One consequence of the de-ruralization of America is that the vast majority of kids never get any seat time in ANY type of vehicle before the keys to the SUV are handed over to them. Before I got my license, and yes when I had an onion attached to my belt, I had driven lawn tractors, tractors, ATVs (3 wheels and lived!), skid loaders, backed two wagons at a time into a barn...all before getting behind a car's steering wheel. This gave me confidence in controlling the vehicle. That part wasn't new, which allowed me to concentrate on that which was new - the environment around me. The girl's reaction to gun it might have worked if she had an ounce of vehicular control.