This letter is for the benefit of new drivers and soon to be drivers. Do yourself a favor and take advanced driving lessons. Work hard before and after school, take money from your college fund if you have one, beg or borrow the money ? just do it!
Few things are more valuable to your future than driving skills. Unless you can ride a bicycle everywhere, you will be driving.
When you are driving, you are not alone ? you will be driving among thousands of other drivers, pedestrians and with your own passengers. You can never be too serious about your responsibilities. Never drive when you”re not fully able to give it 100 percent of your attention and skill. Never assume that you”re a good enough driver to drive impaired by alcohol, drugs, cell phones, loud buddies in the back seat, fatigue, anger, illness or other impairments.
Learn to maintain the car you drive, how to spot trouble before it happens, how to handle or avoid bad weather and traffic conditions and how to avoid distractions.
Driving will be one of the biggest challenges of your life. Once you get good at driving you”ll realize how dangerous you probably were before you gained experience.
Please don”t be one of those young drivers we read about and see on TV everyday causing so much pain and destruction on the roads.
You can do it, but it takes a lot effort and care. It”s not a lark or a walk in the park. Talk about driving with your family, with local paramedics and auto mechanics. Be safe and enjoy the privilege of driving.
Wendy White
Glenhaven
