(November 29, 2000) — Taking the driving test at the Glendale Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), you anxiously await the test to begin, yet dread the moment when the instructor pulls out his grading sheet and pen. Sitting behind the wheel, you look at your knuckles. They’re ghastly white and your hands are dripping with sweat. Slowly, taking long deep breaths you cautiously clutch the hand brake and put your car into drive. As you’re waiting, you think of all the reasons why you’re here. Suddenly what junior Sandra Ngamsanga said pops into your head: “I think I should take the test when I’m more responsible for my life, when I have everything organized.” So why are you here? Finally, after what seemed like hours and hours of “what ifs” running through your mind, the instructor comes up to your window and asks you for your paperwork. You slightly fumble with the papers out of nervousness. “I will tell you exactly when to turn. I will not trick you into doing anything illegal. I will be grading you on how well you drive and when I make a mark, this may not be bad. OK, you may start the car,” the instructor blatantly says. Unsteady hands grip the wheel and your mind tells you to start the car and do your best. Your body actions tell you otherwise. Gradually you pull out of the DMV lot and make a left turn. As you pull into the parking space designated for people finishing the test, the instructor begins telling you your faults. “You are a hazard on the road. You are a hazard to all commuters wherever you drive. If you are not capable of driving at this speed, then you should have practiced more.” As the instructor says “take this to window 21,” you are left to look at your score sheet. He slams the car door and walks away. You look at the mistakes. Fifteen. “That means I passed! One more mistake and I would have failed,” you say to yourself. Going home, you leave with an interim license which is a temporary license for two months. Devastated at such a low score, but passing, you are having ambivalent feelings. While you’re totally psyched about getting your driver’s license, there are many regulations. For the first six months of license issuance you may not transport passengers under age 20 and for the first 12 months may not drive between the hours of 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. The next day you can’t wait to tell your friends you passed. You overhear some students talking about driving statistics: “According to the California Highway Patrol, a teen driver is killed on average every other day in California. The National Center for Policy Analysis reports that 46% of parents say their teens never speed, but 77% admit they do.” Fortunately, you realize that too many teenagers overestimate their capabilities and are endangering the roads, which means endangering yourself. Furthermore, speed, drugs, tailgating and reckless driving are the most common causes of teen related accidents. Perhaps driving is quite dangerous and not what you thought it would be. But after all, it is your road to gaining independence.