DR. WALLACE: It's almost the time to flex our muscles and catch a few rays while "eyeing" all the girls at the beach on Lake Michigan. Since my buddies and I are always short of money, we hitchhike. There are four of us, so we always hitchhike in pairs. That way we have protection, and it won't be hard to get a ride.

Last night my mother read about someone hitchhiking who was picked up by a weirdo and sexually assaulted. Now my parents refuse to let me hitchhike. They said that they would drive my friends and whenever they can, and when they are not available to be a chauffeur, they would give me money for the bus.

My friends and I are all 16, so we are capable of taking care of ourselves. I don't mind my parents driving us, but it would be embarrassing for me to have to ride the bus while my friends hitchhike. We go to the beach every day, and we have never had a problem getting a ride quickly to and from the beach. We have been lucky that most of the drivers who pick us up are women, and they are always nice to us. Do you think it's safe to hitchhike, and how else do you think we can solve this problem? —Nameless, Hobart, Ind.

NAMELESS: I am against hitchhiking and picking up hitchhikers. I know it's a free ride that is easy on the wallet, but the potential risks are too great to chance. It only takes one "kook" one time to destroy a future for the hitchhiker or the driver. I'm sure you and your friends can handle yourselves admirably, but not if confronted with a dangerous weapon. Take your parents up on their offer to drive you and your friends to the surf whenever they can. See if your friends' parents can also drive occasionally. If not, all of your friends and you should ride the bus together. It's safe, dependable and reasonably priced.

YOUR PARENTS WILL STOP CHECKING ON YOU

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 15-year-old girl who has a 16-year-old brother who lies a lot. He is always telling my parents that he is going somewhere, but he never ends up there. Now they are constantly checking up on him.

Here is my problem: My parents told me that whenever I start dating, I'd better make sure where I'm going, and I'd better be there because they are going to check up on me, too. Is this fair? —Amy, Weirton, W. Va.

AMY: It's hard to answer your question with a yes or a no. Parents have a responsibility to know where their teens are at all times.

If you are where you are supposed to be, you won't have any problems. After your parents "check you out" a few times and find out that all is well, I'm sure they will stop checking on a regular basis.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.