In the Driver’s Seat

I believe that driver education is very important when addressing the safety of vehicles and the consequences that come with irresponsible driving. I am from Minnesota, and a requirement to get your driver’s permit when you turn 15 is to take Drivers Education. In these lessons, I remember learning about the risks that come with driving a vehicle, and how insurance agencies know this, so they increase the rates for new and young drivers. We especially learned about cell phones and how texting, technology, and in-car features have become a new distraction to drivers in the past 10 years. A great step to reducing accidents caused by texting and driving is the “Hands Free Law” that many states have implemented, with my home state of Minnesota included. To me, this small step is a great way to make drivers aware of the focus and weight that is placed on a driver every time they get behind the wheel. Something that stuck out to me is what my Driver’s Ed instructor had to say about speeding, specifically. He said, “it is better to get somewhere late and alive than to speed and possibly get injured”. Speeding has become something that is almost a norm for most drivers, and many people believe that the speed limit is “just a suggestion”. Small steps and facts about driving deaths (like the one highlighted on the scholarship website on driving deaths compared to war deaths) can open the eyes of many drivers and make them more cautious when driving.

Something else that I first learned in Driver’s Ed and became more aware of as I got my license and started driving on my own is how the weather can impact our driving. The first encounter I had was with hydroplaning. Thanks to my Driver’s Ed class and what I remembered on what to do when these situations occur, I was able to navigate this situation smoothly and feel confident while doing so. A couple of years after I got my license, I graduated high school and went to college. I then had to drive 5 hours from my home to college in North Dakota. Being from the Midwest and especially living by the border of Canada, I must deal with winter weather and windy conditions all the time. Driving long distances in those conditions has built up my stamina and knowledge when it comes to driving in bad weather conditions. Having experience and the background knowledge, while also being prepared on what to expect when you are driving (whether that be traffic, highways vs. backroads, and how long it will take to get to your destination) is the best way to be the most successful and safe on the roads. And ultimately, reduce road deaths.

I have never been in a car accident, and I don’t have any close friends and family who have gotten into one as well. But I have been a passenger at times of reckless driving from my friends, or even my parents. Most of the time, it is when they become impatient and speed up in front of someone. Their current mood is affecting their behavior on the road, which can be potentially dangerous. Personally, I don’t feel safe being in those types of situations, even if they feel comfortable driving like that. I don’t feel like it is my responsibility to say something to them, I truly just don’t understand how they can let their mood impact something so big. Maybe it is because they drive basically every day, so they forget the weight and importance of what they are doing? I am not trying to justify it, but personally it is not something I would try to do intentionally. But honestly, I feel like it is way more common than it should be. People are letting their current mood take over their driving skills and potentially making the situation dangerous for others. Looking back to my Driver’s Education class, my teacher got into a car accident and talked about how he got paralyzed from the waist down. We were able to see his car, and how he can still drive successfully with a modified car. A sliding door and ramp so he can get his wheelchair in. Gas and breaks controlled by his hands rather than his feet. At the time I thought it was super cool, and he enjoyed being able to show us how he is still able to drive, and how he enjoys teaching our class. But, at the end of it all, he highlighted how the main reason he taught our class is because he wants our generation of drivers to be safer and more courteous to other drivers on the road. He wanted us to be more successful so there wouldn’t be as many accidents like he had done to himself. I thank my Driver’s Education class for teaching me many of the skills I have learned today, and I thank the state of Minnesota for requiring it for all new drivers who want to take the path to get their driver’s license.