Driving is a unique experience. It encourages independence and freedom, but it also comes with a hefty responsibility. And with the ability to drive comes the honor of owning a driver’s license. A driver’s license is a certification that confirms an individual’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. In Texas, teens aged 15 can get their learner’s permit (a license allowing teen drivers to practice under supervision), then move on to get a provisional license (a license allowing teen drivers to drive without supervision, albeit with some restrictions) at 16, before finally getting an unrestricted license at 18.
Every situation is different for each student. Typically, students at Brighter Horizons Academy get their provisional licenses in junior year, though it can happen later. And while some may have their own car, others may borrow their parents’ or siblings’ car. We wanted to see how some juniors felt regarding driving, and how some others may not want to start just yet.
While not everyone has their license, most people have their learner’s permit. (Unfortunately, we both do not. We’ve been busy.) And everyone has their own reasons for wanting or not wanting to get their license very early. When we asked one junior, Abraham Silat, who only has a learner’s permit, what dissuaded him from initially getting his license, he replied, “…I was scared of driving on the highway.” However, another junior, Dineer Abdellah, felt his anticipation overtake him. “I just wanted to be able to go out with my friends whenever I wanted,” Abdellah said. “…I could go to school [at a later time].”
Though, as we mentioned before, driving does not come without risks. And as our juniors get out onto the roads, their experiences teach them what fears aren’t so bad, and what fears have earned their reputation. Abdulmuhyi Syed believes that “switching lanes and merging is…not that hard once you learn how to control the steering wheel.” However, Syed thinks that parallel parking truly is the danger people make it out to be. “If you mess up the parallel parking, there’s a chance you can cause damage to other people’s cars…you might have to pay for [things].” Silat holds the opposite opinion of Syed’s, believing that merging is a valid fear. “…You don’t know when to yield or when to speed up.” And Abdellah thinks that while speeding is normal in Texas, accidents are something to be afraid of. “Getting into an accident, even if it’s major or minor, causes a lot of damage…insurance has to get involved…”
However, despite all these varying opinions, the juniors can agree on one thing: driving is worth it. “…It works as proof of identification,” Silat says. “It’s the first step to living independently,” Syed says. Well, most juniors recommend driving. “I don’t want the parking spots to be filled,” Abdellah says.
We know driving is a big milestone, so we encourage our new drivers to get out there and be safe on the roads!
