The Importance of Driver’s Education

People make driving look easy when it takes attention and processing. As children, we saw how our parents, grandparents, and others took control of the vehicle and drove to their destination. During these times, the driver may be talking to another passenger, laughing, singing, or even making a phone call. When drivers are distracted like this, it’s easy for fatal accidents to occur. Even when drivers aren’t distracted, they can still be driving too fast to stop in time. Driver education is critical because of the mortality of operating a motor vehicle.

One step to reduce driving deaths is to accept the responsibility of driving. As we come of age, usually around 16, teenagers are excited to get behind the wheel. While earning your license is pivotal to becoming an adult, a teen’s brain hasn’t fully developed. Due to this lack of maturity, accidents are prone to happen. Some adolescents think they’re invincible or can drive like racers or action movie stars. While such thoughts are exciting, poor driving can lead to injury or even death. By being responsible drivers, we make better choices and keep the roads safe.

Another step is to be aware of your surroundings. During my first year of college, I drove to school with my parents to get practice. In Springfield, MO, the downtown area is dangerous due to heavy traffic. As I was driving past one of the colleges, I saw an accident where the victim got rear-ended. I vividly remember the way the perpetrator had his hands covering his face as the police investigated the scene. While this event made me a little nervous, I remembered the fact that I had a support system to help me learn and prevent mistakes.

Driver’s education teaches you to remain one car length away from others. By incorporating this habit, you keep yourself out of trouble by preventing accidents before they can happen. Another way to do this is to look ahead of the cars in front to see stopped vehicles and other obstacles to avoid. You’ll not only prevent accidents but also unnecessary damages.

Taking a driver education class is yet another way to prevent accidents.

I lost the opportunity to take driver’s ed because my school removed it from our course catalog. I wish they didn’t because it would’ve made my first few hours behind the wheel less scary. Learning to drive was a slow process that took about three years. I started in 2018 with the basics of accelerating properly and braking soft enough to be comfortable.

For years, my only experience of driving was from video games. The awkwardness of my steering was a challenge as I would oversteer and have problems reacting to stimuli as I would drive. Finally, I earned my license in the summer of 2021, before my third semester of college. If I had received instruction in a classroom environment, it would have reduced the amount of driving anxiety I felt.

I had my first bad accident last spring. On my way to class one morning, I noticed traffic had begun to get tight. After each light I passed, cars started to move closer and closer to each other. Suddenly, the car in front of me hit their brakes. I had no choice but to stop as soon as I could. I heard tires screeching behind me and a loud crash as I got rear-ended. The impact was hard enough to send me scooting forward even while pressing the brake. In my stupor, I ended up not immediately calling the police. I had to file a police report at the station instead of right after the accident. With a proper driver’s education, I would’ve known what to do in case an accident occurred.

I haven’t been in an accident while riding with others, but I still notice their habits. My siblings and parents make calls and text while driving. I’m guilty of this habit, but it is still dangerous. To change this behavior, I try to remind them that it can wait till we’ve stopped. In my case, I make calls and change to the music I want before getting on the road. Being proactive helps me stay focused on the road and aware of any hazards.

To keep others safe, I follow a similar set of steps. One of them is to keep my distance and avoid the blind spots of other drivers. Staying visible makes driving more predictable. Another step is to reduce multitasking and stay off my phone and other devices. I also plan my route before leaving so I know where I’m going and how to get there ahead of time. I won’t need to stop as much if I avoid getting lost. Lastly, I avoid driving over the speed limit. Speeding is common, but you can rack up points on your record with multiple tickets, reducing your driving freedom.

Since driving has become so common, it’s easy for people to slip and not take it seriously. Even with seatbelts and enhanced safety features, driving is a dangerous activity. With proper instruction, we can reduce the accidents and deaths that occur on the road. You can also keep yourself safe by being responsible, keeping your distance, and discouraging multitasking. You’ll only make the roads safer in the end.

Thank you for the opportunity to apply.