The Need for Comprehensive Drivers Education is More Important Than Ever

The Need for Comprehensive Drivers Education is More Important Than Ever

Getting your license at 16 is one of the first big steps every teen takes into becoming an adult. It is a right of passage that allows teens the first taste of freedom and responsibility. Most understand the risks they take every time they get behind the wheel of a car, as it has been impressed upon them from a young age, and many have seen the damage a car can do. In America, 34,000 people die every year, which makes car accidents one of the leading causes of death in this country. This statistic doesn’t include the amount of people who have been seriously injured or maimed. One unfocused driver can change the course of so many people’s lives in the blink of an eye. There is a critical need for better education of drivers, better preventative safety measures on the road to reduce the number of deaths on the road, and the steps everyone should take to make the road a safer place for everyone.

Driver education and reeducation are among the easiest things we can do to make the roads safer. By starting young teens out with thorough education on the road and all of the risks associated with it, we can help young teens understand the importance of road safety. However, this should not be the only time drivers should be educated about the road. Drivers should undergo some form of reeducation every ten years to keep their licenses. While this may seem inconvenient or redundant, it could be vital in saving lives. The driver’s test changes with the invention of new cars and technology, and the roads do not look the same as when my grandparents or even my parents started driving, so why did we all only have to take one test? Having everyone reeducate themselves every ten years will allow drivers, new and old, to have a refresher on the rules of the road and anything that has changed since the last time they took the test. There also needs to be a heavy emphasis on defensive driving. There have been too many times while I’m driving that I will be cut off and have someone on the interstate come into my lane without a turn signal. If I had not paid attention to my surroundings and had always been on guard while driving, this could have resulted in a pile-up on the interstate. You cannot expect other cars to do what you would, whether stopping at a red light or letting you over. Drivers must stay vigilant. With it becoming the new normal for people to be on their phones while driving, it is now more important than ever to have defensive driving instilled into the young kids about to be on the road for the first time. In a study done by Maryam Akbari, the more thorough the education of drivers, the lower the collision rates.

Educating drivers cannot be the only line of defense against reckless driving; there needs to be more effort from the community and legislators. There needs to be stricter punishment for drivers who received DUIs. Driving while impaired has become another trend that is bragging right with today’s generation. This must be highly discouraged; according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens and one-third of those involved in underage drinking. There needs to be a solution to this issue because driving while under the influence affects not only the driver and the people in the car but also every single person they share the road with. I have seen firsthand the negative effects that come with accidents due to illegal driving and the devastating effects it does on families; there is no bringing a loved one back, so if there is any way for us to end these unnecessary deaths, we have to try. There has to be more of an effort to denormalize being on your phone behind the wheel or driving while impaired. If public awareness campaigns start becoming more vocal about the harmful effects of illegal driving, it is likely that we can minimize preventable accidents and save lives.

Driver education and reeducation is vital in reducing traffic collisions and fatalities, as it offers updated knowledge of the road and informs drivers if there is new information about driving safely. The most significant part of driving is not relying on other drivers to get out of the way; what you may do on the road is not always what others would, which is why defensive driving is so important. You cannot practice defensive driving if you are distracted by your phone or driving drunk, it is impossible to stay vigilant if you are not 100 percent focused on the road. With so many rideshare apps available to you with a click of a button, it is absurd to drive while under the influence. If you have to make an argument that you are good to drive nine times out of ten, that means you should not be driving. Many steps can be taken to be a safer driver; you must stay off your phone, practice defensive driving, and ensure you are 100 percent sober before getting behind the wheel of a car.