Road Responsibility

“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility.”—Eleanor Roosevelt. What word could be more appealing to teenagers than “freedom”? Freedom brings teenagers a chance to spread their wings and make their own decisions. For many people, this first taste of freedom comes with a set of keys and a car. A car can take you anywhere and being able to drive by yourself means not having to rely on your guardians for transportation. However, with freedom comes responsibility—a quality that many teenagers can lack due to varying maturity levels. This becomes a significant problem when you consider all the dangers of driving. Serious and sometimes even fatal injuries are a direct result of driving accidents. Taking responsibility while commanding a vehicle should be a primary focus of teenagers—and Driver’s Education is the perfect way to ensure responsibility right from the start.

The unfortunate truth is that driving is a very dangerous activity for teenagers with or without Driver’s Ed. According to statistics, “Car crashes are the #1 killer of teens, causing 33% of all teen deaths. First year drivers are 1,000% more likely to get into a car crash than any other age group. 95% of all car crashes are caused by driver error…12% of teen car crashes are not related to recklessness, but simple inexperience.” Driving, though a regular aspect of life, is a very dangerous activity. As can be seen from these statistics, there can be grave consequences for those who are not fully educated, confident, or responsible on the road. Hesitation can easily lead to a wreck and arrogance breeds consequences. The question drivers should be asking themselves is, “What steps can we take to reduce the number of deaths and accidents related to driving?” This is where Driver’s Ed takes the wheel.

Though we cannot avoid accidents completely, we can reduce the amount by strongly encouraging teenagers to take Driver’s Ed. Collins Dictionary defines Driver’s Education as, “the preparation of students for driving tests, whether at school, in a car, or through online courses.” Driver’s Ed teaches teenagers everything they need to know about the world of driving—from how to start a car to driving in hazardous weather conditions. It prepares students for the dangers of the road and teaches them to be aware of their surroundings. When driving, there are many different things demanding your attention. You must watch your speed, keep track of where you are going, watch other cars, look out for pedestrians, and so much more. Managing all these different aspects of driving can be overwhelming to teenagers at first, and stress can easily lead to making detrimental mistakes. Driver’s Ed helps teenagers learn how to balance all the separate parts of driving while keeping them in a calm learning environment. It enables teenagers to drive confidently and safely—reducing the number of deaths due to car accidents overall.

Personally, I have never been in a driving accident, and I attribute this to my driving education. When I turned fifteen, I was terrified of driving. I refused to practice driving and postponed my permit test until over a year later. After passing my permit test, I was still unsure about driving. I was so worried about getting into a car accident—and being the first child in my family to walk through this did not help at all. My parents signed me up to work with a certified driving instructor who spent a total of six hours with me over the course of three days. I was still nervous, but the instructor was patient, calm, and even funny. Throughout my time with him, I slowly became more comfortable with driving. He taught me everything I needed to know about my car, the road, and driving in general. By the end of the course, I felt confident behind the wheel—and after that, I passed my driver’s test. Because I took a form of driver’s education, I feel safe on the road. I have not received any speeding tickets and have been able to avoid potentially hazardous situations.

The importance of Driver’s Ed cannot be stressed enough. It lowers the risk of car accidents, helps students feel confident on the road, and produces a safer travel environment for everyone. Some complain about the cost, time, and effort that Driver’s Ed requires. However, shouldn’t the benefits of Driver’s Education outweigh these minor issues? By paying for Driver’s Ed, you are really investing in a safer road for everyone. When a teenager spends time learning how to control a vehicle, they are learning how to stay safe in a high-risk environment. Finally, when new drivers put forth effort while taking Driver’s Ed, they’re putting forth effort to reduce the chance of accidents. Clearly, Driver’s Education is not a waste of time, money, or effort. When we place freedom into the hands of teenagers, we must make sure that responsibility is placed with it. Driver’s Education gives freedom while teaching responsibility, ultimately creating a safer road for everyone.