TEEN DRIVING
Red, Yellow, Green!
In our youth the first games we were introduced to play was red light, green light. The games occurred during recess, or an option in neighborhood games. This game taught us the different functions of each light:
Red= Stop
Yellow= Slow
Green= Go
As a life skill it helped us with certain skills like following directions and control ; Necessary skills for physical driving. The skill, following directions, helps abide by certain rules of the law (e.g., coming to a complete stop at a stop sign). Control is important to make positive judgements; For instance, maintaining the speed limit for preventive causes, or not being distracted while driving. Both of these interconnected skills help with learning to drive--basic skills we were taught as kids in this game.
Learning to Drive
Being a teen learning to drive is an accomplishing skill that distinct you from being a young adult and a child. I remember my first time driving and specifically learning to drive on the interstate!
We were getting ready for vacation bible school, “Niya, I want you to do something for me.” my grandma suggested. My grandma wanted me to drive, but it did not sound much like a request --a demand. She knew I had been practicing with my dad, but in low traffic conditions. I was not confident enough to drive on the interstate, at least I thought.
I turned the ignition to the car and started adjusting my side and rear-view mirrors-- just like my dad taught me. My grandma started to walk to the car, and it was about time for us to go. “Everyone come on, we got to be at church on time”, she said. “Put your seat belts on and Niya you just pay attention to the road”, my grandma told us. I reversed out the driveway slowly. Once I left the neighborhood, I was headed to the entrance of the interstate which was nearby. “Do I go this way?” I asked my grandma. “Yes, make sure you turn on your signal lights and do not be worried about the other drivers behind you”. I started going up the ramp to enter the interstate, we were going to travel about 22 miles to the church. My palms were sweaty at 9 and 3 on the steering wheel. My grandma told me to start accelerating because we were going too slow. “Niya go at a constant speed like 50 and whoever wants to go around can, but you make sure you don't go too slow”, she said.
This made me feel more comfortable, some cars did move around-- but I did not care because I was facing my fear of driving on the interstate. To say the least I accomplished driving on the interstate, and we got there safely!