DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and have a part-time job two nights a week to help pay for my college expenses. My grandmother bought me (bless her) a used car for transportation to and from work. I'm pleased that the price of gasoline has declined lately. That really helps.

But since I pay for my insurance I'm shocked at the premium, even for minimum protection. The insurance agent said the price was high because I'm a teenager and that the only reason he provided me with insurance was the fact that my father's and my mother's cars are insured by his company. When I was taking driver's education in school, I learned that teens have the best eye-hand-foot coordination and therefore are considered the best drivers possible.

Since that's true, why do teens pay a higher car insurance premium? I think it's just another "rip teens off" scam. What do you think? —Ella, Columbus, Ohio

ELLA: It's very true that teens have all the physical "tools" to be the safest drivers on the roads. But, unfortunately, some teens lack the maturity and all have little driving experience. Sprinkle in youthful exuberance and the result is that teens have more accidents per driver than any other age group. Insurance companies base their rates on accident averages and the averages for teens are high. That's the reason your insurance rate is high.

BLAME IT ON YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE

DR. WALLACE: Why are you always preaching to teens to stop driving when drinking? Sure, a few do drink and drive, but the vast majority of drunken drivers are middle-age, middle-class flunkies who don't give a darn about anything but their own satisfaction. Wise up, Dr. Wallace. If you really want to keep drunken drivers off of our streets, then aim your words to the fat, middle-class cats. —Mario, El Paso, Texas

MARIO: Driving drunk is a serious violation no matter how old the driver might be, but if you think the typical drunken driver is a middle-aged fat cat, then think again.

During the last decade the great majority of all impaired drivers (blood alcohol of .10 percent or more) involved in fatal crashes were teens and young adults between the ages of 16-24 years, according to SADD (Students Against Driving Drunk). The 16-24 age group had 16.7 deaths per 100,000 licensed drivers compared with the 25-44 age group (10.3 deaths), the 45-64 age group (3.7 deaths) and age 65-plus "Fat Cats" (1.6 deaths).

The reason why young drivers have this alarmingly high involvement in fatal crashes? They call it youthful exuberance.

YOUR SISTER WON'T NEED YOU TO PLAY CUPID

DR. WALLACE: My sister is a very pretty girl and has a wonderful figure. The problem she has is that she isn't interested in dating, even though she is almost 17. All she thinks about is studying, playing the piano and being a model. I'm sure she isn't dating because she is rather shy.

To help her get started dating, I wonder if it would be proper for me to ask my boyfriend's friend to ask her out. They have seen each other, and both think that the other is cute. I'm now 19 and have been dating for four years. It's been great fun, and I'd like my sister to share in that enjoyment. —Nameless, Houston, Texas

NAMELESS: Ask your sister if she would like your assistance in fixing her up with this certain guy. If she says yes, then all's well that ends well. But if your sister refuses the offer, then bite your tongue. Many 17-year-olds have chosen not to date just yet. Believe me, when the right time comes, your sister won't need you to play Cupid.

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.