This month's Teen Perspective article was provided by Alex Eisner.Alex graduated from Dana Hills High School in 2007.During the High School Media Challenge program Alex contributed several articles generated from the press conferences conducted during the events. During this time Alex was also a columnist for the Laguna Niguel News.His column, The Way I See It, provided valuable insight to parents interested in viewing topics from a teen perspective. It is with great appreciation that Alex agreed to write OCTrafficSafety.com?s inaugural Teen Perspective column.Alex is now attending The George Washington University studying Political Science.
Dear Parents of Teen Drivers: Driving is a lot like dancing. No matter when you start, you're going to be bad, some worse than others, but still varying degrees of "bad". Embarrassingly bad. So bad that, just like dancing, everyone needs to take classes to lean how to do it. And, also analogous to dancing, some people stay " bad" forever. And yet everyone does it, even though some never (ever) should. To this end, the age at which one starts driving is irrelevant to some degree. Obviously it can't be age 10 but past a certain point, 16 seems good enough, it's all the same. As I mentioned, no matter when you start you're going to suck. So, to all those who wish to push back the age at which people can drive to 18, 21, 25 etc, I say there are plenty of 47 year-olds out there on blue-tooth headsets who should forever be banished to commute via tricycle...moving on. Just as having a Bar Mitzvah is to little Jewish boys and girls, driving is a rite of passage. It is a transition into manhood (or womanhood). It infinitely expands one's world and, likewise, one's possibilities. Actual dating becomes a possibility (as apposed to just calling it "going out" but not actually going anywhere at all! (one of the great mysteries of middle school parents should resolve never to understand). With driving comes freedom. I think parents forget that feeling of euphoria they got when they were first handed the keys to their first car (though it may have been 1972 Chevy Impala). It's hard to describe because there are so few other times in life when one experiences this feeling to this degree but I'm assuming it similar to the point when one purchases their first house. Total freedom. Though like buying at house, it's not really freedom...yet. The bank keeps tabs on you for a long, long time. They make sure you are being responsible with your money. The homeowner's association often times makes sure that you are being responsible with your house. No parties with loud music until 3am and no paint jobs that would make Liberace wince. Likewise, with the freedom of four wheels and a shinny new license there should be someone looking over a shoulder making sure the freedom is handled with care. There are laws that govern what one can and cannot do with a license within the first year. They are in place for a reason. The state legislator doesn't do anything unless there are statistics to back it up. For that reason, as much as it pains me to do so, I will stand behind these laws and insist that parents enforce them, as mine did. There is a reason teens shouldn't be driving with other teens in the car for a while. As mentioned before, some adults shouldn't be driving with other people in the car. When they teach you to dance, they teach you by yourself first. The added complication of a partner is too much to handle right off the bat. It's the same with driving. And since cops can't look into a car and instantly tell how long a kid has had his license, however obvious it may be by their driving, it is the responsibility of the parents to enforce. It seems rather obvious to me now though for some reason I'm sure my parents would laugh if they read this. It's the kids' job to fight their parents and it's the parents' job to fight back. That's just the way it is. That's the status quo. So from one fighter to another, keep fighting. Because ultimately, it's your child's life you're fight for...they just don't know it yet. Good luck with the dancing. Sincerely,
Alex C. Eisner
The George Washington University Previously of The Way I See It
The Laguna Niguel News
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Orange County Sheriff's Department - Traffic Safety Programs 11 Journey Aliso Viejo, CA 92656 (949) 425-1881
