Everyone dreams about the day they get to be behind the wheel, and a recently passed law made it so you could get your permit sooner than before. Instead of having to wait until 16, you can now get your permit at 15. This means that more of the underclassmen at GRC are driving and getting their intermediate licenses sooner than in the past.
While there are many pros and cons to getting a permit when you are younger, many students within the school have varying opinions.
With the law being passed in March, many 15-year-olds are getting their intermediate licenses within the next few months. Some parents are excited, while some are nervous for their student to get their permit or their intermediate.
“I was the last to know the law had changed and my dad had already been waiting in line without asking me for an hour,” sophomore Lizzie Sparks said. “He wanted to get me straight into it.”
Many of the students are very excited to get their permits so early since they can now drive to and from school earlier. While some older students had to wait for their junior year, these younger students will be able to drive to school during their late sophomore year or entire junior year. Many think it will help increase how many students are at school and are able to go to extracurricular activities if some of the younger students are able to drive.
“They can actually go to clubs,” senior Amber Goulet said. “There’s not going to be a pep bus to go to your NHS meeting if you ride a bus at all, unless you have parents who can bring you. If you don’t, you can’t do anything. You can’t get involved.”
To park here at the school, you have to get a parking pass from Mrs. Jones. Having the parking passes is one way to keep students accountable.
“My hope is they will get better grades if they want to drive,” Mrs. Jones said. “Just like in the real world, if you get a driving ticket and you don’t pay it, your driver’s license gets suspended.”
GRC’s “no pass, no drive” law, is another way that students are held accountable. This law makes it so if you aren’t passing your classes or have too many absences/tardies, your license or permit can be suspended until they next check those requirements.
“They are trying to just set standards for kids as it’s a privilege,” Mrs. Jones said.
Some people have voiced concerns about parking space at GRC, however, Mr. Arms and Mrs. Jones assure us that we have plenty of parking spots available.
“The parking impact won’t be an issue,” Mr. Arms said. “We do have ample parking here for students.”
Permits are the first step into driving and everyone has somewhere to go at some point; lowering the age, everyone has a bit easier of a time to get to different places.
