To some, it seems giving sixteen year olds the privilege to drive is a wild concept. However, I've had some ungodly encounters with people of various ages behind the wheel. Road rage. Honking, speeding, swearing or even the classic middle finger out the window. Maybe it's my age or my personality, but it's hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that people can have such ferocious anger while driving.
     I am seventeen years old. I have a little disco ball hanging from the mirror in my car and an index card sized picture of John F. Kennedy on the inside of my back windshield. When it comes to driving, I understand its purpose is to get me from point A to point B. However, during my commutes I am usually having a good time, until I hear a blaring car horn followed by a raging man zooming up to pass me. Keep in mind, I am already going over the speed limit. Next thing I know, I am pulling up to the same infuriated man at the red light just down the block. Amazing! Such an exhilarating race that was. I slink up next to the man’s car with a slight smirk on my face to congratulate him for beating me to the light, of course.
      Another pleasant encounter I've had was with another man at a red light. I had the windows rolled down and I was enjoying the weather. I'm sitting at the red light, the breeze whistling, the birds chirping, the sun shining and we are all singing Kumbaya, until I hear a man. A very irritated man. A very irritated man yelling things I really should not repeat. From my understanding, the man was so heated because the person in front of him wasn't turning. Although a turn on red at that intersection was completely legal, the person in front of the angry man chose not to turn until the light turned green. Maybe the driver was unsure if turning right on red was legal at that intersection, maybe they were a new driver and felt uncomfortable with it, or maybe they just wanted to bug the person behind them, which, I can confirm was a success. Whatever the case may have been, the man was mad. He was yelling at the driver in front of him, but the driver was oblivious to the hateful remarks the man was making. I found myself sitting there, laughing almost, because this man was putting so much energy into yelling at a person who had no idea it was even happening.
      Moral of the story: red lights infuriate men. Not to mention both men had red cars. Coincidence? Highly unlikely. But in all seriousness, I've had road rage experiences with all types of people, regardless of age, gender, or color of car. From young men yelling profanely at someone that doesn't even know they exist, to middle-aged women that get upset if you don't start driving .2 seconds after the light turns green. I've come to a conclusion: You can't control other drivers, so try to sit back and enjoy the ride.

by Gillian Guerra