Driver’s Education: It Makes a Difference

Allie
Gifford

July
31, 2019

Driver’s
Education: It Makes a Difference

Studies
show that “Young drivers who have not completed drivers ed
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,” than those who have taken a
drivers ed course. (University 1) Drivers ed is a great
way for new drivers to learn the rules of the road, and gain formal
training that helps them break bad driving habits they may have
developed when first learning to drive. There have been many programs
created to help people understand the risks that come with driving,
many with a special influence on drunk driving and related driving
accidents.

Driver’s
ed helps to reduce the number of deaths in driving related accidents
through both hands on learning activities, and textbook activities. I
was able to take a drivers ed course, mainly to help with my
fear of driving. I learned the correct way to drive and to correct a
couple bad habits I didn’t even realize I had. We were also shown
the true dangers of driving that many people take for granted. Drunk
driving accidents were probably the most touched on, but we also
learned about driving in bad weather and accidents where at least one
passenger was not wearing a seatbelt. This class was very helpful. It
taught is to be cautious, to be alert and to never drive drunk. I
would encourage anyone to take a drivers ed class because it is a
wonderful resource.

I
have never been in a car accident myself, but I witnessed an event
that could have been one due to an irresponsible driver. I was
driving in a neighborhood with my driving instructor when we came to
a stop sign at a four way intersection. At a different stop sign
nearby two cars were stopped, when suddenly the car stopped behind
the car at the other sign drifted around the first car, drifted
through the intersection, and zoomed off into a nearby parking lot.
At first the only thought in my mind was “that driver needs to take
this class.” I honestly don’t know how the other driver built up
so much speed, because they were stopped what seemed like inches away
from the first car’s bumper.

I
don’t want to be like the person I witnessed, and put other people
in danger. There are steps that I can take in order to make myself
into a better driver. I can identify any issues that I find in my
driving, for example one I’ve noticed is that I sometimes don’t
break early enough when I need to stop, which leads me to breaking
harder than I should. To correct this issue I will practice breaking
earlier than what I usually do and make it into a habit. I can also
regularly review the driver’s handbook I got from Drivers Ed in
order to make sure I know what to do in every situation, especially
in emergency situations. I want to be an example to others, and one
way to do that is be a good driver. It shows that I am responsible
and cautious, which is taking a step towards being a better person.

Thanks
to my Drivers ed class, I’m no longer terrified to sit
behind the wheel of a car. I have confidence, knowing I’ve been
professionally trained.

The
statistics should speak for themselves. All new drivers should
seriously consider the benefits of a Drivers ed course. It can
literally help save the lives of those around you. Don’t be like
the irresponsible reckless drivers because the next turn could end up
being your last. After all, you never know what is around the next
bend in the road.

Works
Cited

University
of Nebraska-Lincoln. “Study: Drivers Ed Significantly Reduces Teen
Crashes, Tickets.” Study:
Drivers Ed Significantly Reduces Teen Crashes, Tickets | News
Releases | University of Nebraska-Lincoln,
newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2015/08/13/Study: Drivers ed significantly
reduces teen crashes, tickets.