A Message to New Drivers 

It's reaching that exciting and scary time for many teens around Abington Heights: the sweet sixteen! This cliche of the discovery of real teenhood comes with an unveiling the new world of freedoms: driving. Many questions arise with entering the world of driving, along with concerns and things to take note of as a new driver or a parent. 

Getting your Permit 

The first step to begin the path toward driving, after turning that magic number of 16, is getting your permit. So, what is a permit? A learner's permit is defined as a limited license given to someone who is in the middle of learning how to drive, but hasn't yet satisfied the criteria for a driver's license. This means that after getting your permit, you can drive on all roads and highways with a licensed adult 21+ in the passenger's seat. It's the green light to practice driving everywhere in all conditions safely before being able to drive alone. To acquire your learner's permit in PA, you must go to the DMV after receiving a physical from your doctor and completing your non-commercial learner's permit application. You also need proof of date of birth and identification (birth certificate), along with your social security card, and a check or money order to pay the $40 fee. Once the paperwork is taken care of, you sit down at a computer and answer simple driving questions. In order to pass, you must get 15 correct with the ability to skip 2 and get 2 wrong. To study, reference the PA driver's manual and the PA practice permit test app. Don't stress too much, most of the tests we take here in school are much harder. If there is no wait, you should be in and out of the DMV within 15-20 minutes. 

Your First Car 

If you are lucky enough, once you turn 16 your parents may begin to look for cars to get you. It's easy to say what car you want based on brand and looks, however the characteristics your first car should meet are much more than fanciness and color. The main criteria for a teens first car to meet is size. Size allows teens to maneuver the roads safely and with the least amount of risks possible. Also some criteria cars should meet to be a good first car for new drivers includes safety, fuel efficiency, auto insurance cost, and reliability. According to Ways.com, the best cars for teens include Toyota Camry, Honda Civic, Subaru Impreza, and Mazda 3. On a personal note, I love my Mazda 3. It's the perfect car for a young new driver- it's small, doesn't take much gas, and is easy to maneuver and park. Basically, most cars should be sufficient for a new driver, I would just recommend staying away from any large cars and particularly expensive cars, as the possibility of a crash is higher for young drivers. 

Taking Responsibility 

Becoming a driver is exciting and comes with a new world of freedoms, however along with freedom always comes responsibility. In the US alone, 46,000 people die in car crashes each year (ASIRT), 23.2% of people admitted to driving under the influence 1-2 times, and 9.2% of people in a given survey don't wear a seat belt regularly. After becoming a driver, many things need to be made clear- when you are driving you are not only responsible for your life but also everyone in your car's life. If you have been drinking, never get behind the wheel! Call an Uber, or phone a friend or parent to take you home. It may seem embarrassing, you may be worried about leaving your car wherever you're at, but all of this becomes minuscule compared to imagining the possible outcomes of driving home under the influence. As well as this, when driving others home, it's your responsibility as the driver to require seat belts as your driving, no distracting music or screaming and yelling of any kind. It's important to recognize how dangerous the activity of simply driving actually is, and take that into account every single time you get behind the wheel. 

To all the new drivers of Abington Heights High School, welcome to a new chapter of your life! Make sure you do everything right. Pass your permit test, find the right car for you, practice, pass your driving test, and remember the new list of responsibilities you now hold.