Last modified: Thursday, August 7, 2008 2:21 AM EDT Mean streets BY MELANIE THIBEAULT ATTLEBORO HIGH SCHOOL Being a teenager is stressful enough, what with juggling school, family, friends, extracurricular activities, and a job. When driving is thrown into the ring, watch out. Here come the panic attacks. Wait, that's only me? To begin my latest rant, I should mention I finally received my driving permit after a couple of attempts and much ridicule from my friends and family (I love you guys, too). During my 16 years of existence, I always dreaded the day I would get behind the wheel of a car and have to deal with the surplus of wackadoos on the road. Unlike them, I value my life. Of course, if I want to have a life, then it seems inevitable I should (gulp) drive. My adventures with driving led to the creation of this article and an investment in some self-help books, but that's another story. I hope this serves as a warning for experienced drivers to be wary of new drivers on the road. Remember: They're more afraid of you than you are of them. Wait, that's snakes. Oh well, it applies here, too. In today's society, everybody always seems to be in a hurry and they drive faster than Superman after a few Red Bulls. People need to lay off the caffeine, slow down and relax. Wherever they're headed isn't going anywhere. Actually, with our economy, stores may be gone before customers arrive, but that's no excuse for riding the back end of another car. This hastiness is especially dangerous on the road and it's nerve-racking for new drivers. I can't count the number of times I've been tailgated since I've been on the road. What bothers me most is that I'm traveling the legal speed limit and I'm being tailgated, which, from what I understand, is illegal. I realize the speed limits are slow and almost everyone goes over them by 5 to 10 mph, if not more, but that's no reason to ride on a poor, jittery teenager's back bumper and cause him or her to have a panic attack. Maybe if more adults were aware of the new laws concerning teen drivers, they would be more considerate. According to Mass. state law, if a teen with a junior operating license (ages 161/2 to 18) is caught speeding, which means going over the legal speed limit by a mere 5 mph, their license is suspended for 90 days and they have to pay a $500 fine. They also have to take a Driver Attitudinal Retraining course, a new knowledge test, and a new road test. That's a huge incentive for teens to avoid speeding. For all the experienced drivers in the world who are in a hurry to get to work or to pick up little Suzie from cello practice, remember to be considerate of other drivers and slow down. Nobody wants to be responsible for the death of another just because they didn't want to wait in line to pick up an ice-cold Coolatta. If you're not in a particular rush, but just aggravated with the slowpoke traveling 30 mph in front of you (how dare they obey the speed limit!), please abstain from honking your horn at them, even if their bumper sticker says, "Beep if you love Jesus!" Whether or not you love Jesus, refraining from beeping will be much appreciated. Instead of aggressively laying on the horn, wait until there is a straightaway and then pass the laggard. Refraining from vulgar hand gestures would also be best for both parties. For new drivers who obey the speed limits and don't drive too quickly or too slowly, which can also result in a fine, don't let the aggressive speed demons in their gigantic gas-guzzling SUVs intimidate you. If they start to beep, chuckle silently to yourself. If they start to tailgate, slow down even more. Whatever you do, don't speed up to escape the cars behind you. That will only lead to a speeding ticket or worse - an accident. The only advice to follow is to ignore the hostile drivers, be alert, obey the law, and drive defensively. For experienced drivers: As student drivers, we are trying to learn the real rules of the road and how to drive legally, not how most people drive on the streets today. It's difficult for students to learn, and parents and teachers to teach the proper driving techniques, when everyone they pass on the road is not following these laws. Please have a little bit of consideration for new drivers and even experienced drivers. One of the best ways to ensure safe driving for both new and experienced drivers is to be aware of each other. Driving is a freedom; it shouldn't be a race or a struggle to make it home alive. If people would put down their cell phones, coffee, food, makeup, MP3s, and books (yes, they actually read while operating heavy machinery), stay focused on the road, and don't rush, fewer accidents would occur. Now if we could only do something about those outrageously high oil prices, we'd be all set to hit the road worry-free. Of course, you still have to watch out for those nutty squirrels that dart back and forth across the street. They've had one too many Red Bulls, too.