by Lisa Quattro

Created on: April 15, 2008

We all know of "lead foot" teenage drivers, itching to get behind the wheel of a car. Well I wasn't like that. I was a nervous and overly cautious driver right from the beginning. The first time I had to drive 45 MPH, I was so nervous. My driver's education teacher had to give me extra time to get used to driving. I did, and I was a very careful driver, for a sixteen year old. My friends teased my and called me "grandma" because of my cautious driving.

I was always the driver with my friends. Their parents put much trust into me. I drove my brother to the library, ran errands for my mom, and drove myself to my part time job at the local dry cleaners.

With all that responsibility seeping through my teenage veins, I still totaled a retired priest's car at 19. My favorite song came on the radio and it was a perfect crisp Michigan summer day. As Cher sang her latest hit I started playing with my bangs in the rear view mirror (after all, it was a mirror right, I thought that was what it was for). Next thing I knew, I looked up and there he was, stopped in front of me. He was waiting behind someone who was behind a person trying to turn left on a two lane street. Once I saw him, there was no where else to go. My car was totaled. I jumped out of the car after I saw the leak coming from his gas line, luckily no one was hurt and nothing caught fire. Later, when my mom and I looked at the wreaked car at the junk yard, we both cried. My mom put her arms around me and I knew I was lucky to be standing there.

Even after that terrible event I still drove, but it took a long time to feel comfortable behind the wheel again.

When the thrill of that crisp new license is in the air, it is difficult for teenagers to picture the above experience, they just want that freedom, that right which they think belongs to them. Well, I do not believe it is a right anymore. It is a privilege, one that must be revered as sacred, and not taken lightly. Young people do not understand the life changing power they have once they turn the key in their auto. Driving is serious, lives are at stake, including the drivers.

As an adult, I have also gotten into a few accidents, nothing major, no fatalities, but never the less careless and senseless. Once again, I let other things distract me, I wasn't think of driving as the most important thing I was doing. I have since learned to put priority on making sure the ton of metal in which I am sitting doesn't hit anyone or thing.

When we misplace the importance of driving and let our focus wonder, that is when accidents can happen. We all need to see driving as a privilege to make our daily lives more convenient and enriching. It is not a right and can be taken away if we abuse it.

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