Sixteen is a big year for most teenagers. There is something about being so close to adulthood that you can almost taste it, but I think the biggest thing on every sixteen year olds mind is the idea of driving down the road after passing your driving test. As I reflect back on the two short years ago when I received my license, I remember the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Reflecting back, I remember the very stressful couple of days before. I remember driving my mom everywhere we would want to go. Constantly reviewing the drivers manual to ensure I was ready for my big test. It is important to remember that practice makes perfect. You won’t always be good your first time around. I know I wasn’t. I practiced in empty parking lots and driving around my secluded neighborhood until I became more confident in my ability to drive. I began to grow day by day and drive by drive. As my confidence grew, my ability to take on more challenging roads came with it. I was soon going back and forth to school and work.
The excitement of being on the road is huge, but it is important to remember the weight in which you now hold. As a new driver you are going to be put into circumstances in which you must think quickly and strategically. On the road, it is not just important for you to be a good driver, but also to watch for others and their behaviors. Once I actually received my license I felt on top of the world, but it is almost too easy to forget the power that, as a teenager, I now held in my hand. A car can be a deadly machine, especially with a young, inexperienced driver behind the wheel. It is important to remember that it is not just your life, but the lives of every other person on the road that you are holding in your hands as you drive. It is important, despite the excitement, to stay aware of all of your surroundings, as you never know what could happen in a split second. Make sure you are considering all the ways you can be a better, safer driver as you’re getting your license. Look back on the time and reflect, as I am doing. You will look back and be thankful for the attentive driver you turned out to be.
Getting your license is a very exciting time, but remember the risks and the rewards that can come with it.
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To learn more about getting your license, GDL laws, and tips for learning to be the best driver you can be, check out the MySADD course in partnership with the National Road Safety Foundation and State Farm, the Passport to Safe Driving.