The Importance of Drivers Education

As a young person develops and begins to grow up, driving is a major part of their adult life. Even more important, learning how to drive correctly and how to be alert of their surroundings while driving. Being correctly taught how to drive in Driver’s education has deeply reduced the risk of driving. A new study that followed more than 150,000 teen drivers over eight years has found that driver’s education significantly reduces crashes and traffic violations among new drivers. Young drivers who have not completed driver’s education are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket, 24 percent more likely to be involved in a fatal or injury accident and 16 percent more likely to have an accident, the study showed. “Teens taking driver education are less likely to be involved in crashes or to receive a traffic violation during their first two years of driving,” the researchers concluded. Because teen crashes and fatality rates are highest at ages 16 to 18, these reductions are especially meaningful. Driver education appears to make a difference in teen traffic outcomes at a time when risk is highest. Having completed driver’s education, one can be more alert on the roadway and know what to do in a split second.

The steps taken to ensure that teen drivers get the most of their driving education is to make sure that the driving program that a teen is enrolled in is certified and safe. Being behind the wheel is very important, and yet could possibly be very dangerous. Even though someone who has not done driver’s education can be a good driver, they might not know what to do when something needs to be done. Do not get me wrong, having the ability to drive is a great thing, but knowing how to be a safe driver, especially when there are other people in the car, is a crucial aspect of life. Duane Shell and Ian Newman, of the Nebraska Prevention Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse at UNL, reviewed the driving records of 151,800 Nebraska teen drivers who obtained their provisional licenses between 2003 and 2010. The two found that of those, about 53% had taken a state-approved driver’s ed course; the rest chose the option of completing 50 hours of supervised driving with a parent or guardian.

Some ways you can prevent a car crash or fatal accident is: drive not distracted, do not speed, do not drink and drive or be under the influence while driving, avoid reckless driving, do not run read lights and/or stop signs, drive according to the weather conditions, avoid driving while drowsy, try and avoid roads with many potholes, and be aware when going on tight curves. The thing I do the most when I am driving is check my rearview mirror and blindspots every time I change lanes or merge and make sure that I am not tired or distracted while driving.

Over my 15 years of life, I have been in 2 car crashes, both of which I was not behind the wheel. Only one of the crashes my buddy was being irresponsible and driving too fast for weather conditions (ice and snow), and we ended up crashing into a tree and he got a few hundred dollars worth of tickets. I have also seen many people try and impress others while driving, i.e. driving too fast, revving their engine, or not using their blinkers.

The steps I can take to make sure that I and other drivers are safe is to be more alert on the road, constantly scanning the road, always using a blinker, and always checking and double checking before I make a turn or pull out of a specific area. I can also ensure that when I am in a vehicle while someone is driving that they are not under the influence, tired, speeding, driving too fast for weather conditions, or distracted while behind the wheel.

So in conclusion, having a good driver’s education is important when it comes to driving. Studies have shown that drivers who took drivers education have a reduced car crash rate and are less likely to get a ticket. There are many ways to be a safe driver, most of them are quite logical and easy. So if you want to be a better driver or want others to drive better and safer, follow the law and do what you know is right. Many people want to keep money in their pocket and spend it on things they enjoy, not on a ticket, so please drive safely.