Articles of the Month

Driving Days

Turning sixteen in Alberta means one thing - getting a driver's license. Many people count down the days. Being able to drive means a sense of freedom and individual choice. You can go anywhere, you can do anything. After 16 years of being a child under parents', teachers' and other authority figures' watch, driving gives teens their first sense of adult freedom.

There is also a practical aspect to driving - it gives a lot more flexibility to teen schedules. Not having to rely on parents, rides or city transit allows a greater choice of activities. You can go for lunch with friends, you can run your own errands, and maybe you could get to work earlier after school. It's all about what you finally can do.

In Alberta specifically, turning sixteen means you can get an unrestricted driver's license. Recently, laws have been drafted and are being put into place that will introduce graduated licensing. Restrictions are minimal, but the thought of being told what you can't do reduces the joy of learning to drive for most teens.

Basically, despite the practical aspect of being able to drive, the hype about "getting your license" comes from what a driver's license represents to teens. That little piece of plastic is a symbol of freedom and I for one am counting the days until my sixteenth birthday, when opportunities start.