Many teenagers look forward to getting their license as it helps them become more independent since they don’t have to have their parents driving them from place to place. It also helps teens become more self-sufficient as they learn valuable skills like responsibility, time management, and accountability. Of course, this privilege comes with restrictions, too. For example, teen drivers cannot drive between 12:00 am and 5:00 am except under certain circumstances. In addition, teen drivers cannot drive with any person who is not an immediate family member until they have held their driver’s license for six months or turn 18 years old. This waiting period should be removed. Carpooling is convenient for families, but it also promotes responsible time management, creates safer social and driving conditions, and is better for the environment.

Carpooling with others helps teens become more responsible. When they carpool, teens must communicate pickup and travel times with others. They have to manage time wisely and be prepared for scheduling conflicts. In addition, carpooling can build trust with parents as they expect teens to be aware that they are handling other lives as well, overall creating confidence behind the wheel. And carpooling is better for the environment. Carpooling has been shown to help cut greenhouse gas emissions by 9.6 to 11.07 gigatons of carbon dioxide while saving $7.40- 9.18 trillion in operating costs.

With these and other reasons in mind, Republican Representative Kera Birkeland tried to pass a bill to update the Utah state code in 2024 to allow teens to drive with one passenger who is a minor and not an immediate family member. While the House voted 46-24 to pass, it never made it past the Senate. Congress may believe they are making teen drivers safer.

However, I believe teens are actually safer with others in the car. For one thing, traveling long distances can be dangerous alone. Teens could be stranded in unfamiliar areas or become drowsy behind the wheel. Teens also benefit from the safety-in-numbers concept when navigating social situations. After all, children are taught from a young age to use the “buddy system” to stay safe. Consider, too, that during the driver’s education course, teens are required to practice with two or more passengers in the car for observational hours as well as during testing. It doesn’t make sense to have new drivers practice with other people in the car and then require them to not drive with anyone for the next six months.

Still others could argue that the six month waiting period should not be removed because it helps drivers gain experience without having distractions or submitting to peer pressure. Some say having friends in cars can distract the driver from the road either by chatting with them or engaging in dangerous activities because their friend suggested it. This isn’t always the case though, as having passengers can encourage safe driving practices like buckling up and following traffic laws. They also act as extra eyes and ears, removing distractions from the driver by helping with navigation, changing the radio volume or air conditioning, and answering calls and messages. In fact, many parents allow their children to break this rule anyway, with most teens driving with their friends not long after getting a license.

Utah should reconsider Republican Rep. Kera Birkeland’s proposal to remove the six-month waiting period. As she stated, “It’s more important to have practical laws on the books that defend and protect kids.” In other words, we need to have laws that are realistic and effective rather than laws that sound great on paper, but are impractical in practice.

Teen drivers eventually will have to experience driving under pressure or be surrounded by distractions like traffic or other drivers, and the sooner they get to experience real-life driving scenarios the better. Having the support of friends during this transition period makes it easier to ease into. We trust teenagers with jobs, social media, schooling, and many other things that involve interaction with others. Driving should be one of them.

Sophia Landaverde

Northern Utah Academy for Math Engineering and Science

Layton