The Importance of Driver’s Education

Alberto Zamora

Driver’s Education Scholarship Essay

The Importance of Driver’s Education

All my life, I have been surrounded by family members who drive. However, as I grew older, I now realize how important it is to be educated and responsible while on the road. You see, as kids, the only thing that may cross our minds while in a car is the question that some parents dread and that’s “Are we there yet?” But now that I am older, and have a license of my own, I must say that driving is harder than what Vin Diesel makes it out to be in Fast Furious.

Unfortunately, I have had the experience of being in a car accident and thankfully it wasn’t severe. One thing for sure is that as a driver you must be ready for anything, and it feels at times like you have to have your eyes glued to the road. I find it very sad to see my peers engage in reckless driving; countless annual teenage deaths can be avoided if the rules of the road are followed.

Driver’s Education is an essential life skill; its implementation can ultimately reduce the number of deaths caused by driving year-round. For starters, every High School should make Driver’s Education a graduation requirement. Introducing young adults to Driver’s Education classes earlier allows for safe driving habits to be formed. I don’t believe that it’s fair that you have to pay in order to be educated on something essential. Charging individuals for Driver’s Education creates a financial barrier that prevents all drivers from learning the importance of safety on the road. Classes like these should be funded by the Government and free to not just students at schools, but also adults who have recently gotten their license. Another way that Driver’s Education courses can be implemented is by making them mandatory even before going on the road and taking a road test. In my experience, here in New York, Driver’s Education courses are only mandatory if you are under the age of 18. In addition, the Government should work to improve our roads as many of them aren’t in the best shape that they should be. Based on research from Fogelman & Von Flatern Law (FVF), a car accident attorney, it’s estimated that poor road conditions in 2013 contributed to around 14,000 highway fatalities, which resulted in approximately $11.4 billion in medical expenses. Overall, investing in better road conditions will allow for safer travel conditions and aid well-educated drivers on the road.

Together we can minimize the occurrence of car accidents and deaths by implementing Driver’s Education courses and investing in better road conditions. Publicly elected officials have a responsibility to better implement these safety measures. Overall, we all can learn from one another to follow the rules of the road because together we can save each other and keep our roads safe.