Teenage Driving

The newspaper headlines are inescapable. The horrible tragedies seem to multiply just as the green crocus shoots peak out from the ground and young girls start to hunt for prom dresses and fashionable hairstyles. After raising three children, I know how terrifying it is to let your child drive with you, the parent, in the passenger seat for the very first time. It’s even scarier to give them your keys and let them back out onto the pavement all by themselves.

It’s understandable that legislators are contemplating raising the driving age. Who wouldn’t want to address this compelling concern that continues decade after decade? The problem is that I’m not sure changing our laws would reduce the number of awful deaths. I’m not convinced that one more year would give us all a substantial edge.

I have been reading about the large numbers of kids living in sprawling suburbs. Without the easy access to public transportation that we have in our urban areas, they find themselves trapped if they cannot drive and are tired of having their parents chauffeur them to jobs, lessons, and friends’ homes. Independence is of course the key word here, and teenagers view getting a license to drive as a rite of passage.

Too many of us have sobering memories of friends and family members who died at heartbreakingly young ages because they rushed ahead, used poor judgment, took risks, were caught up in a moment, didn’t think through a decision or just had bad luck. Even though my children are now adults, I still worry about them when they’re traveling and probably always will.

My recommendation would be to increase the driver education requirements and to make certain that teenagers have more hours of experience in all sorts of circumstances. Navigating slippery, slushy streets and understanding that bright sunlight as well as dusk can be tricky lighting are learned skills. Another vital component is to have plenty of conversations about the privilege of getting behind the wheel and the expectations that we as grown ups have for our young people.

For my youngest son, I wrote a safety contract. That was seven years ago. I like to think that the spirit of this list has stayed with him:
1) You are a levelheaded person who studies things carefully. Yet I shudder when I think about anything happening to you in a car.
2) Cars are powerful and can cause devastating destruction.
3) Seatbelts are mandatory.
4) Please drive the speed limit. Wouldn’t you rather get there taking more time than never get there at all?
5) Learn to anticipate the stupid actions of other drivers. That oncoming vehicle with its flashing right turn signal may not be slowing down and turning after all.
6) Never let a classmate you mistrust drive you. Phone Dad, me, or several other adults you know who wouldn’t think twice about rescuing you in a storm.
7) Driving is an earned privilege.
8) Please take it seriously.