Going off to college is quite liberating for many teenagers freshly graduated from high school. The intense structure of primary education is gone, but this very freedom can cause some problems for students that aren’t adequately prepared.
Something that many college students think about is whether or not they need a car. There are certainly advantages to driving, but these are almost entirely outweighed by the risks posed by owning a car in college.
Much like with passing your permit and driving test, the confidence you have about driving needs to be backed up by knowledge. Without knowing the right information, you can make an easily-avoidable and uninformed mistake.
One of these mistakes involves trying to take a car to college without fully knowing what college driving entails! Let’s take a look at some of the harshest realities about trying to drive a vehicle while in secondary education.
Campus Parking Is a Nightmare
One thing you’ll likely notice is that parking on campus is a complete disaster.
Some schools have ample parking, while others offer it in extremely limited supply. Some campuses even try to dissuade you from driving entirely.
For colleges that do offer parking, it usually isn’t conveniently located. Furthermore, there are often dozens of other students competing with you to find a good spot.
This means that you’ll need to leave well before class starts so you have ample time to find parking and then walk to class.
Additionally, you’ll also likely need to pay to park. Most campuses offer the option of a quarterly permit or paying daily. The permit is much more economically feasible, but can still cost more than $100.
Parking on campus just isn’t easy and you’ll certainly notice that the first time you try to find a spot. It’s usually easier to park during less busy hours, but even then there’s no guarantee of a good place.
Cars Are Expensive
Another thing you run into is the high expense of owning and operating a car.
As a teen or early 20-year-old, you’re still going to be in the most expensive bracket for car insurance. This means costly monthly payments.
Additionally, depending on how you purchased your car, you might also have car payments to make. Hopefully, you have a used car and this isn’t a concern.
Then there’s the cost of gas. This will depend on how much you drive, but it can quickly get out of hand, especially if you don’t have a job.
Don’t forget about paying for parking as we mentioned above. Failing to pay can result in a ticket, further adding to your car expenses.
Unless you have a job or get help from parents, a car can rapidly become prohibitively costly.
Driving Drunk Is a Serious Temptation
Something particularly relevant for college is the temptation to drink and drive.
To be explicitly clear, you should never drink and drive. When you’re young, it can be hard to understand and fully respect this concept.
You’re probably going to want to be social and go to parties, which often involves drinking. If you’re of legal drinking age this is okay, but driving afterward is not.
Even if you think you’re fully capable, don’t risk drinking and driving. Losing your license, risking jail time, and paying a hefty fee is not worth the inconvenience of taking an Uber and picking up your car the next morning.
There is temptation to drink and drive no matter where you are, but it’s especially prevalent in a college environment.
Distracted Driving is a Likely Possibility
Another impulse you’ll need to fight is distracted driving.
Between driving with friends, smartphone notifications, and eating while driving, there are a lot of poor driving habits you’ll need to refrain from.
This is a challenge with college students because there’s a good chance you’ll have a healthy social life.
Distracted driving is one of the biggest risks posed to young drivers today, so you’ll need to be conscious about keeping your eyes on the road at all times.
No text message, social media notification, or phone call is worth a ticket or getting in an accident!
Freedom Means Less Focus
One final thing to keep in mind is that having the freedom of a car means less time focusing on important things, like studying and going to class!
You’ll have the ability to go wherever you want, whenever you want.
While this is certainly exciting, you might be tempted to make late-night fast food runs and stay up later than you should.
Or, you might want to take a fun road trip somewhere when you should be going to class.
As restricting as not having a car can be, it will naturally cause you to focus more on school. Some students view college as a vacation, but the entire purpose is to educate you!
Closing Thoughts
When it comes to driving a car at college, it’s mostly unnecessary and might tempt you more than it’s worth.
Between hassling with campus parking, paying for car expenses, resisting drinking and driving, and ignoring distractions, many things can lead to poor driving habits.
Consider holding off on getting a car, or at least keep it somewhere else if you can. If you feel confident that you can be a great driver regardless, just remember what to look out for!
Stay safe in school and have a great quarter!
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