Driving in America: A Rite of Passage

Getting your drivers license has to be a large part of any teenager's life. You are required to take in-class instruction, drive over 40 hours with a licensed driver, then drive 6 times with a driving instructor. Once you have done this you become a driving member of society. Before you can drive a car your mobility is limited by distance. Most places are no longer within walking distance. So you have to rely on members of your family and friends to provide transportation. There are sometimes public facilities available, but not always and they are never enjoyable.

Once you are able to drive you are only limited by local laws (as is everyone) and your parents. Now that you can drive you are looked at in an entirely different way. People consider that you are being productive if you have a driver's license. Mobility is very important because now you no longer rely on others this can help you to get a job to earn extra money, get to school, and gain a social life. If you are a man women who are unable to drive yet or haven't gotten their license will find you more attractive. This is an untested fact yet if you drive by any High School as it lets out you will see a large majority of underclass men with Seniors.

Your school is involved in the classroom portion and sometimes the driving instruction or "Behind the Wheel" as it is sometimes called. Your parents are involved in teaching you to drive before you have behind the wheel. This can shave several years off the adults life, but in doing so they ill start to give you more liberal freedoms because this is the first sign that you will soon be an adult. People that cannot drive are usually younger and if they are older, or far older than needed for the license people generally think of them as being younger as well.

If people couldn't drive there be a much greater need than there already is for public transportation. So creating new drivers by giving them incentives that aren't necessarily part of the program, but are considered by the society in question (ours) to come with the responsibility. Examples that have already been listed are: Gaining more control of your mobility and social life in preparation for when you become an adult, you are considered by people to be more mature and able, and no longer needing to rely on any one for rides.