Samantha Massad, 27
Many sophomore students have started driving, whether they have their driver’s license or their permit. Driving is a huge responsibility that requires one to remain alert and calm while driving on the roads. Many teenagers might find that driving and navigating the roads to be a scary and nerve-wracking experience at first, but for others, it can be an exciting experience to explore their freedom to drive with autonomy. I surveyed a group of the current sophomore class to better understand their feelings towards being behind the wheel.
While 85% of the surveyed group does not have their driver’s license yet, they all have at least their permit and admitted to driving quite often. Being comfortable and confident while driving is important, and the lack of these skills could result in a car accident. When asked how comfortable each student feels when driving during the day, the majority of students responded with, “I feel super comfortable when driving during the day” or “I feel pretty comfortable and confident when driving during the day.” This skill is a great skill for our new drivers and a must-have skill for staying safe on the roads.
Feeling secure on the roads during the day is just as important as feeling that way when driving at night. 54% of those surveyed feel significantly less confident when driving at night. This feeling is common for new drivers, as driving during the night has decreased visibility, possibly making the driver more nervous. Two tips to improve certainty while on the roads at night are to always make sure to have your headlights on and to try to keep more distance from the car in front of you. Doing both of these things helps to increase visibility and give more time to react to the vehicle ahead. A sufficient amount of reaction time and visibility are key to staying safe on the roads day and night.
When driving, weather conditions are also something to be aware of because it will not always be perfect, calm, and sunny outside. 62% of the surveyed students responded that they either had never driven in extreme weather conditions or they would not feel safe being on the roads in extreme weather conditions, such as rain or snow. Similar to traveling at night, driving in these conditions is made more difficult due to lack of visibility. Furthermore, there’s the added danger if one or more vehicles lose traction. A couple of recommendations when driving in such conditions are to drive slower and always keep your windshield and windows clear Additionally, if you are not feeling confident driving in those extreme conditions, you can always pull over if necessary.
When most high schoolers start driving, they immediately want to start driving their friends around. Driving friends around may not be the best idea; in fact, 43% of drivers have a car crash within their first year. While also having the stress of being a new driver, it is even more likely to get distracted with friends in the car, which could lead to a car accident. Surprisingly, when asked when students would be allowed to drive with friends in the car, 54% of the surveyed group answered they would be allowed to as soon as they got their license. It may be surprising to some, the most important thing when driving friends or other people around is to not be distracted and to always pay attention to the road. If you’re a passenger, you can help alleviate possible distractions and help your driver remain focused.
Being worried or nervous when starting to drive is completely normal. When asked what students worry about the most when driving, the most common concern (53%) was getting in a car accident. Another common fear within the surveyed group was other drivers getting mad or annoyed. While this is a common worry, many new drivers start to worry less and less about other drivers judging their skills once they become more confident on the roads. This confidence evolves with practice, as does being a safe, focused driver. While many of us have fears when driving, some people have had many stressful experiences that have resulted in the concerns discussed above or even compound such concepts.
Those who were surveyed were also asked to share the most stressful situation they had encountered while driving. The responses varied greatly; some were stories of a deer running right in front of them, and others involved vehicles such as bikes cutting them off and then intentionally slowing down. One response was, “I was driving home from a babysitting job, and as I'm backing out of the driveway, an orange warning triangle starts flashing at me, and my car starts beeping at me very loudly. I drive home thinking I've popped the tire, screaming and cussing out my car trying to drown out the sound of the beeping until I get home and the words, ‘please turn off your parking break’ flash across the dash. Driving home, the stress of the beeping and thinking I ruined my car somehow was the most stressful situation I've ever been in while driving.” Whatever the situation might be, these instances can be a reminder for all of us to make sure we and our cars are in the proper settings before we drive off. When driving, the class of 2027 seems to be focused, and excited to be on the roads.