My 15-year-old drives our car. The same roads he drives 50 mph on, he can’t cross with his ATV, even after an ATV safety course.

Do bicyclists get arrested for not following the laws of the road? Little kids ride bikes on sidewalks, dart in front of traffic and ride on the wrong side of the road. It’s unsafe. Yet, ATVs aren’t allowed to drive on the shoulder or in the ditch.

Next year, my son will get his driver’s license and be allowed to drive an ATV alone. Ironic. Driving is much more dangerous for the driver and for others.

In two years, he’ll be responsible enough join the military. Where’s the growing up period filled with experiences that help him mature and develop?

It’s tough being a young teenager. They’re often alone hours on end. Many of them walk the streets, get into trouble or get depressed because there are so few activities they can do without a license or a parent available to provide them with rides. My son is safer on an ATV trail than in one of those scenarios.

I wonder if those who devise and enforce the ATV laws have any common sense.

The laws need to be revised.

Laurie Brown, Rumford