Not everyone wants to drive at sixteen

Sahaj Datta | The Chronicle

In today’s society, learning to drive has become more than just a rite of passage and a symbol of independence for teens — it is also a source of intense pressure. While most teenagers are excited to get behind the wheel, many also feel a sense of urgency to learn to drive, whether they are ready to or not.

In Ohio, teenagers can get their temporary instruction permit identification card (TIPIC), known colloquially as temps, at age 15 and a half. After at least six months of practical instruction with 50 logged hours of driving and 24 hours of classroom instruction, 16-year-olds can get a probationary driver’s license that lets them drive independently with little restriction.

On paper, it seems pretty straightforward. Check off the boxes and suddenly you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, without relying on your parents or older siblings to take you places. But in reality, the pressure to learn to drive can be overwhelming, especially in a day and age where all most of us want to do is fit in.

My half-birthday passed this summer, and as I began my sophomore year, the main topic of conversations around me became constantly driving-related. “Do you have your temps yet?” “When are you getting your license?” “Have you started Driver’s Ed?” “My dad takes me out every week to practice.”

As someone who has yet to sit in the driver’s seat, I have definitely felt left behind these past few months. To me, the gap between someone who can drive compared to someone who cannot feels huge. Having your license gives you freedom—something I feel like I have not experienced yet. My friends talk about driving themselves to the mall or grabbing coffee whenever they want, and it sometimes feels like I am missing out on a major part of being a teenager. 

There are plenty of benefits to driving as well. The structure of suburban towns like Mason makes it nearly impossible to go anywhere without driving, putting us at an immediate dependence on our roads and cars. As students enter high school, our extracurriculars increase tenfold and we need rides constantly. Our parents cannot drive us around that much, so we are also pressured to learn to drive from that direction. 

However, while the practical need for driving is real, I do not think driving is something worth rushing into just because it is inconvenient to wait. Sure, being able to drive can make life easier, and maybe it will help us fit in with our friends a little more, but that doesn’t mean everyone is emotionally or mentally prepared to handle the stress of driving as soon as they turn 16. 

Pushing yourself to get your license before you are ready just to avoid being dependent on others can backfire — leading to anxiety or unsafe driving habits. Teen drivers make up most fatal car accidents, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), almost six young drivers between 15 and 20 years old are killed in car crashes every day. The NHTSA also reports that automobile crashes are the cause of injury for over 180,000 teens per year. The National Library of Medicine also informs that car crashes and near-crashes are 75% lower when driving with adults and 96% higher amongst friends.

It is much better to wait until you feel confident and responsible enough to drive on your own, even if that means asking for a few more rides. At the end of the day, safety and readiness are more important than convenience.

When it comes down to it, I believe you have to go at your own pace. Not everyone is ready to drive at 16, and that is okay. Driving is a huge responsibility and something you have to feel ready for, not just something you do because everyone around you is. There is a right time for everything and you will know when you’re ready.