This is the age where many teens receive their learner's permit, for those lucky enough to live in a state where it's possible. After 15 years of waiting and enduring that driving excitement that builds up, you finally get to sit in the driver's seat. What a feeling!

But there are a lot of things a teen like yourself must think about before you put the pedal to the metal. Teens are described by adults as irresponsible and immature. They question whether teens should be allowed to drive at all.

Because driving takes a lot of responsibility and concentration (and coordination, as I have found!), we are forced to think straight behind the wheel, especially when a parent is watching our every move. But once that 16th birthday rolls around and the lucky ones among us are rewarded with our own set of car keys, we tend to relax a lot. Maybe too much.

With our friends in the car, we have a tendency to goof around and have some fun, including showing off how fast our car can go. Not every parent wants to get a call from the local police station saying their child and his/her friends were ticketed for speeding, or much worse, in an accident.

This generation has gotten into a major traffic jam. With accusations and assumptions hanging in the air, we have a lot to explain. Personally, I don't think many teens are aware of the value of life. If they make one slip-up, it could cost them the chance to live their lives the way they want. Teens have to be aware of the consequences of running a red light or taking turns without a blinker.

In my town, the high school parking lots are a dangerous place to be. Oftentimes they need to get police officers out there to keep an eye on the drivers.

These days, some immature people can ruin driving for everybody. It's supposed to be relaxing, enjoyable and convenient, not deadly and dangerous. Please drive safely everyone!


Editor's Note: HoneyMe included a few links that looked really good; unfortunately, the sites appear to be down now. I went ahead and found two sites really quickly that appear to be useful, but I didn't investigate too closely, so naturally be sure to go over the info you find here with an adult, okay!

http://www.teendriving.com/
http://www.drivers.com/topic/8/