The Importance of Driver’s Education in School

Taking driver’s education while in high school is an advantage for young new drivers. Getting the knowledge in class before being put behind the wheel of a car makes young drivers more aware of the dangers that come along with driving, so that we can prevent incidents ahead of time. Being able to do coursework with a teacher’s instruction and having to pass tests before being able to operate a motor vehicle makes the information memorable. Learning to do things the proper way leads to good driving habits being the only way you know. Driver’s education gives young drivers the confidence they need when it is their turn to get behind the wheel of a car.

Driver’s education classes help reduce driver’s from having bad driving habits from the start, learning to adapt to fresh new safe habits before ever driving. Good driving habits that are taught, is to always keep your eyes on the road, while always keeping both hands on the steering wheel. This class also expresses the importance of safe driving.

Recent studies have shown that driver’s education has significantly reduced accidents and traffic violations by new drivers. Those drivers who have not completed driver’s education in school are more likely to get traffic violations including car accidents, than driver’s who have taken driver’s education.

There are many different steps one can take to reduce the number of accidents and deaths related to driving. Obeying the traffic rules and laws is crucial when operating a motor vehicle. When driving you should be able to predict the distance between you and other vehicles as well as objects. Most young drivers are involved in accidents due to distractions while driving. An enormous amount of motor vehicle accidents are caused by drivers with bad driving habits such as, texting, video chat, applying makeup, taking selfies, and using social media while driving. These habits are considered bad because they are all distractions to a driver, especially young new drivers. Lastly, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is unacceptable in the laws of driving, it is also one of the number one causes of teenage deaths. When behind the wheel of a car, you should give the road your full attention. When driving, you are not only driving for yourself, but you are driving for everyone else on the road as well.

In June of 2020, I lost my cousin due to a fatal car crash. Not only did he die, but he was the cause of someone else’s death that night. The accident was so bad that we had to have a closed casket funeral, we could not even see him one last time. My cousin was 20 years old and getting ready to start his freshman year of college on a full basketball scholarship. He had just purchased a brand new Dodge Challenger with many he had been saving forever. I will never forget, it was a rainy Sunday morning, when I heard my mother screaming in her room when she got the news. With just losing my uncle in March from Covid and then losing my teenage cousin in June was a lot to handle. The reason for the crash was apparently an accident but to find out later he crashed because he lost control of the car because he was not paying attention. He had a bad driving habit, he was talking to his friends live on social media, plus speeding to show them how fast his new car could go. He died a senseless and unnecessary death. If he had just followed the laws of driving, he would still be here with us today. My life changed forever that day, losing my favorite cousin.

By sharing this tragic experience, I hope someone will read it before getting in their car, and make sure to use only good, smart driving choices. I always take driving safely, very seriously, because driving is a privilege and when we sign our name on that driver’s license, we are committing ourselves to do so.

The steps I can take to be a better and safer driver as well as help others become safer on the road is to maintain my good driving habits and make sure others do the same. By practicing and displaying these habits, I will keep others including myself safe and maybe my good driving habits will rub off on those around me who have not yet adopted these habits. When in a car with someone else driving, I will point out whatever they are doing that is violating the rules of the road that may be putting others in danger.