A subject of debate is the age a person should get a driver’s license.
Some think that the age of a licensed driver starts too young, but students disagree.
“Learning how to drive as a teen allows us to practice driving before we become adults,” Annabeth Shadrick, sophomore, said.
“I think the age is fine because it [driving] is becoming more needed,” Chelsea Young, sophomore, said. “Kids need to be able to drive themselves because parents are having to work overtime to feed their kids and get bills paid. It’s also more useful for when they have an emergency or want to go somewhere without bothering anyone. They could just get in the car, let someone know where they’re going, and go.”
Students think getting a driver’s license in high school is good because of the advantages.
“It’s good to learn how to drive during high school because soon after, you’re most likely going to have to leave home and go to college or live on your own,” Constance White, sophomore, said. “Most people will need to be able to transport themselves.”
Students also think there are disadvantages.
“People in high school are young, obviously, so our brains aren’t fully developed,” Shadrick said. “This means that it’s harder for us to make abrupt decisions which can be needed when on the road.”
“Most of the day is taken up with school, so we don’t really have time to properly learn,” White said.
Students have their own worries about getting their driver’s license.
“I worry about how there are drunk drivers and how having to get on the road too early can cause you to not know what to do,” Young said. “Inexperienced and advanced drivers are all prone to distractions, especially teens in high school.”
“I fear that my knowledge won’t actually be enough,” Shadrick said. “I feel like I’ll get on the road and then immediately break the law and get a ticket.”
“I feel like I have a hard time focusing on more than one thing at a time,” White said. “That’s pretty much what driving is, so I’m always worried something will happen to me when I get behind the wheel.”
