Essay Sample: Should Students Be Able to Drive Their Car to School?

Should students be able to drive their car to school? This is a topic that is constantly debated in the school system and many parents and students have different reasons as to why they believe that their opinion is correct. Students driving their car to school is not necessary and would cause great problems. Firstly, allowing this would only lead to further social class division amongst students. Secondly, this would cause excessive traffic and congestion on the school compound. Lastly, absences without reason would increase as a result of students having all this freedom. Would you want there to be any disadvantages or distractions for your child when he/she is at school?

Classism is a very real problem in society and students already have to deal with and students driving cars to school would only worsen the problem. Imagine that you cannot afford to buy your child the flashiest, new car and he/she must drive an older, cheaper car. Let’s admit, teens are not always very kind to one another and they will be quick to notice this. Would you want your child to be singled out as the less-than-fortunate kid? Worse, would you want him/her to be bullied for it? A school is a place where children should feel safe and comfortable and be united. If one thing is certain to come about from students driving their cars, it is social class division and we should do everything to avoid this.

Traffic in and around schools is already a major problem in most schools and the addition of students driving would only heighten this issue.  School traffic congestion has to do with the overcrowding of roads both on and around school property. This congestion affects not only students and parents but teachers, staff, nearby residents and other motorists around the school area. There is already difficulty in parents simply dropping off and picking up students and in teachers and other staff members finding parking, so the addition of students trying to find parking would just make the entire situation disastrous. Schools have limited space and they would not be able to accommodate so many vehicles. This is a problem that needs to be fixed and allowing students to drive would only make it worse.

Students driving to school gives them a great deal of freedom and with teenagers, too much freedom can lead to problems. According to a 2013 report by the Nevada Senate Education Committee, eighteen states in the USA linked student drivers to habitual school absences. When a child is truant and the school nor the parents of the child are aware of where the child is or what they may be doing, it is dangerous. Imagine that you send your child to school in their car and you hear from the school that they never showed up. With all this freedom, it is easier for students to skip school and meet up with friends in other places. If anything were to happen to the student, no one would be aware and it would be a very bad situation. Students driving to school would lead to increased truancy and in turn, great safety concerns.

In conclusion, students should not be allowed to drive themselves to school as more bad than good would come from it. This is an important item of discussion as it has to do with the safety, well-being and education of our children in schools. Social stratification, excessive congestion and increased truancy are three main reasons why students should not drive to school. Spread awareness about why students driving their cars to school is a bad idea and help end this long-standing debate.