Drivers Education: What Can Be Improved?

Driver education is one of the most important factors in reducing deaths caused by motor vehicles. Without proper education and hands on experience, we are sending new drivers out onto the road and they’re posing major safety risks. That’s why I feel it is important to make sure we have informative driver education programs set up in our states. The driver’s school I went to did not make me feel confident in my driving abilities. When I would go to the class they would put on the exact same tape every time. I never learned anything new and they should have given us more days to drive with the instructor to increase our experience. I only had three days of actual driving before taking my test.

To combat these problems, I believe the state should heavily vet all the driver’s education programs and schools. Similar to how food inspectors come and make sure kitchens are sanitary and everything is up to code. There should be a group that comes in and checks to make sure the schools and programs are teaching all the necessary information and that they are following protocol. We should also have these schools and programs focus on defensive driving more than anything else. You can be a great driver, but might still end up in a car accident due to someone else’s reckless driving. It is better to be prepared for the mistakes of others instead of trusting that everyone will drive with the same amount of caution. Another solution would be to lower speed limits everywhere at least 10 mph less. Most drivers speed 10 mph over the speed limit. By reducing it, we will have drivers going at a pace that’s safe and ideal. I have fortunately only been in three car accidents in my entire life. Two of them were before I was able to legally drive and one where I was driving, but was rear ended by another driver while sitting at a stop light. What these accidents taught me is that the main factors behind collisions are limited patience, lack of attention, and a skewed perception of car to car distance. I have seen friends and family members driving irresponsibly and it worries me because I know there are many drivers similar to them on the road. One thing they all have in common is their close following distance. I remember reading the driver’s handbook and we were all taught that you are supposed to allow a gap of three seconds between you and the car in front of you. If they pass a building, you are not supposed to pass it until three seconds afterwards. I feel like I’m the only one that actually follows this rule sometimes. I get very uncomfortable being too close to the car in front of me, especially on the freeway. I don’t think the general public understands how important this rule is. If you are following too closely and the car in front decides to stop while you take your eyes off the road for one second, you will collide with them. It really only takes one second.

I can always be a better driver by focusing on paying more attention and repeatedly looking at my surroundings. I admit I’m not a perfect driver and I’ve made my fair share of mistakes on the road, but I try my best to make sure I’m attentive and conscientious while driving. Everyone should go into it with this mindset. Drivers also need to have more patience with each other. Honking for unnecessary reasons and rushing others will inevitably lead to more wrecks. Patience and understanding is key.

To reiterate I believe the state should be monitoring driver’s education programs and schools. I also believe there should be an annual driver’s test so that you retain your license. Most people take the test once when they are around the ages of fifteen or sixteen and then as the years go by, they forget most of what they learned in driver’s school. I know it’s a common belief that older, more experienced drivers are better than newer, younger drivers. I have witnessed the opposite in my experience. Older drivers get too comfortable and start driving more carelessly. While older drivers have experience to lean on, younger drivers are more careful on the road because it’s new to them and they are thinking about all the risks. I feel as though it would make the roads safer for everyone if annual driver’s tests were implemented.