DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and just learning how to drive. A friend of mine told me that airbags are extremely dangerous and that I shouldn't drive a car that has them.

Is this true? Why would airbags be dangerous for a young driver like me? — Worried About Airbags, via email

WORRIED ABOUT AIRBAGS: It's unlikely that at 16 years of age, airbags would be dangerous to you, but they can be dangerous to very small people and young children.

You should be aware of this if you have any passengers in your car, and always remember that children should be in a secure car seat in the backseat of the vehicle. But as for you, I'm confident you'll have no problem driving a vehicle that has airbags, as they are one of the best technological improvements for driver safety that have come along over the past several decades.

I'M ENJOYING MY "SINGLE SUMMER"

DR. WALLACE: My boyfriend broke up with me a few weeks before school ended, after dating me for eight months. Now all of my friends have steady boyfriends this summer, except for me.

I'm the only one in our group who is single, and although I'll admit at times it's awkward, I'm actually enjoying not having such a busy social schedule. I have more time to read, work out and do things I enjoy, and even though I've met a couple of nice guys here and there, I haven't been out on any dates yet this summer. My attitude is if a really great guy comes along, I'll consider it, but I doubt I'm going to go out with just any random guy simply to try to develop a new relationship.

One of my girlfriends tells me that she can see my point, but all of the other ones think I'm crazy for not trying to date some new guys right away. What do you think? — I'm Enjoying My Freedom, via email

I'M ENJOYING MY FREEDOM: I think your mindset is entirely logical. The way you've described yourself and your situation makes perfect sense to me. I feel that one of the keys to life is knowing how to first be true to yourself, before trying to interact with and please others. Never forget that you're in control of your own decision-making and you don't need to succumb to peer pressure, no matter who is giving it to you and what topic it is referring to.

Good luck with your summer, and I trust that when the time is right, you'll meet the special person who will justify your patience. In the meantime, summertime is here to be enjoyed, so get to it! Congratulations to you for living it up and enjoying your journey during this wonderful time of year.

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 rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. 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.

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