SEE ALSO: Teen texting, driving campaign hopes to prevent future accidents

With a heightened desire to grow up quickly, today’s youth are eager to master driving.

While they may claim ‘I’m a good driver!’, this is not always true. Things like music, the company of friends and the time of day can influence how well a teen drives.

For anyone, music can be a distraction from the things going on around them, which is dangerous while driving.

“It could possibly get my mind off the road. If someone honks at you and you’re not paying attention, it could affect the way that you drive,” junior Jacob Huckabay said.

Friends, as well, can be a distraction from the road and can contribute to causing an accident without meaning to.

“When passengers are talking to you and you take your eyes off the road, you could be weaving in and out of lanes,” senior Nayeli Lugo said.

With parents, however, the risk of getting distracted while driving seems to be lower. Whether it is because they’re more strict, or merely to prove that the youth can drive safely, the chances of having accidents diminish.

“I definitely drive better with my parents, because I don’t act up when I drive with them,” Huckabay said.

Because of a lack of experience, external factors can be far more distracting and dangerous to teen drivers.

To avoid any future collisions that may occur, it’s recommended that teens get the required driver education and traffic safety courses during the school year.