“BRAKE! BRAKE! TURN LEFT! NO, YOUR OTHER LEFT!” Normally, you would only have to listen to your mother scream those commands at you while you drive for six months. Well, you might as well get used to it now, because you’ll be hearing her scream for an extra three months.
As of October 1, 2009, anyone who does not have their license must hold their permit for nine months instead of six. This means that instead of being out on the open road in November, those with later birthdays now have to wait until February.
The license law has changed drastically over the years, but driving laws have always been put in effect at the beginning, not middle of the year.
The law should state that after January 1, 2010, those who do not have their permits must hold them for nine months instead of six. It makes more sense because it would go into effect after the beginning of the New Year, and the government would still have its way.
Not only is the timing off, but the law itself doesn’t make much sense. Why would the government restrict those who are ready to get their license when they are really trying to restrict those who need more time to learn? What is an extra three months of the road? What will we see in nine months that we wouldn’t have seen in six? Wouldn’t it make more sense to restrict those who have yet to get their permits?
Not only is this law affecting those of us who can’t drive yet, it’s also putting more stress on parents. They now have to waste three more months riding in the car with their son or daughter just because the government thinks six months isn’t long enough.
It seems as if the government is just looking for another excuse to play Big Brother. They constantly change laws on us that have worked well in the past just so they can have more control over what goes on.
For now, we’ll return to our mothers slamming down on their invisible brakes, smacking the dashboard with their hand, and the constant criticism on how horrible we are at driving. But don’t worry, it’s only for three more months! Great.
Kristen Marzullo,