By the start of the school year, many students have received their driver’s licenses, particularly juniors and seniors. With this increase in drivers each year, many of Oakton’s school rules have continued to develop based on campus grounds. These rules are also continuing to develop around the behavior of the students themselves. With this development, many students have begun to notice how driving on school grounds has become more difficult, especially with the increase in cars. 

Students across the country, including Oakton, tend to make common mistakes like failing to drive on their lane properly and keeping the car steady. Excessive speeding is often an issue for student drivers because there is a tendency to rush. In recent years, this has only gotten worse due to another major issue for student drivers: distracted driving. A report in 2020 from Fairfax County noted that, “In fatal car crashes, 6 of the 11 crashes caused by a young driver’s improper action involved passengers in the vehicle.” This demonstrates just how prevalent distracted driving is among students, even locally.

Among Oakton students, there is a common consensus that driving cars changes the way they feel about going to school. Specifically, it makes them feel more excited because they want to use their cars to go to school everyday. According to Rheechen Liu (12), who is a new Oakton driver, “It makes me want to go to school more because I am now an adult who has control in my life and it’s now easier to go to school.”  

Overall, driving has become a major factor in helping students with personal growth and maturity, especially with younger drivers. This will help them as they transition into the real world after graduation. Driving is one of the first major steps to personal authority. The newfound freedom is paired with the attentiveness that comes when being a safe driver, such as following traffic laws and understanding consequences while driving. It also gives students control over their own schedule, including travel needs for work, school, and events. In conclusion, driving is helpful for students to prepare for the real world and become more independent, especially at Oakton High School.