Opinion Column By KatieZinna

I know what you’re thinking. If you had the option between a clunky, rusty car versus a shiny new one that still has that new car smell, you would probably choose the new car. But I’m here to tell you why you shouldn’t underestimate what an old car can offer you. 

Let’s talk about how new cars are giving new drivers bad habits. With all the new technology that new cars offer, drivers have become increasingly reliant on rearview cameras, self-parking, blind spot detection lights, etc. People no longer look behind them when pulling out, check their blind spots before switching lanes or pay much attention when driving. And why should they when their car has all the bells and whistles to do it for them?

However, we can’t forget that technology can and does fail us all the time. Whether there are Internet connection problems, a broken wire or your camera is covered in snow (a problem you will continually run into during the colder seasons), technology is not something you should place your full confidence in. Just because you are reliant on newer car technology does not mean that you should place your full confidence in it. 

New drivers must be able to start on the right foot. By driving an older car, drivers are forced to learn how to navigate a car that won’t beep at you the second you get too close to another car. Old cars teach people to focus while driving, giving them a better sense of how to check their surroundings and learn when to brake.

Now, some might say that new cars are safer. But as someone who has had both a 2004 Honda Civic and a 2022 Toyota Corolla, I can confidently say that I have felt just as safe (if not more so) in my older car than my newer one.

While I do feel much more relaxed while driving in my new car, the comfortable atmosphere isn’t the best thing ever. There are times when I completely rely on the newer technology it offers. I also tend to let my mind wander while driving and am not as focused as I should be.

With my old car, however, I was constantly paying attention to what was going on around me. I had to rely on my eyes and ears to drive, making it easier for me to stay focused on what I was doing. 

Now, I’m not saying that new cars are bad, I’m saying that new cars should be reserved for more experienced drivers, especially when you look at the stats. 

Why pay for a brand new, expensive car when statistics show that new drivers are incredibly likely to get into some type of crash? 

According to Safetyinsurance.com, 43% of first-year drivers and 37% of second-year drivers are involved in a crash of some kind. 

I’m not the only one that feels this way. Of the students that answered the Network’s Google survey, 87% of them agree that new drivers should get an old car, while the other 13% believe new drivers should stick with a new car.

Driving an old car builds character and teaches you life lessons. For example, there were times throughout the year when I was forced to drive my dad’s old minivan. The brakes were squeaky and I vividly remember braking in the Marian parking lot after school one day, and the sound that came out of my dad’s car sounded like a screaming child. 

The people walking past us in the parking lot just stared at our car and I was so embarrassed. 

Now, though, it’s a story I can look back on and laugh at. It taught me that the car I drive doesn’t matter in the end, so long as it gets me from place to place safely.  

In the end, I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity to even have my own car, whether its an old or a new one. 

No matter your opinion, if you have your own car, remember to thank your parents or guardians and keep in mind that not everyone has the ability to afford one. 

So far all the girls out there that have either an old car or a new one, remember: Be grateful.