The Importance of Driver Education: It’s Not Just About You.

Knowing how to drive and being a good driver are two very different things. Anyone can start a car, put it into first gear, and roll it out onto the driveway. However, driving a vehicle on the road is a complicated task that requires the driver to understand how the vehicle works and make quick decisions based on how others who share the road behave. To be able to make such decisions, it is crucial to understand the rules, guidelines, and etiquette that govern driving. Proper driver education ensures that new drivers are equipped with this knowledge.

Driving is not a solo activity as it would seem at first. It requires ad hoc cooperation and understanding between strangers who share the road. However, it is impossible to accurately predict what the person next to you will do without any context or insight into their character. That is why traffic rules exist – to make the actions and behavior of drivers predictable. The first step towards becoming a safe driver is learning these rules and the nuances associated with them. People are often so impatient and excited to get their license that they ignore this step. They pass the license examination by simply referring to some question banks and FAQs without understanding why those rules exist and how they apply in real-life scenarios. New drivers are often confused while driving and cannot answer questions like “Who has the right of way at a four-way stop?”, even though they cleared their license test. Enrolling in a proper driver education course can teach aspiring drivers about such scenarios and give them detailed guidelines about the subtleties and nuances associated with each rule.

However, simply knowing the rules and the theory is not sufficient. It is important to learn by experience. But, obviously, learning by experience involves making mistakes, and mistakes can be fatal while driving. So, everyone needs a teacher or a guide who can share their experiences and hold their hand until they are ready. The teacher cannot be a random friend or relative who has been diving for a year or two. They must be a certified instructor who is not only an experienced driver but also an empathetic teacher. This is arguably the biggest reason to enroll in a driver education program – access to a good mentor. A good instructor can prepare new drivers for the challenges they face while driving and boost their confidence, while ensuring they do not become arrogant and reckless.

It is easy to get carried away in the thrill of driving and the anxiety of day-to-day life and forget that we are in a shared space. Even a tiny mistake could cost us our lives or, even worse, harm someone else who was simply living their life. I vividly remember the time when my uncle and aunt were involved in a car accident. My uncle had been driving cars for over two decades. He understood and respected the rules; safety was always his highest priority while driving. But on that day, as he turned a curve, he saw a bus hurtling towards him from the opposite side. In a split second, he weighed his options and frantically searched for a way out. But it was too late. The bus was too fast, and it crashed into his car. He and my aunt luckily survived but were heavily injured. What followed was months of surgery, medication, and rehab. I almost lost two family members because the bus driver wanted to reach his destination five minutes early. This experience taught me how frail humans really are. When it was time for me to get my license, the memory of this incident pushed me to find a certified instructor to coach me. He taught me everything, from the basics of driving a car to defensive driving and reacting to unexpected and uncommon scenarios. The lessons I learned from him are what kept me safe all these years.

Besides safety reasons, driver education is crucial in reducing traffic jams and making the driving experience smoother for everyone on the road. Learning to drive properly allows new drivers to navigate difficult situations and teaches them to be considerate while on the road. This, in turn, reduces incidents of road rage, unnecessary traffic congestions, and reckless behavior such as tailgating and brake checking.

In conclusion, I believe that driver education can significantly reduce the number of accidents and make everyone’s experience on the road a lot more pleasant. Driver education equips aspiring and new drivers with the skills and knowledge to keep themselves and others safe while driving. Learning under a certified instructor is crucial to properly understand how to handle different scenarios and learn advanced techniques such as defensive driving.