DR. WALLACE: My boyfriend is an extremely courteous guy who helps little old ladies and men across busy streets, but he is out of control when he's behind the wheel of his car. He likes to peel rubber when he accelerates and squeal his breaks when he stops. He also speeds, runs stop signs, and gets violent if someone cuts him off.

In the past three months, he has had three altercations with other drivers. One time my boyfriend and this older guy were fist-fighting beside the road. I've done all I can to get him to slow down, but he won't. I really like this guy, but I detest his driving habits. Every time I'm in the car, he gets angry and flips some other driver off. I want to keep him as a boyfriend. What should I do? — Penny, Naperville, Ill.

PENNY: Your boyfriend is a disaster waiting to happen. You are putting your life in jeopardy whenever you ride with him. If you must have him as a boyfriend, then you should do all of the driving, and I do mean ALL of it! If that can't be worked out, then end the relationship before the relationship is your end!

HE HAS A BIG MOUTH

DR. WALLACE: I have been going with my boyfriend for over six months. I do care for him, but we argue a lot, and to make matters worse, he has a big mouth. Two weeks ago, he convinced me that we loved each other enough to have sex. It was my first sexual experience. The day after the sex bit, I had second thoughts. First, I was sorry that I lost my virginity, and then I worried that I could be pregnant or have a disease because we didn't use any kind of protection. I'm sorry that I allowed this to happen to me, but what's done is done.

Now this is what really makes me mad. Two days after the "incident," one of my girlfriends told me her boyfriend gave her a detailed, vivid description of what happened. He got it from the "horse's mouth" — my boyfriend. I was shocked and angry. Now all my friends know what happened. When I confronted my boyfriend, he denied saying anything. But since I didn't tell anyone, it had to be him. He is 100 percent guilty and is telling me a lie. I think this is a good time to dump this guy.

Yes, I still care for him, but I don't love him. I can assure you that our sexual days are over and I don't want to hassle him about it. Before I tell him goodbye, I'd like to hear from you. — Nameless, Memphis, Tenn.

NAMELESS: I've always believed that the fastest way for teens to end their relationship was to have sex. You have already made up your mind to break up with your boyfriend, so I am not going to try to change it.

When you do tell him goodbye, make sure he understands why — that you do not love him and you are not going to stay in a relationship that involves sex.

You might also remind him that he has a big mouth!

BEST PLAYERS SHOULD PLAY — MALE OR FEMALE

DR. WALLACE: Why do they have separate athletic teams for boys and girls? Why don't they just let the best players play on a single team? — Melody, El Paso, Tex.

MELODY: If female athletes competed against males for positions on teams, not many of them would make the cut. Things are fine just the way they are. More female athletes are participating in interscholastic athletics than at any time in our history, and that's good!

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. E-mail 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.