SOME TEENS PREFER TO PUT OFF GETTING THEIR DRIVER'S LICENSES

In Indiana, as in most states, getting a driver's license is an important rite of passage for many students turning 16. Four years ago, 88,872 Indiana 16-year-olds got their licenses, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

But not everyone is in a hurry to drive. Y-Press recently interviewed three students who chose not to get driver's licenses at age 16: Jason Gloye, 18, Sarah Renkert, 16, and Julia Wetherill, 17.

The first step to getting a license is taking a driver education class at age 15. Once students have successfully completed the class, they can drive -- as long as a parent or other adult relative is in the front passenger seat. Thirty days after their 16th birthdays, these drivers can get a probationary operator license, if they pass the roadway knowledge and skills tests.

Indiana students aren't required to take driver education, although it does allow them to drive earlier, and some companies offer reduced auto insurance premiums. Those who don't take a class must be at least 16 to get a learner permit, and they must wait 180 days after that to apply for a probationary license.

Like many peers, Sarah took a driver education class at age 15.

"It was a good class," said the Lawrence North High School sophomore. "I just never really liked driving. I just kind of let my birthday go by and my 30 days go by and still haven't done anything about it."

Jason and Julie let their 15th, 16th and 17th birthdays pass without taking driver education. "When I was 15, I was really busy in the summer with soccer and with school and all of that, and so I just didn't have time," said Julie, a North Central junior.

She's been too busy ever since. "I'm trying to hopefully sometime this spring get my driver's permit and study."

Jason, a senior at North Central, is very involved in theater productions at school. At three shows a year, and two months per show, "that takes up all of your free time," he said.

Jason recently relented and took his driver's license test. "Towards the end, (my friends) were like, 'Dude, you're gonna be 18. Get your license,' " he said.

He had practiced driving since age 16, mainly in parking lots, but "I really didn't like it all that much, 'cause it was kind of scary."

Sarah also felt uncomfortable driving, "so I really have no interest in partaking in it right now."

The decision not to drive has affected not only these students, but also their parents. "In order to do extracurricular activities or to do anything, I have to rely on my parents to have the time and energy to take me there. I think in a lot of ways it would be a lot easier for me and for my parents if I could drive," said Julia.

Jason's parents also drove him to many extracurricular activities. "They didn't mind taking me 'cause they felt better than having me be on my own and unprepared," he said.

But he said they were glad when he finally got his license.

"My parents wanted me to get it, 'cause I am so busy. They wanted me to be able to drive myself," he said.

Sarah's parents are supportive, too, and offer to take her out for driving practice whenever she wants. "They would love not to have to drive me to practices and stuff," she explained.

Like Jason, Sarah's friends have teased her a little. And then there's the hassle of finding rides.

"There have been some times when I have skipped extracurricular activities because there was no way for me to get there," said Julie, who rides the school bus whenever she can.

"Sometimes I feel like I'm the only 11th-grader on the bus," she noted.

Sarah's biggest challenge is finding a ride after volleyball practice. "You feel bad asking the same people, especially 'cause they're not like really good friends or anything. And you feel bad like asking them again and again for a ride to your house, even though it's really close," she said.

She also has to abide by other people's schedules. "They can leave whenever they want to and go out whenever they want to, and I can't," she said.

Still, all three agree 16 is just too young to drive.

"I think a lot of teenagers who have their driver licenses really shouldn't have their driver licenses because they're not mature enough to handle the responsibility," Julia said.

Such was the case for Jason. "I felt like it was a lot more important to be a safe driver instead of having your license when you're actually 16. So I wanted to make sure that I knew what I was doing before I just went and got my license," he said.

Indeed, the road can be dangerous, especially for young, inexperienced drivers. Sixteen-year-old drivers are more at risk of accidents than any other age group. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 16-year-olds are more likely to be in single vehicle crashes, responsible for crashes, cited for speeding and not wearing seat belts. More teens die in vehicles driven by 16-year-olds than in vehicles driven by any other age group.

"I've noticed that generally when there's a lot of other kids in the car, driving is a lot more reckless than when there's just someone by themselves," said Julia.

Sarah, however, worries she might be part of the problem. "I don't think I always quite make the best decisions when I'm driving," she said.

Jason feels he benefited greatly from waiting to get his license. "I waited until I knew I was ready and until I knew I was comfortable. I mean, by the time I got it, I was almost 18. I was able to fit it in my schedule, and that way you can feel more comfortable when you're ready instead of pushing for it right away," he said.

Sarah and Julia believe they will eventually get their licenses, too. "I'm just not mentally prepared right now more than anything," said Sarah.

"I think I pretty much have to get my license eventually because really in this society you can't do anything without a car," Julia said.

ASSISTANT EDITORS: Megan Brown, 16; Daniel Kent, 15; Abby Rivin, 15.

REPORTERS: Cakey Worthington, 12.

Who we are

Y-Press is a nonprofit news organization with offices in The Indianapolis Star building. Stories are researched, reported and written by teams of young people ages 10 to 18. For more information, call (317) 444-2010 or send an e-mail to ypress@in.net.

Go online for more

Child abuse: If you want to read about this topic from a child's perspective, check out www.ypress.org. Y-Press also invites students' response to a poll question and wants your comments about student-written movie and book reviews.