Driving is viewed as a right of passage. Young teenagers view it as a sense of accomplishment and a new found freedom. When a teen receives their license the world gets much wider. With new horizons a teen must also learn the responsibility of safety. The consequences of reckless driving can be devastating to the driver, as well as those around them. Teens must be educated on the need to practice safe driving habits. The pressure to get a license must also not be put on too extreme, or they may not take the amount of time that they need to learn proper driving practices. This new privilege can be an amazing part of life if the proper training is put into learning how to drive.
In modern times, the goal for many young drivers is to get their license as quickly as possible for status reasons. When I was a sophomore in high school I remember the anticipation everyone felt for their 16th birthday. The students who did not get their license right away were looked down upon. As my birthday drew near, I became very anxious as I did not feel ready to be out on the open road. I had spent many hours behind the wheel, but as a person with severe anxiety issues, I struggled in the beginning. I would have a panic response to obstacles while driving and freeze up. This was dangerous because I was unable to quickly evaluate situations and maneuver my way to safety. After several freeze ups behind the wheel, I grew even more nervous about driving.
When my birthday arrived, I decided not to get my license. I kept practicing, but I waited a whole extra year to get my license. What ended up helping me was driving school. I spent hours with professionals building my confidence. They taught me many safe habits, as well. Another strategy that they used was a simulation that put me in a high risk situation so I could learn how to navigate hard circumstances. When the driving school deemed me ready to take the test, we did a two hour evaluation on my driving and I was granted my license. After passing my test, I still only drove short distances and slowly eased into driving full-time to my activities. As someone who has hyper fixation tendencies, I have had to learn how to control them so that I can be more aware while I drive. After more practice I finally learned how to navigate driving with anxiety. I was taught breathing exercises that helped calm me down during freeze-ups. I am now a full-time driver and feel very confident in my ability to drive safely.
I faced a large number of people who teased me for not getting my license at sixteen. It bothered me at the moment, but I now see that the amount of time I took learning a difficult skill really doesn't matter in the long run. It is more important that I perfected my skills and became a safe driver.I believe that by waiting I am now a much better driver than I would have been. I spent a significant amount of time behind the wheel, learning good habits that make me a safer driver. I understand the consequences of texting while driving and speeding because my school informed me of them. This is why I have never texted while driving, because it truly is not worth the consequence. I try to share the knowledge I have gained with my peers to help prevent them from making bad choices while driving. I also have learned how to manage my anxiety a lot better with maturity. When I was 16, I experienced panic attacks more often, and now I can control my emotional responses better. I was not in a place where I would have been a safe driver, and that is why it is important that I waited until I was ready.
Driving is a wonderful invention that teaches adolescents how to be responsible, and manage difficult situations. It aids many families in transportation as well. However, not every 16 year old is ready to be a full-time driver. As a society, many young teens are given too much pressure to get their licenses as quickly as possible. It is important that the proper amount of practice is put into learning how to drive. Peer pressure should not fuel a teen into taking a step that they are not ready for. Driving is a privilege and it is one that requires immense understanding, mastery and discipline. When it comes to getting your license and being out on the road, slow and steady will win the race.