The 13-year-old who needs a license

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Thu, 15 Sep 2011 7:00p.m.

Jedidiah Smith is just 13

Jedidiah Smith is just 13

Jedidiah Smith is just 13, but he doesn't think that should mean that he's too young to get his driver licence so he can go to work and support his family.

His father Craig has an inoperable brain tumour.

Jedidiah wants to take over dad's delivery business, which means driving a small truck.

His family says he's mature, capable and he should be allowed to do it

Watch Natasha Utting's report.


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Comments

17 Sep 2011 08:56p.m.

Melissa wrote:

If he can pass a truck driving test, then I say give him a license that allows him to only drive the delivery run.

16 Sep 2011 06:40p.m.

Diane wrote:

I feel that kids should be kids, and not take on a mans role to support a family. Shame on his parents for having this expectation of Jedidiah. The parents decided to have the children and knew that they would have to support them, until they were able to supports themselves. They have older children and don't have the same expectation of them. There should be something the mother could do to support the family. Let's face it there other solo mothers out there supporting their family's.

16 Sep 2011 02:37p.m.

Dan wrote:

This is why I hate catch-all laws. There are always exceptions that they don't cater for. Being a man before his time, I think that an exception should be made for Jedidiah, but, sadly, I know it won't be implemented, because laws aren't human and don't deal with people one on one.

16 Sep 2011 02:29p.m.

Bluetulip wrote:

What a fantastic thing to want to do! To provide for his family. If only we had more 13 year olds like Jedidiah who want to be men and act responsibly. I know its unlikely he'll get his licence but good on him for trying! In the past, 12 and 13 year old boys were learning a trade and how to be a man. These days our education system mollycoddles boys until they are 18+ and they end up bored, and looking for (usually destructive) ways to express themselves. I was very impressed by Jedidiah's maturity and seriousness. Here is a young man who knows what he wants and he is going about doing it! To simple: perhaps mother with her 2 artificial hips and health issues isn't strong enough to drive the truck day in and day out, and who is going to look after the little girls or are they expected to get up 5:30am and illegally squeeze into the truck cab?

16 Sep 2011 09:48a.m.

simple wrote:

Mother drives truck. Jed does the grunt work. Solution. Simple as that.

15 Sep 2011 10:31p.m.

Michelle wrote:

Yes the boys circumstances are terrible, but this article cheapens their dire situation with the worst, most sentmental piece of journalism I have ever seen in my life. Why was there not a single mention of the safety of other road users, which is why the law is there in the first place? The screeds of research that shows that regardless of mental maturity, teenagers are still high-risk drivers because their brains are not fully developed to judge risk? Great fact finding Natasha, thanks for a well balanced story.