A Note from a Driver Education Graduate

When I turned 16 years old, I went that same day to get my G1 licence. I could not wait to be able to drive myself and my friends around, never have to take the bus again, and take full advantage of this new freedom. Up until this point, I fully relied on my parents to get me where I needed to go but now, I was one step closer to freedom, and I was excited.

Before I could get my G2 I was signed up for drivers education. I took an in person course over March break and learned a great deal about how to be a responsible driver as well as the basics. After I completed the in-class section of the course, I began my in-car lessons. These lessons were the most beneficial part of the course to me. Leading up to my first lesson I was a nervous driver with very little experience. Having only driven on rural roads local to my home, driving in a city or on a freeway was intimidating. After my last lesson, right before I took my G2 test, I was confident in my driving ability and was ready to take on this new responsibility of driving alone.

However, I didn’t gain this confidence overnight. In the 10 hours of in car lessons I learned how to be a proactive driver. Yes, learning how to react after an accident is important, but learning how to avoid one in the first place is essential. I learned skills such as maintaining a safe following distance and mirror checking. I didn’t just benefit from taking driver’s education but many of my friends did also. Through drivers education, a new generation of safe and confident drivers are becoming liscenced.

Along with these skills, driver’s education educates students on the risks of impaired driving and seat belt usage.  In the United States, 37 people die every day in DUI collisions. If teenagers can be taught, before the legal drinking age, by driver education how to avoid situations like this, the number of deaths hopefully would be lessened. Not only is drunk driving an issue but so is the use of seatbelts. In 2021, over 26,000 people died in the United States in vehicular collisions and 50% of these people were not using their seatbelt. From taking driver’s education, I learned the importance of using seat belts because it can and does save lives every day.

Though I havn’t been in a car accident while being the driver, I have been in one a couple years ago as the passenger. It was a snowy day and the roads were slippery. My mom slowed down while approaching a red light when the car slid on ice. She avoided colliding with the car in front of us but directly behind us was a snowplow that could not stop intime. She got out of the way of the snow plow but the car following it rear ended us. Thankfully, my mom remembered all the skills she learned from driver’s education and saved us from a collision that could have been much worse.

I have also experienced friends driving irresponsibly on the road. For new drivers, the speed at which a car can go is thrilling and sometimes people lose perspective in the moment. Thankfully, for my friends who sometimes drive irresponsibly, none have been in an accident but due to education, I can remind and teach them how to drive more responsibly.

I like to consider myself a safe and responsible driver. I take responsibility when driving others around, knowing that they are in my care while in my car. I take the speed limit seriously, refrain from texting while driving, and always wear my seat belt. However, I know there are ways in which I can improve my driving. For example, leaving myself more time to arrive at my destination will prevent me from making rushed decisions. Another example is knowing my route before I leave the house. This way road closures, construction and weather will not be a surprise if encountered.

When in a vehicle as a passenger, I can also help keep myself and the driver safe by encouraging seat belt usage, providing directions and avoiding distracting the driver. It can be easy as a driver to become more focused on what is happening inside the vehicle rather than what is happening outside the vehicle. By being a responsible passenger, I can avoid driver distraction.

In conclusion, driver education is crucial to putting safe and responsible drivers on the road. Through my personal experience, I learned that one must drive proactively to avoid collision, in turn, avoiding death. Though driver’s education is expensive, I am thankful to have recieved this learning experience. I can share my knowledge with those who are unable to gain this experience and help create a safer driving environment for everyone.