My daughters journey to getting a drivers license made me think….
As a parent, watching my 16 year old embark on the journey toward obtaining a driver’s license is a rite of passage filled with both pride and anxiety. My daughter recently completed the arduous process of accumulating 50 hours of driving, hours of online testing, acquiring a certification of completion, and even a notarized document confirming her testing prowess. Yet, despite all these efforts, she found herself facing an unexpected roadblock — a minor speed infraction in a school zone that caused her to fail her drivers test. On the way home I started questioning the difference between getting a drivers license and getting a gun.
It’s worth noting that I’m not one to downplay the importance of responsible driving. The stringent measures in place are there for a reason — to ensure the safety of all road users. However, the incident brought to light a stark contrast in the way we regulate different aspects of our lives, prompting a reflection on the curious nature of our societal priorities.
The fact that my daughter had to jump through hoops, ticking off boxes and crossing t’s, only to stumble over a 1 MPH excess, is both frustrating and eye-opening. It’s a stark reminder of the often convoluted systems we’ve built, where bureaucratic hurdles sometimes overshadow the essence of the intended regulations. I get the fail and she will learn from it on her next test.
