Safety is the key issue while driving on the road, highway, or interstate. Drivers must watch out for every possible bad outcome because they have their life and possibly other lives in their hands. Driving is not a privilege, it’s something that’s earned. 

However, PLHS has two Drivers Education classes for teens on Saturday mornings that teach driver safety. Students get to learn something new and then afterward some get to drive with a teacher after signing up. 

For the class there are two teachers and three student driver teachers. Chris Meehan is the instructor for the second Drivers Ed class. 

“I enjoy driving, I do it all the time and it’s something to me that is very fun and relaxing,” Mr. Meehan said. “I’ve been teaching my kids how to drive for a few years, and I saw teaching other kids how to drive as another way to pass on my knowledge.” 

Teens come to Drivers Ed because they either want to learn or their parents want them to learn. 

“I wanted to join Drivers Ed to become a better driver and also so I can go places without my parents,” said freshman Maddie Baldwin. 

Most first–time drivers are excited to get on the road, but also scared because they don’t know what is going to happen. 

“My dad taught me how to drive, and it’s a lot different when a parent teaches you to drive rather than someone else,” Mr. Meehan said. “So, my experiences were horrible because it was my dad teaching me.” 

Stories stick with us, at least the important and memorable ones do. Especially an unexpected driving story. 

“The things that freak me out the most or baffle me the most is when someone makes an unexpected move,” Mr. Meehan said. “Like Mr. McGill was driving this morning and a car just stopped in the middle of the road, didn’t put on their hazards, and nobody understood why.” 

While driving, there are precautions to take when there are hazards. 

“Fresh snow is very slick, and you have to be aware of it,” Baldwin said. “Make sure to pay attention to everything on the road.” 

When driving in any weather condition, drivers need to watch their speed to ensure safety. 

“Driving fast might cut thirty seconds off of your time or three minutes but driving safe and driving under the speed limit is going to get you there,” Mr. Meehan said. “Don’t be in such a hurry that your life ends.” 

Speeding causes accidents that leads to injuries and sometimes even death.  

“Speed is a killer, and you have to make sure you’re driving safe and obeying the laws,” Mr. Meehan said. “That’s sometimes hard to do, but we have to make sure we do it.” 

Driver safety can help students understand what goes on when driving and how risky it is to the person behind the wheel and others. Driving is also fun to do when people are doing it right. Drive the speed limit and always look for the unexpected.