When it comes to driver’s permits and licenses, teens seem to be on their toes in anticipation for the moment they can hold that glistening plastic card in their hands. To Florida residents, the simplicity of earning a driver’s permit and license is the norm, but to other states, the minimal effort required to obtain them here is astounding.

Here in Florida, it seems one can receive their learner’s permit with their eyes closed. All that is required are two relatively simple online tests that many are able to cheat on by simply searching up the answers online. In other states, requirements for receiving a permit are drastically different, and, one can argue, far more difficult.

In the state of Michigan, for example, in order to earn a driver’s permit one must attend two full weeks of driver’s education classes, each of which is three hours long. What takes people in Michigan two weeks, takes people in Florida only five hours to complete. One must wait a year after obtaining their permit to be eligible for a driver’s license, but once that requirement is fulfilled, all that is left to do is complete yet another easily passable test. In many parts of Florida, the driver’s test itself also seems easy. Parallel parking is seldom required, and in many locations, student drivers are not required to drive on public roads during the exam.

“I googled every question on the permit test and got 100% on the first try without studying, so I think it’s way too easy,” sophomore Kelly Hanley said.

While this process may be convenient for those anxious to obtain a driver’s license, there are myriad downsides to such an undemanding course. Because the testing process allows ill-informed people to take the wheel, Florida roads have become increasingly dangerous, making Florida notorious for having the nation’s worst drivers.

“The easiness of getting a license can lead to an influx of inexperienced teen drivers on the road, which would in turn lead to a dangerous driving environment for both new and old drivers. If the process of getting a license was more comprehensive and better evaluated teen driving ability, then accidents among young drivers would probably decrease dramatically,” sophomore Benjamin Estrada said.

With the ability to cheat on the permit tests, many drivers never learn many of the basic yet essential rules of the road. Lack of knowledge in this department not only puts their lives in danger, but also the lives of fellow drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. The number  of car accidents in Miami increases each year, and will continue to do so until a change is made.