When’s the right time to drive alone? The day I got my license, I was sure my mother would hand over her car keys and turn me loose on the road. Why wouldn’t she? I had passed state-mandated written and performance tests, and I had undoubtedly proven to her (and more importantly the state) that I could drive.

Never mind my tendency to drift to the right side of the road, or my overwhelming desire to mess with the radio until I found the perfect driving song. But when she didn’t immediately toss the keys into my upturned and expecting hands, I was slightly mortified.

All my friends knew I was taking my road test on my birthday, and being one of the first to get my license, there were high expectations. We were supposed to ride around blasting music, maybe stop by McDonald’s, or take an impromptu trip to the mall. But my mother was stopping me dead in my tracks.

“What you’re telling me is that you want to get in my car and drive around the city with the music blasting and four other overexcited girls in the car?” my mother asked.

Two little words immediately flew out my mouth, “Uh-yeah.” At the time, I didn’t see what possibly could have been the problem – I had passed my road test! Regardless of the small-scale tantrum I threw, my mother didn’t budge.

Needless to say, it was weeks before I had the chance to take an impromptu drive, or even go to our neighborhood McDonald’s. And when I did visit McDonald’s, there was only one, relatively calm friend in the passenger seat.

My mother’s efforts to keep me safe, disguised as cruel and unusual punishment, were definitely a bummer. But I guess it’s true what they say, “Mama always knows best.”

Ryan

It’s bright and early on a Monday morning. My friends and I rush to get ready and leave the house. One of my roommates wakes up late, someone else decides to take a longer than average shower in the wrong bathroom, and I can’t find my house keys – it never fails. Read the rest of this entry »

With the biggest grin I’d ever mustered, and the millisecond long flash of the camera, my life had become complete. It was my 16th birthday, and at that point, the happiest day of my life. I had just received my graduated driver’s license. That little piece of plastic featuring my dime-sized photo was much more than permission to drive without my mother’s presence. To me, it was the beginning of what I thought would be a very liberating and exciting life. Read the rest of this entry »

The holidays are officially over. Luckily, I still have a few weeks to relax and try my hardest to do absolutely nothing at all. Read the rest of this entry »

For this holiday season, there are three things I’d like to mention:

The first: Holiday traffic. It is absolutely nuts. Yes, I am mainly referring to my mall experiences, as I never have to make pilgrimages to visit family in nearby or far off states. Parking lot stalking is at its seasonal peak, jumping out in front of oncoming traffic is more popular than ever, and avoiding fender benders seems to take the backseat to glancing down at lists and checking things off. Just sayin’. Read the rest of this entry »

When I first saw the Safety Scholars contest online, my first idea was to make a video about the dangers of texting while driving. A few of my friends have gotten in minor crashes, simple fender benders while they were texting and driving, and I thought the accidents could’ve been way more serious. Read the rest of this entry »