By Jill Muraski
staff writer
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| The snowy streets of Grand Rapids |
Winter can bring on many things in Michigan, especially for drivers: icy roads, mountains of snow, and flurries so thick that headlights can not even pierce through them. Many students at Northview, under and upperclassmen alike, are hitting the streets for the first time.
“I think most students drive appropriately,” Kent County Deputy Andy Kozal said. Kozal is a familiar face in the Northview community and helps insure the safety of the students and staff, this includes the large percentage of new drivers here at Northview, many of which are sophomores and juniors. Quite a few of these students took driver’s education during 2015, a year when the winter was relatively mild by Michigan standards. In the United States, according to the website Statista, there are approximately 21 million licensed drivers at this time. A large portion of new drivers are millennials. At least 69% of drivers are under the age of nineteen, Time’s online magazine calculates. That means there are a lot of new timers that are going to be cruising down the street this winter. There are many concerns that come along with being a first time driver, but in Michigan weather, there are more than usual. Because of the current weather conditions, the amount of snow predicted to fall is higher than it has been for the past two years. For those that have taken driver’s education in 2015, it’s going to be a world’s difference as far as driving is concerned in the upcoming months.
“Don’t be distracted while driving,” Kozal said. “Make sure you get from point A to point B safely.” Distractions can be anything from talking on the phone to sipping morning coffee. It’s critical, especially during these winter months, to pay attention to road conditions and other drivers.
‘Tis the season to bundle up and buckle up, Wildcats. Paying attention to the road and fellow drivers is critical during these next months. Remember to stay safe and, “Slow and steady wins the race.”
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