Mifsud 1 Nikolas Mifsud Ms.

Gardner Honors English 10, 3rd Period 2 May 2013 A Research Paper Music blaring, rims spinning, engine roaring, the stereotypical teenage driver is passing by. Many expect these young drivers to cause or get into an accident due to their multitude of distractions. The California Department of Motor Vehicles states that The traffic accident rates for 16- to 19-year old drivers are higher than those for any other age group. The article goes on to name many possible reasons for this, including Lack of Skill. Driving is a hefty responsibility which requires practice to progress. Equally important is owning a car. Before one can own a car, they must first purchase it-a momentous task in itself; this can be seen as the most important task of a young drivers life. Although adulthood is just a mere three years away for most sophomores, many feel they are just beginning to take their first baby steps into the realm of responsibility and maturity. Driving has the weight of something much more significant, much more of a leap as opposed to the tiny strides of other experiences. The process preceding buying a car is just as vital: consisting of an extensive test on the rules of the road as well as a minimum of six hours of behind-the-wheel training with a professional instructor. Once the license is obtained, the period of deciding which car is right for the driver. Personality plays a big role in this choice: many young drivers want to acquire the cool car. Whether this be a sleek sports car or a sizable SUV, the vehicle fits the driver. Each class of car has its advantages. John Merline of Consumers Research sheds light on the growing number of SUVs; he wrote that consumers are under the

Mifsud 2 impression that due to their size, SUVs are one of the safest modes of transport available. In contrast, mid- and small- sized cars are known for their economic fuel usage. There are pros and cons to any car depending on its size, fuel consumption, model year, and other factors. Kelley Blue Book recommends that one identifies and prioritize ones wants, saying you should still pay attention to your want list, as this isn't a process you need to repeat every 18 months. Better to stretch a bit for those things in a car that satisfy you, than to be hit over the head -- and pocketbook -- with buyer's remorse. By having quality research and an idea of what one wants, the best choice can be made. Once a car has been selected, it must be financed; accordingly, one must choose from the available options to purchase the car. Kelley Blue Book calls a realistic budget a figure based on what can be afforded per month when using a loan. By deciding upon utilizing a loan, the loan becomes extremely important to ones future as the first few loans define their credit score. This affects if a loan can be obtained; it affects the interest rate of the loan; it affects the kind of loan to pick from. According to Miriam Caldwells Readers Respond: What's the Worst Car Buying Mistake You've Made?, most mistakes come from buying more car than can be truly afforded. The other option, to buy the vehicle via a savings accumulated over time makes this a non factor as one cannot buy more than they have. This eliminates any worry about monthly payments as well as providing a sense of satisfaction that the car was fully financed by the new owner without assistance. Raymond Perez of Carcare Coach grimly put it that There is no denying that owning a car is a drain on your finances. Even without paying monthly loan charges, it is a general rule of thumb- according to Teens Guide to Money- is to add around $225 to the monthly fees to cover gasoline expenses. Along with fuel, regular maintenance-such as oil changes- is anticipated. This cannot be said for repairs needed for any number of reasons;

Mifsud 3 some of these costly surprises can be avoided by inspecting the car thoroughly before purchasing it. With a steady income, even a minimum wage job should more than suffice these costs. Along with a car comes the freedom to drive it to ones hearts desires; or to their needs. The ability to just get away for the day or take a lengthy road trip becomes possible for the first time. With this comes the relief of parents that they are no longer a taxi service for the individual. There is no longer a reliance on anothers schedule to be driven. Like most activities, the more one drives, the more proficient one becomes. Eventually, it is comfortable to drive without an adult in the car and, even later, to drive with others in the car. It is at this point in which many more long-distance friendships become much closer, much less reliant on social networking or others to see and communicate with one another. Owning the car means that the only restrictions on personalizations are budgets and occasionally, the law. Whether it be a new paint color, a powerful engine, a rumbling exhaust, the car becomes as unique as the owner. Along with this personalization, many have reported that the car gains a personality, becomes as much a person as those around it who are of the human race. As previously stated, many believe that teenagers are the worst of drivers and therefore should not own their own car. A prime example of this- as shown by Josh Anish of CoverHound.com-is insurance rates for males under the age of 20 with the average cost of a 6month policy being over $1,700. That rate goes up to almost $2,000 depending on the car being primarily driven by said male. These rates are rooted in statistics which show teens as having the most risky driving habits. Though overall this is true, many teens are not bad drivers. According to insurance rate quotes from CoverHound, an insurance search service, the few drivers which are more expensive to insure than teens are those over the age of 75; at this point,

Mifsud 4 senses and vital elements of driving such as reaction time are drastically reduced. Conversely, teens are just shy of their prime in these realms, lacking only experience. This should not deter a new driver from pursuing this next stage of life. After a few months driving- such as that to complete the required 50 hours for the learners permit- many can be just as adept as much more mature drivers. Insurance companies recognize that good students are much more responsible and less of a risk: they provide a discount for a Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher. As long as they are decent drivers, there should be no penalty for the first time driving. Being eased into the world of adulthood is much more favorable than being thrust into it at the age of 18. Car ownership-its costs, its unforeseen costs and problems that must be dealt with- is one of these facets which young adults should experience before they reach the legal age. These people should not be deterred by a system against their right to car ownership. It is a vital part of maturity of which all should go through.

Mifsud 5 Works Cited Anish, Josh. "Car Insurance for Men -- How Rates Change with Age." CoverHound.com. CoverHound, Inc, 2012. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. Caldwell, Miriam. "Readers Respond: What's the Worst Car Buying Mistake You've Made?" About.com Money in Your 20s. About.com, 2011. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. The California Energy Commission. "Energy Almanac." California Gasoline Statistics & Data. State of California, 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. Department of Motor Vehicles. "Teenage Driver Crash Statistics." Teenage Driver Crash Statistics. State of California, 2011. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. Fowles, Deborah. "Are You Ready to Buy a Car?" About.com Financial Planning. About.com, 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. Goldstein, Alan, and Others. "Reborn Wrecks: Take the Mystery Out of Used Cars." St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, FL). Aug. 30 1994: 1A+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 28 Apr 2013. Healey, James R. "Move to Smaller Cars Could Mean Increase in Traffic Deaths." USA TODAY. Aug. 19 2007: N.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 28 Apr 2013. Kelley Blue Book Editors. "10 Tips for First-time Car Buyers." Kbb.com. Kelley Blue Book Co, 21 Sept. 2011. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. Merline, John. "Why Consumers Have Been Choosing SUVs." Consumers' Research. April 2003: 10-13. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 28 Apr 2013. Miller, Sabrina, and Others. "Reborn Wrecks: What You Don't Know Can Cost You." St. Petersburg Times (St. Petersburg, FL). Aug. 28 1994: 1A+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 28 Apr 2013.

Mifsud 6 Perez, Raymond. "What Owning Your First Car Teaches You." Car Care Coach Everyday Maintenance Tips for the Car Lovers. Car Care Coach, 2013. Web. 28 Apr. 2013. Remar and Will. "12 Tips For First-Time Car Buyers." FaceIt! N.p., 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2013. Teens' Guide to Money. "First Car Buying Tips For Teens | Teens Guide To Money." First Car Buying Tips For Teens | Teens Guide To Money. N.p., 2013. Web. 16 Apr. 2013.