AMA Insider Fall 2016 | Page 18

drive Share it! know a licence-less teen? Pass along these tips to get them behind the wheel 4 Go west, young man/ woman/person Whether you pick the road less travelled or the TransCanada Highway, having a licence gives you the freedom to choose your own adventure. Drive, explore, repeat. 5 For the love of independence Why teens should step on the gas to get licensed By Ali BryAn 1 Shift work, remote job sites and it’s your turn to close From hairnets and pushing carts to grinding beans, first jobs aren’t just rites of passage—they develop transferable skills and put money in your pocket. But they can also mean awkward hours, split shifts and difficult -to-access job sites. You might be starting from the bottom, but a licence will help you get there. 2 don’t be a commitment-phobe In a world of instant gratification and Instagrams, it can be a challenge to Driver Re-education Got a teen who needs a bit more road education? or maybe you want to brush up on your own driving skills? or perhaps you 18 FALL 2016 AMA InsIder think three years down the road, but that’s the minimum length of time it takes to complete both stages of graduated driver licensing. Start now and rack up the likes when you show off your newly minted licence. It’s better than a selfie on the back of a bus. 3 No car? No problem! A lack of car ownership doesn’t spell roadblock. Car-sharing services, such as Pogo and Car2Go, are wise options for budget-savvy youth who want the benefits of car transportation without the cost of ownership. know a newcomer who’s unfamiliar with Alberta driving? AMA’s new safe Performance value Program could be the answer. Available to members for $399 ($479 for non-members), it focuses on learning 6 Somebody call 9-1-1 You never know when the simple fact of having a licence can make the critical difference in an emergency situation. Being able to rush a friend’s cat to the vet or a give a teammate a lift to the ER after a rough game are feats not easily done on a skateboard. 7 it’s infrastructure, not insta-structure Not all destinations are accessible by public transportation. And while gains are being made in cities and towns across the province, (think the Edmonton Valley LRT or Calgary’s Green Line North LRT) such projects often take years to complete. A licence can afford you access to all of your fave hangouts. the rules of the road, with less in-car instruction than other AMA offerings. students benefit from 18 hours of classroom learning (or 15 hours online), plus four hours in-vehicle with an AMA driving instructor. You can learn at your own pace and receive customized one-on-one in-vehicle instruction to suit your driving goals. ama.ab.ca/ValueProgram or call 1-800-642-3810 FurtAev/Istock 7 Reasons to Get Your Licence Now Put an end to “Mom’s Taxi.” The freedom to drive yourself, regardless of the destination, is an important milestone for both parents and young drivers alike. Bonus points if you return the seat back to its original position before you hand the keys back to mom.