The Importance of Driver’s Education

Imagine a scenario of a teenager who’s just taken their driving exam. However, in this reality, there’s no driver’s education. They passed their exam, however, they never learned about the rule of stopping at a stop sign for 3 seconds before driving off. Once they obtain their license, they are now faced with the reality of approaching this issue on their own. Once they do, they get into a minor car accident. Fortunately, the accident did not cause too much damage or injury. However, oftentimes serious accidents occur when rules of the road aren’t understood or studied. Therefore, it is very important to have such a great tool as a driver’s ed teaching the youth worldwide the rules of the road.

Driver’s education is very effective in reducing fatalities and damage in American society. Those who take drivers ed. are oftentimes less likely to be involved in an accident. Around 11.1% of new drivers who had taken drivers ed were involved in a car accident, while 12.9% that didn’t take the course were involved in a crash. This shows a significant decline as well as we can see a decline in the amount of driving related violations. 10.4% of those who had taken a course had received a ticket, compared to 18.3% of those who hadn’t. Overall, young drivers who have not completed driver’s ed are 75 percent more likely to get a traffic ticket and 24 percent more likely to be involved in a serious or fatal car accident. The statistics are astounding and show the real benefit of taking the course for all teenagers.Teenagers are safer when a trusted educated teacher shows them the ways of driving more than they are with a relative. 12% of teen car crashes are not related to recklessness, but simple inexperience.driving instructors can pass down knowledge on safety to teens so that it decreases their risk of getting into an accident. Younger drivers are at more risk than older drivers. 21% of all fatal crashes are teenagers. Since teenagers are riskier drivers with less experience, these numbers only go higher if they’re not exposed to teachers and a safe education system. When new drivers are taught by instructors, they are taught by people that know driving more than most. Instructors are able to pass their knowledge so new drivers can have the experience they need.

There are multiple reasons besides statistics to encourage teens to partake in drivers ed courses. Not only does it provide safety, it also allows teens to become better drivers and overcome fear and confusion that may exist already within their minds. Someone experienced in driving is a great way to reassure teens that they don’t have to fear the road and that driving is not as difficult as they may perceive it to be. It encourages confidence on the road. Students in drivers education are reminded and taught more efficiently for what they can and cannot do while driving. For instance, driver education is very strict on set rules. Using your peripheral vision, fixing your mirrors, looking in your blind spot before pulling out, focusing on the speed limit, learning how to properly control gas and brake pedals, how to lookout for pedestrians, what to do in extreme weather, how to tell is something is wrong with your car while on the road, etc. Driver’s education is strict but ensures you get the safest, best education when it comes to learning how to drive. They teach tactics on how to safely drive when it’s snowing, raining, foggy, or any other poor weather scenario that poses a risk to a driver. I myself have been in a minor accident with ice. Had I not learned how dangerous ice was, I could’ve been at even greater risk. Luckily for my driver’s education teacher, I knew just what to do and avoided any serious damage. Driver’s education gives the level of experience needed to have success on the road, and it is not always the fault of the teenages but it is about the guidance they get on driving. With driver’s education the teenagers get adequate driving instruction that can save many lives.

Driver’s education is a very useful tool, and people should appreciate that there is something out there to help inexperienced drivers become more confident in their abilities. It would not only make the roads safer, but help improve everyone’s day to day activities. It is imperative to continue supporting young adults to take driver’s education because of all the tremendous benefits such a program provides.