For many high school students, turning 16 marks the beginning of their driving career. Representing freedom, the driver’s license allows every student’s horizons to broaden; no more bus rides, and no more begging parents for lifts. In New York State, 16-year-olds can obtain their learner’s permit after taking an online multiple- choice test. Learner’s permit holders are legally permitted to drive, but with a big restriction: They can’t drive without a licensed adult present. To be able to drive alone, many are hopeful for a solution to speed up the lengthy learning process. Fortunately, thanks to driver’s education (driver’s ed) courses offered by schools, students can achieve exactly that.

Without taking driver’s ed, New York State residents must follow the standard process: earn their learner’s permit at 16, their junior license six months later, and their senior license on their 18th birthday. By attending a driver’s ed course, they can receive their senior license a full year earlier on their 17th birthday. The difference between a junior and senior license is slight but significant, and is the main reason students are so eager to earn their senior license. While holding a junior license, drivers aren’t permitted to carry more than one non-family member under 21 years old, and they can’t drive between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. This restriction diminishes the excitement of young drivers because driving around groups of friends is off the table.

Haldane’s driver’s ed course simply requires students to have a learner’s permit and complete registration on time. Junior Maisie Matthews expressed, “I am signed up for driver’s ed this year, and what I’m really looking forward to is being able to take some of the pressure off my parents and drive my brother around, especially when we have activities.” Students are expected to attend one weekly oral lecture and one weekly driving class with an instructor. These lectures cover far more content than simple road signs. The curriculum is built to guide students through defensive driving: how to steer when sliding on ice, reactions when hydroplaning, and how to navigate the winding roads of the Hudson Valley. Not only do students earn their senior licenses a year in advance and lower insurance costs, but they also leave with extensive situational awareness skills. When asked about his experience driving, senior Merrick Williams said, “Driver’s ed made me more comfortable with my driving, and I learned what was legal versus illegal.” He noted, “I got my junior license quickly, and it felt good being able to drive before any of my friends.” For a few short lessons a week, even the busiest students can complete the necessary hours, proving driver’s ed a worthy commitment.

Additionally, the driving experience with parents is often tense, as there is an existing personal relationship before you even grasp the wheel. Gaining access to an instructor who caters to your driving, completely detached from any personal boundaries, allows students to make mistakes and truly learn from them.

Once eligible to take their road test, many students wonder: Where is the easiest site to take my test? There are apparent patterns in the difficulty level of certain testing locations. As highlighted by many licensed seniors at Haldane, the easiest local testing site is the iPark 84 location in Hopewell Junction, with Fishkill placing a close second. Senior Louisa Schimming reported, “I took the test [at iPark 84], and it’s essentially just a parking lot with almost no other cars on the road.”