The struggles of a freshman: Being too young drive a golf cart
Many McIntosh students know that the freshmen sometimes have to go to great lengths to get to many activities the sophomores and upperclassmen can arrive at with ease.
Freshman Ron Johnson plays football and he said, “I can’t hang out with anyone on the team after school because I don’t have a golf cart, and my mom doesn’t like it when I switch plans and make her pick me up in different places than I’m supposed to be.”
Junior Johnny Vargas said, “I love to drive home on my golf cart; it really helps me relax.”
Before a cross country meet, teammates may have to wake up as early as 5:oo a.m. to make it to the bus. Freshman Kevin Liow said, “I had to practically wake the house trying to get my dad to take me to this track meet.”
After many meets, the cross country team likes to hang out and play ultimate frisbee, but Kevin normally gets picked up by his parents and taken home before he gets to go to the fields.
Getting to school is a whole different problem for freshmen. Some get rides with upperclassmen and sophomores while others are forced to get their parents to drive them before the work day starts.
The golf cart driving age should be lowered to accommodate the busy lives of freshmen and youngest sophomores.
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Andrew Obsitnik • Nov 11, 2013 at 8:30 pm
I disagree with this article. The age of 15 is considered the mature age for kids. The local government feels that if someone is 15 than they are mature and capable of avoiding and stopping accidents. Someone could say that kids are probably mature enough at age 14, but Peachtree City would rather be safe than sorry.
James Outlaw • Nov 11, 2013 at 6:04 pm
I definitely agree. I think that it should be lowered to either 13 or 14 for the reasons stated in the article. Also you are allowed to drive a golf cart with your parents when you are 12. I don`t think that it should take three years to become comfortable driving a golf cart. To drive a car you need your learners permit and then a year later you can try to get your drivers license. Why is it not like this with driving golf cart except for younger?
Gabrielle Williams • Nov 11, 2013 at 5:20 pm
I strongly agree with this article! I am one of the youngest freshmen and I am not able to get my permit until after my freshman year is over because I do not turn 15 until May 30th, after this school year is over. Since we are in high school we should be able to drive a golf cart. What’s the one year difference have to do with anything? Lowering the age could also save money and gas we use for the buses. I can also use the golf cart to help my family. Like going to groceries, since my baby sister runs out of diapers and milk fast, also things for school projects, going to the library, and to pick a friend up. It would be amazing of the age limit to getting a permit, or being able to use a golf cart, was lowered to 14.
– Gabrielle Williams
Lauren Fraser • Nov 11, 2013 at 4:31 pm
I agree that freshmen are put at a disadvantage by the age requirement for driving golf carts. Although I am already 15, with a permit, I remember how tough it was when I did not have one. I disagree when it comes to lowering the age requirement. If it were lowered to 14, kids in middle school could drive, and that is too young. Also, the 12 and 13 year olds who feel they are “so close” to being 14 will start to drive illegally (like 13 and 14 year olds do now). We as freshmen should just accept the fact that we are at the bottom of the totem pole, and look forward to the day that we can drive!
Jake Lackey • Nov 10, 2013 at 9:20 pm
I disagree with this article. I feel the age limit is in place for a reason. At 12 years old you can drive a golf cart with a parent and begin to practice and by the time you are 15 your skills and maturity level will be much better. If the age is lowered I think there would be an increase in golf cart accidents. A golf cart is considered a motor vehicle under Georgia Law however, it is ofter seen as a toy by young adults.
Chaeeun Lim • Nov 10, 2013 at 8:41 pm
I agree with this article. Since I am the oldest, I do not have any ride to home after the practice and after school activities. Sometimes I feel like my mom is taxi driver, because she have to move around with me all the time, and the time that my mom uses for me is the waste of time. My mom can not have free time for herself, so I feel to sorry to her. I believe the golf cart driving age should lower the age to 14 not 15, so the freshmen can drive the golf cart around.
Jalen • Nov 10, 2013 at 5:53 pm
I disagree because I believe that 15 is the good age for high schoolers to drive the golf cart. Even though I am 14 and it does get depressing when everyone else is driving, I think waiting is for the best. I also think that the age could be raised to 16 because I have seen freshmen and younger sophomores on the golf cart paths reckless driving and playing around with their friends instead of being safe.
Yuhki Schultz • Nov 10, 2013 at 4:13 pm
I disagree that the golf cart driving age limit should be lowered from 15 to 14 but, should be maximized to 16. Why I think this changed should be made because teenagers who are 15 couldn’t have drastically matured in one year therefore, they would still have bad judgment and possibly break the LAW. Plus, us freshmen who can’t drive a golf cart yet have plenty of opportunities to get to school like riding the bus or asking our parents.
Allie Morris • Nov 10, 2013 at 11:34 am
I agree that the golf cart driving age should be lowered. Most freshmen are mature to handle the priveledge of driving a golf cart. Also I think it would be a good idea for the school to reserve golf cart parking spots for freshmen who turn 15 during the school year. That way freshmen who turn 15 later in the year can have a chance to drive a golf cart to school.
Grayson Whiteley • Nov 10, 2013 at 10:56 am
I agree with this article. The golf cart driving age should be 14 or older to make the lives of freshmen in high school easier. It doesn’t make much sense that sophomores are considered to be mature enough to drive golf carts, yet freshmen, only a year younger, aren’t. There can’t be a significant change in maturity between ages 14 and 15. However, changing the golf cart driving age could be unfair to the sophomores that had to wait to drive their golf carts.
Jacob Mewborn • Nov 9, 2013 at 10:20 pm
I agree with this issue. I think it would be awesome if teenagers could drive when they get into high school. I believe that the driving age should be lowered to 14. When I entered high school there were many things that I was looking forward to and this should be one of them. Many clubs or groups like to go hang out after meetings, but with freshmen not being able to drive, they do not get to go have fun with their upperclassmen friends. McIntosh High School also has many performances in the auditorium that I would like to go see, but my parents aren’t always up to driving me back and forth. If I could drive, then it would be much less of a hassle for my family.
Jacob Mewborn
Jiaxing Liu • Nov 9, 2013 at 9:56 pm
I agree that the golf cart driving age should be lowered to benefit freshmen, especially those who participate in many activities. Children in PTC have been driving golf carts under parent supervision since the age of 12. By the time they get to high school, most are responsible and mature enough to follow the rules and drive safely. Being allowed to drive the golf cart a year earlier would make going to school much more convenient.
Johann Cho • Nov 9, 2013 at 6:57 pm
I disagree because waiting allows freshmen to mature. Freshmen can wait until they are of age to drive, and it allows them to mature in the process. Many other people have waited, why not the freshmen? Although many freshmen would like to drive, some of them might try to impress their friends, and commit a reckless act that might injure others.
Abby redwine • Nov 8, 2013 at 1:51 pm
I agree and disagree. Many of my friends ask me for rides because I’m one of the older freshman. I’ve been 15 for a while and my friends expect me to take them places because I can drive. But it is hard when they can’t find rides to football games or to hang out with people over the weekends. By the time I am 16, many of them will be turning 15. They will want me to drive them in my car. I do not think the limit of age should be lowered because of maturity level. 15 is the right age
Quan Norris • Nov 6, 2013 at 8:01 pm
I disagree, just like the upperclassmen wait till they were old enough, everyone else can too. There is an age limit for a reason, and many people still are immature and cant be trusted driving alone at the age of 14. Waiting till your 15 will not hurt anything.
Doug Morris • Nov 6, 2013 at 7:37 pm
I agree with this article because being a freshmen I have to ride with my sister everyday and this can become a inconvenience us with my marching band practices. I think instead of lowering the driving age the incoming freshmen should have to take a class on driving safety on the golf cart so students can drive a golf cart when they enter high school as a freshmen.
Dereke Mack • Nov 6, 2013 at 5:57 pm
I would have to disagree even though I would love to have a golfcart but unfortunately I have to wait a few months but, Freshman should have to wait til they’re fifth teen so they have enough time to mature and develop so they aren’t driving reckless and causing injuries.
Julian Soper • Nov 6, 2013 at 12:15 pm
I agree with this article. The driving age should be lowered to 14 to accommodate with the lives of freshman not just sophomores and upperclassmen. I walk to and from school everyday and I would love to have a golf cart to drive; although, I will have to wait a year until my birthday in the summer.