A License to Freedom

A License to
Freedom

By Hunter
Plotkin

Freedom.
Such a powerful word. It means different things to different people.
For me, it took on a whole new meaning when I became a full-fledged
licensed driver.

When
I got my learner’s permit, I knew I was on my way to earning my
“license to freedom.” Once I passed all the requirements, I’d
have that little piece of plastic in my wallet and I wouldn’t have
to rely on my parents to drive me to a friend’s house. If I felt
like grabbing a bite to eat, I could jump behind the wheel and head
to the drive-thru. No more riding the bus to school. Spell it with
me, people: F-R-E-E-D-O-M!

But
I also knew this new-found freedom came with a huge dose of
responsibility. As a new driver, you’re handed the keys to 2-ton
mass of steel that can do infinite damage in an instant if not
handled correctly. So while I celebrated my sense of independence, it
was also a sobering moment knowing I was now responsible not only for
my own safety, but for thousands of others on the road, and there
were seen and unseen dangers at virtually every turn.

What’s
more, I was living with the sadness of the memory of my friend who,
at the age of 16, died in a single-car accident. While his family and
friends hate to talk about it, it’s important to know the cause of
the crash: he was texting and driving.

I remember on the
day I got my license, my mom looked me straight in the eyes, handed
me the keys to her car and said, “Come home to me.” I knew she
was thinking about my friend’s mom who would never see her son
again, and while she was happy that I passed my driver’s test, she
was also filled with enormous fear for my safely and well-being. I
promised her I would take every precaution and told her not to worry
(which I knew was futile because ALL moms worry about their kids).

That
said, let me tell you why I think being a safe driver matters. My dad
is a deputy sheriff, and one of the things I was required to do
before I got my license was take a teen defensive driver course.
Aimed at high school students, the 2-day course is designed to
improve driving skills, teach vehicle awareness, and develop good
driving habits. Students learn braking control, crash avoidance,
vehicle dynamics and what happens when a driver is impaired.

Taking
this course was one of the best things I ever experienced. I learned
from experienced instructors who had seen their share of fatal car
wrecks in their career. Without a shadow of a doubt, the class taught
me just how important it is to not only be a safe driver, but a
defensive one as well.

We
all know the rest: don’t drink and drive, don’t speed, don’t
text while driving, slow down in bad weather, and TAKE IT EASY!