- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 0
- 1
-
Sparkle (0)
I don't know about you, but when I was a teenager, I couldn't wait until I could drive. My Dad taught me in my neighborhood before I took Driver's Education at school. He took the time to make sure I knew what I was doing behind the wheel. As a matter of fact, I am one of the only women drivers I know to this day who can parallel park. That can be attributed directly to my Dad.
Now I hear that teenagers today are not sprinting to the BMV once they turn 16 to get their licenses. There is no urgency to have that piece of plastic that lets you out on the open road. The freedom to drive to McDonald's or to a friend's house or to the movie theater.
The news was a shock to me. I was one of the first in my class to have my license since my birthday is in November. I even remember the first night I drove on my own. It was to my high school team's basketball game at our rival's gym. When I came out, it was foggy, yet I had no fear. I drove myself and a friend home safely despite it being thicker than pea soup.
From the news reports that I've seen, teens connect with their friends regularly via text or get on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace, so they aren't in as big of a hurry to get behind the wheel. Maybe for parents this is a relief as you don't have to buy them a car, pay for insurance or worry about them getting in an accident.
Obviously, the economy is another factor as the cost of even a used car is quite expensive. But who says you have to have your own car when you turn 16? I know I borrowed my Dad's car and most of my friends did, too.
I just hope this generation doesn't lose the enthusiasm for cars that we had. There's a pride in ownership. There's the freedom of taking a road trip and seeing parts of the country you've never seen. I would just hate to think that they find it more enjoyable to tweet or text than to actually get together with friends.
Then again, if they have to text, I would rather they do it when they are not in the car. When teaching a teenager to drive, I hope every instills the importance of not phoning or texting while driving.
That's my thought...for what it's worth.
-Marcy
