New Drivers Test the Law

Every year new drivers in the community must wrestle with the question of whether or not to drive others within a year of getting their license. Many find the decision difficult to make because it may force them to choose between helping their friends and following the law.

   This law strictly prohibits driving others under the age of 25 and not in the family. Students at Granite Bay High School have individually chosen to fall on one side or the other of the law in this specific case for differing reasons.

   Reasons to follow the law can range anywhere from pressure from parents to an unwillingness to risk trouble with the law. However, many others choose to break this law in order for convenience, or as a result of being unwilling to turn down a friend.

   GBHS senior Matt Veneman chose to obey the law that prohibits underage passengers for the full year.

    “I never broke the law,” Veneman said. “I am the only person I know around here who has not actually driven someone within the first year of having their license.”

   As reasoning for his decision, Veneman listed two motives.

   “My parents strictly told me not to break the law,” Veneman said. “(Also), laws apply for a reason and no one is above (them).”

   “I just told people I’m not going to give them a ride,” Veneman said. “My friends gave me a bad time all year, but after a few months they realized I was never going to give them a ride.”

   GBHS senior Blake Hunter made a different decision than Veneman.

   Hunter has had his license for more than a year now and said he broke this law almost every day. He never refused to give anyone a ride if he had the time to spare.

   Hunter had a specific reason for breaking the law.

   “Some call me a rebel,” he said.

   This so-called rebel, for the most part, made little effort to hide his actions.

    “I made someone hide under a blanket once, but then other than that, the front seat’s usually where they go,” Hunter said.

   GBHS junior Rebecca Schmidt said she took a different approach to the law.

   While she admitted to driving others, Schmidt the only time she stretched the law was when it became
almost a necessity.

    “(There are) particular cases (when) people don’t have another way to get there,” Schmidt said.   

   When people didn’t truly need a ride, she chose not to drive them. When she decided not to give rides it was usually because she didn’t want to get in trouble.

   “It is a law, so if you do get pulled over, your drivers license could get revoked, and (I) definitely want to keep my license,” Schmidt said.

   Similar to Veneman, Schmidt said another factor that caused her to refuse rides was her parents.

   “A lot of my friend’s parents, as well as my parents, are particular about whether or not you break that law,” she said.

   The consequences of actions are often large factors in teen’s decisions. Obeying the law may force them to leave a friend without a ride, but breaking it could get them in trouble- with the law or with parents.