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Young Drivers

From: SpiritHouse Inc/Youth Noise Network
Length: 10:46

This piece investigates the experiences of teen drivers and the adults who support them. Read the full description.

Default-piece-image-1 In Durham, North Carolina, like elsewhere around the country, teens get into accidents which often result in fatalities. Roll on a journey with Riverside High School junior Emmanuel Watson as he talks to brand new drivers. They tell him what they learned in drivers' ed, how their parents feel about them driving, stereotypes of teen drivers, and what are the main problems with teens driving. Everybody has something to say about this, including a member of law enforcement, a drivers' ed teacher, and parents of teen drivers, including his own mother, who tells Emmanuel, "I'm going to have faith that you can drive."

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Piece Description

In Durham, North Carolina, like elsewhere around the country, teens get into accidents which often result in fatalities. Roll on a journey with Riverside High School junior Emmanuel Watson as he talks to brand new drivers. They tell him what they learned in drivers' ed, how their parents feel about them driving, stereotypes of teen drivers, and what are the main problems with teens driving. Everybody has something to say about this, including a member of law enforcement, a drivers' ed teacher, and parents of teen drivers, including his own mother, who tells Emmanuel, "I'm going to have faith that you can drive."

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Review of Young Drivers

As "Drive Slow" plays in the background, Emmanuel "Manny" Watson leaves no stone unturned in investigating young drivers in Durham, North Carolina.

Manny wants to know why young drivers are getting into more accidents and why they are treated differently on the road.

Manny begins by talking to his driver's ed. instructor, then to a police officer, students who took the driver's ed. class, the parents of young drivers, and teachers at his school. He even rides to school with two young drivers. One mentions how a friend ran a stop sign and killed someone, the other says he didn't even have a license when he started driving.

The piece ends up becoming personal, as Manny talks to his own mother. "Young Drivers" should end when Manny speaks from his heart to the audience and asks them to be responsible drivers, but it seems he needs to give a few shoutouts. While no doubt appropriate for the original audience, it would be a more powerful piece if these afterthoughts were cut.

Manny's spontaneous, easygoing, and confident narrative style is easy to listen to, and this evergreen piece provides a look at young drivers that is relevant across the country.

Broadcast History

Broadcast once locally on WXDU 88.7 Durham, NC on February 25, 2006.

Timing and Cues

Fade out on music outro at 10 min 30 sec ( there is silence at 10:35, but TRT is 10:45)