach him the difference between the two and teach him the proper and legal way to operate a automobile on the streets with the rest of society.

He has complete medical insurance.

everyone signs waivers indemnifying the track and the promotors and other teams.

The rules on the track are fiercely enforced.

Safety equipment is state of the art.

the cars must pass the scrutiny of seriou safeyt requirements before ever getting on the track and are teched each race.

Auto racing in America is the last bastion of freedom from over protective and litigious behavior by sue happy victimizers.

as far as his citizenship goes, he is christian, a scholar, and an athlete.

he is always an honor student, and always respectful of adults and kids and is a leader among his peers.

he respects law enforcement and authority and enjoys more liberties and opportunities to find himself than most.

Here is the house rule regarding driving privileges:

one ticket, for anything, even a seat belt violation and you are walking until your are 18.

That sounds like personal responsibility.

I wish him well in his chosen past time.